Dolce & Gabbana's Alta Moda show A Midsummer Night's Dream come true
Italian brand put on a surreal Shakespearean party as it welcomed the world's uber rich to the dazzling resort of Portofino. Fashion editor Jing Zhang was there
As a small group of us glide into harbour on a speedboat on a blisteringly hot day in Portofino, we spot Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich's 557-foot luxury vessel. It's one of several days dedicated to Dolce & Gabbana's Alta Moda (couture) shows, with women's and men's high jewellery unveiled each evening before leisurely sundowners.
Stefano Gabbana's silver superyacht, La Regina d'Italia, is docked in the glamorous resort. A few select journalists walk up the ramp to talk shop with the designer, while his business partner of 30 years, Domenico Dolce, puts the final touches to the collections showing over the next two days.
Since the design duo launched their Alta Moda women's couture line 3½ years ago in Taormina, Sicily, invitations to summer destination shows (as well as winter shows in Milan) have become much sought after but hard to come by. One reason for this is that no bloggers are allowed at either the women's or men's (Alta Sartoria) shows.
This time, the brand has taken over Portofino, hosting guests in Dolce and Gabbana's own villas. Gabbana opens up his spectacular and eccentric abode for the high jewellery cocktail party (jewellery sales have been slow, as the line is new), keen to show off one small building with a pagoda roof.
The main Alta Moda show takes place in Dolce's garden. About 300 couture clients, along with 20 to 40 journalists, are transported into a dream world. Social media posting of the collections is discouraged, but, inevitably, pictures begin slipping out.