Carla Bruni's go-to party outfit is a suit.

The former French First Lady - who is the face of Bulgari jewellery - believes a well-tailored suit adds a touch of glamour and class to any occasion when teamed with the right accessories.

She told France's Madame Figaro magazine: ''When I'm working on my music, I wear comfortable clothes, very casual like jeans and boots. If I'm invited to an event by Bulgari, I enjoy wearing nice dresses or suits.

''I love a good suit. It's comfortable, practical and elegant all at once, especially when set off with a refined pair of shoes, a nice hairdo and beautiful jewellery.''

Nicolas Sarkozy's wife rose to fame in the 80s as a fashion model and is enjoying returning to her modelling days after a 10-year break to focus on her music career.

Carla thinks the new ads for Bulgari's Diva collection, which were shot by acclaimed photographer Terry Richardson, sum up the essence of modern glamour.

Discussing the quintessential Bulgari woman, she said: ''Vivacious, modern, current. She is a modern day diva, who lives, travels, works. That was the difficulty of the campaign: to show a woman who knows, despite everything, to maintain a certain air of mystery.

''The challenge was fulfilled with Terry Richardson photos. He brought life, flesh and humanity to the images.''

The brunette, who follows in the footsteps of Julianne Moore and Rachel Weisz as the face of the luxury brand, believes her passion for fine jewels stems from her Italian heritage.

Carla said: ''I'm Italian and I love jewellery. It's generally linked to an intimate aspect of a woman's life: our youth, our birthdays, our love stories.''