Inside fashion’s most colourful cult: the Alta Moda/Alta Sartoria shows by Dolce & Gabbana
Historic Palermo provides backdrop for Italian fashion duo’s latest extravagant display of one-of-a-kind fashion pieces for their faithful following
Hundreds of locals lined the streets to watch the extravagantly dressed guests descend onto the Piazza Pretoria in Palermo - it’s a red carpet so opulent as to rival the Oscars or the Met Gala Ball. The President of Sicily is there, the champagne is flowing, camera phones are out as nubile models (and a few of their millennial generation clients) slink their way around the central fountain bathed in golden light wearing colourful outfits inspired by Sicilian folklore, arts, architecture and hot-blooded island sensuality.
Dolce & Gabbana’s signature Italian glamour and impeccable couture hand craftsmanship within their Alta collections were underlined by plenty of lace, regal gold, trompe l’oeil and bright plumes of feathers. Folksy costume elements and bright hues – borrowed from traditionally decorated Sicilian horse and carts, come with sequins and embroidery on ultra feminine dresses and extravagant floral headdresses.
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Models circled the central fountain with all it’s once scandalous nude statues, in outfits that played with sex appeal, religious iconography and Catholic primness. Big skirts, hourglass shapes and then a bright dress clattering with bright orange Siclian corals seemed more artwork than fashion.
About some 300 clients sit in the audience, but a few younger, genetically gifted ones join models on the runway – it’s a “thing” that Domenico Dolce & Stefano Gabbana have been joyfully experimenting with on their catwalks lately.
The Italian design duo recently courted controversy by defending loyal client, US First Lady Melania Trump (and themselves) against social media haters (as she tours the world wearing their designs). However, this hasn’t deterred those loyal to the cult of Dolce & Gabbana; and nowhere is this more evident at their Alta events. Here elite devotees of almost religious fashion fervor form a close-knit, unofficial (and very high net worth) club ready to spend eye-watering sums on the best these designers have to offer.