Dolce & Gabbana’s eclectic Milan show proves you don’t have to be rich and famous – or thin and trendy — to wear high fashion
Dolce & Gabbana’s autumn/winter collection of colourful coats, jewelled denim, slogan T-shirts and embroidered boots showcased stars and their children, but also featured families and friends
The Italian design duo Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana are renowned showmen and have pulled off a coup other fashion houses dream of – their clothes are not just for the ultra rich and ultra thin.
Models on the catwalk at the Dolce & Gabbana show. Photo: AFP
Their autumn/winter show had a cast list 17 pages long, filled with real (and really famous) people of all shapes and sizes, and all friends of the house. There were veteran models like Marpessa Hennink and her daughter Ariel, and Andrea Dellal with her daughters, shoe designer Charlotte Olympia and model Alice Dellal, Lady Kitty Spencer (cousin of Prince William) and celebrity model Lucky Blue Smith. From the music world Ella and Alexandra, granddaughter and daughter of Keith Richards, and the offspring of actors Jude Law (Rafferty) and Jamie Foxx (Corinne), to name a few.
Model Marpessa Hennink and daughter Ariel. Photo: Reuters
There were real people, the clients: mothers, daughters, toddlers in mini-me outfits, sisters, fathers, boyfriends and girlfriends. It was a global group of friends and influencers (even journalists) representing every ethnic and age group, all smiling and clearly enjoying the experience.
Brazilian actress Grazi Massafera and US singer Austin Mahone at the Dolce & Gabbana show in Milan. Photo: Reuters
Live music was provided by young American pop music star Austin Mahone, who danced with the models and added to the show’s uplifting experience.
A statement jacket with jewelled denim jeans. Photo: EPA
This season was really about the show rather than the collection, with all the familiar tropes making an appearance, from black lace and bustier dresses, to tuxedo and pyjama dressing, lots of florals and new elements like pussycat photo prints worn by a family with toddlers. Many of the models had picked and styled the clothes themselves for the show. There was jewelled denim and sneakers and slogan T-shirts with tiaras for the teenagers and body-conscious black lace with a spectacular coat for the more mature.
Bold stripes and sneakers from Dolce & Gabbana’s Milan show. Photo: AFP
Bold coats, colourful and sometimes padded, made a dramatic statement. They came in animal prints, tiers of mille feuille fabric swatches, or embellished with roses.
A rose-covered coat and embroidered boots grabbed the eye. Photo: Reuters
The accessories were abundant, gilded, jewelled and baroque but also mixing modern materials like perspex on bags or new elements such as the guitar strap. Some bags had cute space cadet dolls featuring the faces of Steffano and Domenico dangling off the straps . Shoes ranged from the on-trend furry and jewelled masculine sandal and sock boots, to embroidered evening sandals and boots.
