Marisa berenson’s granddaughter designs a playful collection for zara home
Carlijn Jacobs photographed Marisa Berenson, a fashion muse and actress, surrounded by the echoes of a glamorous past – a legacy forged in salons brimming with Dalí and Cocteau.
A childhood steeped in decadence
Born into a world of unparalleled style, Marisa Berenson’s upbringing was a constant immersion in art, beauty, and the unapologetic extravagance of her grandmother, Elsa Schiaparelli. Those legendary Parisian salons, overflowing with leopard skins, vibrant paintings, and exotic treasures, shaped a sensibility that would later inform her own design vision.
Her mother, Gogo Schiaparelli, continued this tradition, hosting lavish Christmas gatherings at their Swiss retreat, attracting the likes of Gene Kelly and Greta Garbo. Berenson, absorbing it all, transitioned seamlessly between film, theatre, fashion, and jewelry, culminating in her latest venture: The House of Marisa Berenson for Zara Home.
A collection born of personal passion
“I was brought up surrounded by art and beautiful things,” Berenson confided in ELLE Decor, speaking from her Marrakech home, a space that’s undergone continuous evolution. “My family was always very cultured. I have this love for beauty, for interiors. I’ve always decorated my homes. If I wasn’t an actress, I would have been a decorator. I just love creating environments, you know?”
This new collection, a 45-piece offering, draws inspiration from her diverse homes, including the exquisitely detailed riads she’s cultivated. It's a playful, slightly decadent line featuring stainless steel cutlery adorned with tree branches, decorative plates echoing her signature kohl-rimmed eye, and whimsical tumblers featuring ladybugs. Consider the snake or butterfly candlesticks – a touch of summer magic, or the golden insect place card holders – a subtle nod to the symbolic world her grandmother embraced.
“My grandmother loved symbols; she was very into things that had a meaning,” Berenson explained. “I feel that too. I love symbolic things and beautiful universal mysteries. I’m very into the spiritual world. I guess I inherited that from her.”
More than just objects: an expression of joy
But The House of Marisa Berenson is more than just a collection of pretty objects. It’s an expression of joie de vivre, a desire to infuse everyday life with a little glamour, sophistication, and – crucially – a touch of pizzazz. It's a tangible manifestation of her lifelong passion for creating beautiful, functional spaces. The collaboration with Marta Ortega, chair of Inditex, proved to be a perfect fit, allowing Berenson to bring her distinctive aesthetic to a wider audience.
“It’s just gives me so much joy,” she said. “It’s for joie de vivre, for enriching one’s life. The Zara Home Collection is all that [emotion] in 45 little objects. They are accessible for anyone to put in their homes to add a little joy, a little beauty, a little glamour, a little sophistication. It’s bringing a bit of pizzazz.”