80 Years of style in a night straight out of a movie: SOMOS Experiences brings ELLE’s scenic fantasy to life at the Teatro Real
The Teatro Real in Madrid was transformed into a stage of celebration, fantasy, and tribute thanks to the creative universe crafted by our team to commemorate the 80th anniversary of ELLE magazine.
The occasion called for it. This wasn’t just another edition of the anticipated ELLE Style Awards — it was a very special birthday: that of a brand which, since 1945, has inspired women around the world to be themselves. To honour such a legacy, at SOMOS Experiences we envisioned a conceptual journey through time, senses, and emotion.
Paris as inspiration, cinema as a language, fashion as the backdrop
The aesthetic reference drew from a gem of classic cinema: An American in Paris, by Vincente Minnelli. That moment when the camera zooms in on Gene Kelly, when reality fades and the drawing gives way to fantasy... That was the starting point for a scenographic story that paid tribute to the City of Light and to the dreams that build identity, creativity, and beauty.
An experiential journey
The event began on the rooftop terrace of the Teatro Real with a welcome drink that offered the first clues of the concept. There, more than 300 guests enjoyed a series of activations designed to gradually transport them to that imagined Paris: fashion illustrator Carmeloa sketched live portraits of attendees; live music filled the air with energy; and an “Insta moment” featuring wings seemed to lift the sky of Madrid onto their shoulders.
Following the reception, the experience continued inside the theatre. A piano performance by the talented Sonya Zholobova accompanied the descent into the main hall, immersing guests in an elegant and intimate atmosphere that set the tone for what was to come.
A tribute in three acts
Hosted by Nieves Álvarez and Boris Izaguirre, the ELLE Style Awards ceremony began with intensity and emotion. For this special occasion, our team designed three main stage settings that structured the narrative of the evening.
The first act opened with a performance by Ángeles Toledano against a Venetian curtain backdrop, establishing the artistic tone of the night.
The second act unfolded with the curtain rising, leading into the awards presentation. An acoustic performance by Sebastián Yatra accompanied this moment, creating an intimate and emotional setting that culminated with the traditional group photo alongside the winners.
And then, the grand finale: after the ceremony, the full stage box of the Teatro Real opened to reveal a third scenography — a contemporary reinterpretation of artistic, bohemian, and dreamlike Paris, with visual references to the turn of the century and to the spirit of the great painters who once inhabited it.
That moment — the reveal, the wonder, the total immersion — was the climax of a narrative meticulously orchestrated by SOMOS Experiences. Themed cocktail dining, served within the very stage box of the Teatro Real — featuring a menu specially curated by chef Ramón Freixa — provided the perfect close to a night where fashion, art, and emotion came together in harmony.