Dolce&Gabbana Fashion Show Milan Womenswear SS2016

How many times can you reinvent Italy? And how many times can you redefine Italian elegance and bravoure? As many times as you like, if you ask Dolce&Gabbana. The show was obviously about their home country, their roots. They’ve been working with this feeling of nostalgia for years now, creating the Italian myth. The main question this time: how do people outside Italy see Italy? To answer this, we traveled around Italy. Starting in the 1940’s, its post-war period. The models strutted down the catwalk in the most romantic, feminine and typical Italian creations. Fifties sundress silhouettes, appliquéd flowers in every colour, corset tops, cocktail dresses, silken striped caftans, short bouncy skirts, Peruvian pom-poms, all highly decorated, embellished and embroidered with classic Italian emblems and symbols, like the tower of Pisa and Michelangelo’s David. And how fun are those dresses with vintage postcard print and handwritten letters from Capri, Palermo or Lago di Como. We couldn’t think of a better postcard to send home.

However, they haven’t lost touch with the here and now, and that’s when the most loved and hated Selfie came in. Models pretended to be tourists, making selfies while walking through cozy Italian streets and venues. The festive images immediately popped up on screens flanking the catwalk. Needless to say the #DGselfie, #ITALIAISLOVE or #dolcegabbana was on top of the social charts. And it was Italy that was on top of our minds for the rest of that day, because a great and fun collection it was. Like Dean Martin sings, “That’s Amore!”

Dolce & Gabbana Catwalk Fashion Show Milan Womenswear SS2015

Having pulled from Sicily’s beauty and history (their roots) numerous times Domenico and Stefano suddenly made a little inspiration hop for SS2015. Not the Italian island itself, but the Spanish invasion of Sicily (15th century) was the source for their sensual, classical yet still typical Dolce & Gabbana collection. “After a 200-year occupation the Spanish left a lot of things: baroque, religion, colour, flowers”, Domenico stated. All aspects well represented in this collection. Matador looks, flamenco outfits and castanets (on the soundtrack as well) were the almost literal translation of classical Spanish influences. Yet every look was given a modern, rich and extra sensual update. Bloomers, corset tops, cocktail dresses, skirts and capes were all highly decorated, embellished and embroidered. Rich floral patterns (even on some sheer knee high socks) were beautifully mixed with polka dots and stripes as heart prints represented passion. Everything was perfectly balanced. The prints, the colors, the revealing and the covering up, as well as the hair (middle parting), make-up (red lips) and the accessories (dramatic golden crowns, xl earrings and hand bags with dolls wearing matching outfits). Not once did the label let go of it’s oh so strong signature. We’re curious where it’s next trip will take us.

Dolce & Gabbana Catwalk Fashion Show Milan Menswear SS2014

The Dolce & Gabbana Men’s Summer 2014 drew inspiration from Sicilian mythology, whose Greek origins are still retraceable in places such as the Valle dei Templi of Agrigento, at the majestic amphitheatres, like the one at Taormina, and at the Tempio di Apollo of Syracuse.

Visible on the catwalk were prints that represented the classic mythology through the faces of Zeus, Apollo and of antique temples. Besides the stretchy and tight-fitted suits (mostly in white) were blousons mixed with linen pants, shorts.

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Dolce & Gabbana Catwalk Fashion Show Milan SS2013

Stefano and Domenico didn’t have to travel far for the inspiration of their summer collection. Sicilian tradition was the designers’ (Domenico has his roots on the Italian island) starting point.

Dolce & Gabbana took their theme of choice quite literally, displaying prints of famous theater puppets and using images of Caltagirone head-shaped ceramic vases and dishes. Elements which they mixed with stripes to recall the beach umbrellas and sun beds of local shores, thus creating the wardrobe for a hot summer of ’13.

Like you’d expect from the two designers a lot of craftsmanship was put into creating the clothes using natural materials like straw, raffia, organza, cotton, linen and brocade. A coral colored basket-like mini dress and several midollino corsets being the ultimate example of the designers’ strive for handmade perfection. And even though materials may be rough and stiff the models looked graceful and feminine in their A shaped looks, which were all accentuated at their waists.

Besides presenting their new collection Dolce and Gabbana did a little promotion for ‘their’ island as well. Several designs read “Hand made see, sun, love” as Domenico Modugno sang about how wonderful life actually is.

I don’t know about you guys, but I’m heading to Sicily next summer. Can’t think of a better place to rock one of those printed bathing suits…

 

 

Dolce & Gabbana Menswear Catwalk Fashion Show Milan SS2013

Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana continued their hymn to Italy. This time they time-traveled to Sicily for a nostalgic Fifties spring collection. Around 70 boys and men where gathered  from all over the island and they resembled characters from an old movie as they sped down the runway to a frenetic pace set by a live folk band.
The message was authenticity and the show focused  on vintage clothes. Vacation-friendly sportswear,  striped vests and T-shirts with a rustic hand-painted look, souvenir prints, high-waist shorts.
Shirts with flat, open collars and unconstructed suits with voluminous pleated pants came straight from a Sicilian grandfather’s wardrobe.

Dolce & Gabbana Catwalk Fashion Show Milan FW2012

It seemed a never ending collection that Dolce & Gabbana sent out this afternoon. A collection that captured Italy’s love for drama and opera. Pavarotti was on the soundtrack singing O sole mio and out came the models dressed in baroque black velvet and gold brocade, covered with dramatic capes, dresses embroidered with images of painted old theater-ceilings. Even the earrings looked like little cherubs and shoes reminded of theater furniture and decorations.

The press release said the starting-point was the tradition of Sicilian Baroque, which evolved in volumes and processes, experimenting in new cuts and decorations: golden embroideries that recall Baroque mirrors and frames or embroideries made of small points inspired by dining room tapestries; prints of cherubs and angels that appear to have come out of a painting.

Dolce & Gabbana Catwalk Fashion Show Milan ss2012

The Italian kitchen with all its colors and the traditional way Italians celebrate festivities was the inspiration for Dolce & Gabbana’s spring summer 2012 collection. The designers imagined themselves a small town in the South of Italy, decorated for festivities. The whole show and stage recalled the typically Italian joyful spirit: from the distinctive illuminations that adorn every street and the fragrances and tastes of Mediterranean food, down to the crochet that embellishes tablecloths.

Tomatoes, aubergine, courgette, onions and hot pepper prints brightened up the classic sheath dresses or dresses cut at the waist and ruched, tops, shorts and deconstructed jackets. All clothes were made in organza or cotton, mixed with crochet in pastel colours such as light blue, peach, beige and nude.
The sensuality of the Italian culinary culture and of the traditions are also expressed in the accessories made of pasta and little tomatoes, onions and small Madonnas that decorate shoulder bags, earrings, necklaces and bracelets. On the other hand, bags and shoes are made of that typical intertwined plastic that recalls the chairs one can find at the bars.
At night the black brocade dresses and jackets are covered with shiny stones of the same colour, while the sparkling geometries of the illuminations that decorate the streets are recreated through embroideries made of multi-coloured crystals on lace dresses.

Watch the video of the show:

 

Dolce & Gabbana Catwalk Fashion Show Milan SS2012