Italian fashion: Why strong Mediterranean women and jewellery are the perfect match

Sophia Neophitou-Apostolou wears 'Diorganic' crystal bracelet, from £1,800, by Dior, 31 Sloane Street SW1, 020-7172 0172; earrings, from a selection, by Asprey, 167 New Bond Street London W1, 020-7493 6767; archive Antonio Berardi dress, Sophia's own (Walter Hugo)

The allure of the Mediterranean woman is something that has inspired designers for decades.

Especially Italian designers, and particularly Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana, whose collections and campaigns have drawn inspiration from and paid homage to the style of Sicily since they first began designing.

"The Mediterranean woman is a ‘donna vera’, passionate, self-confident," say they.

"What we especially love is that she’s not afraid of showing her own feelings. Her style is full of contrasts, as is her personality. Sensual yet austere, timeless and at the same time very modern."

Using a specially-constructed glass-plate camera, Walter Hugo captures quintessentially Italian portraits of a variety of Mediterranean women in the style of nineteenth-century portrait photography, drawing on Italian neorealist cinema traditions and featuring key accessories from the spring/summer 2014 season...

Photography and creative direction: Walter Hugo and Zoniel

Fashion direction: Alexander Fury

Models: Aviva Seidler, Lauren Hedges, Piera Berardi, Sara Calabrese, Sandra and Vanessa Pelz-Sharpe, and Sophia and Zac Neophitou-Apostolou

Grooming: Francesca Martin using Laura Mercier

Photographic assistance: Mohamed Ayyad and Catalin Plesa

Hand-built glass-plate camera, constructed in collaboration with Globetrotter

Thanks to all our friends at the big house on the hill