Monday, 28 September 2015

'Italia is Love' for Dolce and Gabbana Spring 2016

Dolce and Gabbana. No other fashion house celebrates their heritage quite like them. For their spring/summer 2016 collection, the main focus was on Italy of course, but this time we were taken back to holidays spent in Capri and Rome, seeing the sites and then holidaying on the Amalfi coast, before jetting off to Portofino to soak up the sun. Before the show even started, you could already guess the spirit of the upcoming collection, with fruit stalls set up around the runway and plenty of holiday inspired themes going on. Dolce and Gabbana are so good at setting a scene and making you feel as though you are really in a market in the midst of Siciliy, rather than at Milan Fashion Week. And then of course, the show started...


Colour was everywhere, from the first look all the way to last, which was a lovely 1950's inspired tea dress, which was covered in flowers. It was truly a celebration of tourism and Italy in general, with models wearing amazing dresses covered in prints of Ancient roman sites and beautiful seaside towns. The classic Dolce and Gabbana polka dot print was mingled into suits and onto shorts and crop top combos, complete with decadent embroidery and lovely head-scarfs which reminded me of old, Sicilian women who sit out at the market, selling their fruit and vegetables and chatting into the midday sun.

There were cute headphones, made up of tasseled accessories and plenty of jewels as well, while dresses were covered in sumptuous patterns which looked as though they had come straight off vintage, porcelain china crockery or old mosaics. Reds and yellows, popped against bright blue and lots of floral patterns while Dolce's classic black was a background feature which added a touch of sex appeal, as is always evident at one of their shows.

Black bras, knickerbockers, LBDs and classic suits were all pieces which are renowned for Dolce's aesthetic, but this time there was more of a romantic twist to such sexy garments. Layers of black lace covered in floral embroidery were draped over bras, while intricate black lace skirts came sheer and transparent but as well covered in clever references to Rome. The title of the show, 'Italia is Love' could definitely be felt by all, as the passion and beauty these clothes held were magical and designed with such feeling. Stepano Gabbana explained his thoughts after the show. 'We don't believe in fashion for trends anymore. We want to show emotion. Just enjoy!' And enjoy we most certainly did! In regard to the tourism theme which ran throughout the collection, Gabbana sang the praise of his country which he deeply loves and respects. 'This is where the first boutiques came from. We think it was the beginning of Italian fashion. And it was because foreigners saw it and liked it. Sometimes Italians don't appreciate all the things we have here!'

Selfies were also a big part of this show, which is no surprise seeing as this particular brand is very much into social media and the tech savvy youth of today. If you follow Stepano Gabbana on Instagram, you'll know what I mean! Models were encouraged to take selfies as they took a turn on the catwalk, which were then instantly uploaded and displayed upon screens along the runway. It was fun and a completely new concept which the fashion press and the models enjoyed immensely. Through all the selfie mania, the clothes still stood out as they were just so impossible to ignore. I loved the vintage, 50's feel and the amazing silk,chiffon maxi dress which was paired with a headscarf and cats-eye sunglasses as well as the beautiful shift dresses covered in images of the Virgin Mary and Jesus - D&G remain firms Catholics in faith. The jumpsuits were amazing as were the embellished gold, crowns which sat nobly atop models' heads. It was full of beauty.

The finale of every Dolce show is always a grand spectacle and this time all 92 models came pouring out onto the runway, in similar mini dresses, smiling and walking in unison. It was so fun and so wonderful to watch, with all the colours and all the majesty these clothes created all merged together. You cannot fault the amount of time and dedication Domenico Dolce and Stepano Gabbana put into the collections, seeing as other designers only produce 30 to 40 runway looks a season. This duo go above and beyond every time. They will always be my favourite designers and I continue to feel an overwhelming sense of pride as they took their final bow at the end of the show. Long live the magic, wonder and beauty of Dolce and Gabbana.

Watch the amazing show here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1485NceTfWo



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