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Credit: Metro
Sunday
2:19 p.m.
Stefano Gabbana and Domenico Dolce have generously gifted each guest with tiny Dolce & Gabbana purses, dainty little leather bags with long, gold chain handles. And now there is some serious haggling going on over it. One editor sitting near me has an eggplant coloured bag, but would prefer the yellow version that her neighbor got, so they swap. And then they both realise that a blogger sitting nearby has a cool degrade shade of blue, which leads to another round of trading. No one even notices that the show is now running nearly half an hour late. Well played, Stefano and Domenico!
2:32 p.m.
The velvet curtains at the foot of the runway open to reveal an extravagant set: an enchanted forest, complete with an enormous rotating tree that rises from the floor, and falling snow. “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy” plays in the background and the show begins. And with that, Dolce & Gabbana manage to top both Prada’s live orchestra and Roberto Cavalli’s fireworks. If there was an award show devoted to the month of fashion (and there really should be), Dolce & Gabbana would win Best Stage Design. It’s fashion as theater.
The La Scala-worthy set makes a fantastical backdrop for equally stunning clothes: dramatic medieval-inspired chiffon gowns dance and float behind the models, A-line coats densely embroidered with florals and forest animals, and the duo’s trademark Sicilian lace dresses. Most of the looks come topped off with ornate Arthurian hoods, which make the models look like modern day Snow Whites, Red Riding Hoods and Guineveres. The question is, what woman of any age wants to look like a modern day Snow White? A fairy tale princess doesn’t exactly read fashion. But the cleverness of this show is that underneath all of the theatrical elements that make us sit up and take notice, and between those runway-only pieces that border on costume, are just really beautifully crafted dresses in gorgeous fabrics. And who can’t appreciate that?
The scene
Eva Herzigova, David Gandy, Bianca Brandolini and a slew of industry insiders
The mood
The Brothers Grimm take a shopping spree on Via Monte Napoleone, aka Snow White gets a makeover by Dolce & Gabbana
The major trends
Gold, voluminous outerwear and contrasting textures
The playlist
Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker”
What this will mean for your wardrobe
Nothing overly complicated other than a renewed appreciation for real craftsmanship
