With the season’s first soirées underway, Southwest Florida’s social calendar returns in full swing—and with it, a new mood in eveningwear. Photographed on location at Selma Nettles’ historic Old Naples estate, these looks capture the drama of gala dressing in 2025: feathered gowns that ripple in the garden breeze, tailored reds that command the room and couture that turns cocktail hours into theater.
Together, they set the tone for a season where fashion rises to meet the grandeur of the occasion and the generosity behind it.
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Photography by Omar Cruz
gulfshore life october fashion cover garden gala couture
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Photography by Omar Cruz
gulfshore life october fashion cover garden gala couture
The black column is all sleek lines from the front, while the low-cut back and billowed overskirt leave a lasting impression from behind. Bold stacked bangles balance the volume. Isabel Sanchis gown; bracelets from Alexis Bittar; shoes from Flor de Maria. Top spread: Monsoori gown; earrings from Alexis Bittar.
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Photography by Omar Cruz
gulfshore life october fashion cover garden gala couture
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Photography by Omar Cruz
gulfshore life october fashion cover garden gala couture
Couture engineering meets natural chaos as baroque appliqué on French tulle dissolves into feathers that dance in the garden breeze. Wade Allyn gown; earrings by Alexis Bittar.
Photography by Omar Cruz
gulfshore life october fashion cover garden gala couture
Lebanese couturier Jean-Louis Sabaji pushes corsetry and skirting to operatic extremes, reshaping classic femininity into spectacle. Skirt and corset top by Jean-Louis Sabaji; Vera Wang gloves; Alaïa shoes.
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Photography by Omar Cruz
gulfshore life october fashion cover garden gala couture
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Photography by Omar Cruz
gulfshore life october fashion cover garden gala couture
Siren red—the perennial power hue for evening—finds fresh force in a tailored pant and flowing silk charmeuse cape. Pants and cape by Wade Allyn; earrings from Alexis Bittar.
Photography by Omar Cruz
gulfshore life october fashion cover garden gala couture
Texture creates two narratives—gauzy tiers that float in daylight and dense feathers that darken the mood after dusk. Gown and cape by Anamika Khanna; bangles from Alexis Bittar; shoes by Flor de Maria.
Photography by Omar Cruz
gulfshore life october fashion cover garden gala couture
Gustavo Arango gown; bracelet and earrings from Alexis Bittar.
Photography: Omar Cruz
Styling: Veronica Porras
Model: Eliza Finskaya
Hair and makeup: Duality Artistry
Shot in Selma Nettles’ private gardens, Old Naples