The Tiepolo Ball was first thrown in 1951 by Charles de Beistegui, a world famous art collector. The party is known as the “Ball of the Century,” showcasing opulence of the highest scale at Venice’s Palazzo Labia. Salvador Dali and Christian Dior attended the original Tiepolo Ball, both of whom designed gowns for the occasion. This year, Dior threw its own Tiepolo Ball, ending its 68-year hiatus. The house brought back the art of lavish party-throwing, timed to coincide with the Venice Biennale opening.

Much like the original event, Dior creatively contributed through some custom-made gowns. To celebrate the ties between the fashion house and the event, Dior’s Maria Grazia Chiuri worked with two Venetian houses, Bevilacua and Rubelli, to adorn the party guests with a handful of dresses. It wouldn’t be the first time for Chiuri to work with local artisans, as she did the same on the brand’s recent decampment to Marrakech for the Cruise 2020 show. Those guests included the likes of Karlie Kloss, Sienna Miller and Monica Bellucci. Masqueraded individuals, stilted dancers and decked out dining tables, covered in floral centerpieces, candelabras and decadent food greeted ball-goers upon arrival. The “Ball of the Century” surely made quite a comeback.

You can watch a recap of the Dior Tiepolo Ball above.