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Bella Notte Opera Duster (Full Length)

$148.00

Meaning “Beautiful Night”, our Bella Notte print is a dramatic, evocative tribute to romance. The seated woman in the trees with her dreamy, faraway gaze was painted in 1880 by artist & poet Dante Gabriel Rossetti, and the charming rabbit comes from a much earlier painting done in 1585 by Hans Hoffman. The open book at the bottom of the design reads “Many are the stars I see, yet in my eye no star like thee” — words which we took from an engraving inside the band of a gold ring made in the 1700’s. The beautiful moonlit river landscape on the sleeves of the kimono and comes from an 1840’s British oil painting, and the exquisite floral trim is from the border of a calligraphic manuscript by famed artist William Morris from the same era. Interestingly, the model for the woman in Rossetti’s painting is Jane Morris, wife to William Morris. She was a talented artist in her own right, and an enigmatic muse to both her husband and to Rossetti throughout the Arts & Crafts movement.

100% viscose (derived from plant fibres such as bamboo and wood). Machine wash gentle or handwash and hang to dry. Iron to finish if needed.

Kimono measurements: length 118cm, width 78 cm (across back, underarm to underarm). Model is 5’7” for reference.

“What is love? It is the morning and the evening star.”
- Sinclair Lewis
“I'll let you be in my dreams if I can be in yours.”
- Bob Dylan
“We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.”
- Oscar Wilde

How To Wear

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This piece is pure romance which makes it a delight to style! Keep it soft and casual with dark denim and linen pants or elevate it with a silky tank and a floaty long skirt.  We’ll also be wearing this one tied with the belt over a long loose fitting tank, basic leggings and a pair of leather ballet flats — romantic & comfy at the same time. Ready for some drama? Wear this duster as a set with the matching slip dress, then add a cool belt and some artisan jewelry for a show-stopping look ;)

Our Muse

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The starry-eyed, the romantic. Women who let themselves be swept away by imagination, who keep poetry in their hearts. Women who sing to the moon.

More Inspo

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The complicated triangle between Jane Morris, William Morris, and Dante Gabriel Rossetti is a dramatic one! Much documented by art historians, the relationship between the three centred on Jane’s profound influence on both men’s artistic endeavours. Jane, with her striking beauty and enigmatic presence, became the quintessential muse for Rossetti, inspiring iconic works like “Proserpine” and “The Day Dream.” Her husband, William Morris, also drew inspiration from her, crafting intricate textiles and wallpapers that echoed the medieval romance she embodied. Beyond her role as a muse, Jane was an accomplished embroiderer and poet, whose creative talents enriched the artistic circle she inhabited. Many historians have also theorized that William Morris may have taken credit in his work for some of Jane’s designs. Whatever the truth may be, it’s undeniable that her artistic sensibility and personal relationships with both men forged a unique bond that drove their pursuit of aesthetic perfection and helped weave an enduring (and exquisite!) tapestry of creative work.

The Poem

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Tonight, begin again. 
The freshly 
fallen star 
of your heart 
is not a stone.
The sky welcomes
your return
like a faithful 
lover. Only kindle 
your cold eye 
and the moon
winks in reply:
there is always
something new 
to love.