Dolce & Gabbana Role out the Stars for Fall 17

We knew to expect something BIG for their fall 2017 show, and Dolce and Gabbana did just that! For this Autumn/Winter 2017 show Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana literally went through all their celebrity contacts and asked them to walk in their fashion show, which was opened by Austin Malone serenading the front row. This collection was a celebration of different body shapes, cultures, ages...just about everything, with a number of key millenials, models and social media stars present at the show. And with Jamie Foxx, Lewis Hamilton and Pamela Anderson sitting on the front row, things were just as starry off the catwalk.

The line up was pretty random. Steve Harvey's whole family basically, Madison Bear, Lady Kitty Spencer (Princess Di's neice), Domink and Alessandra Garcia-Lorido (daughters of Andy Garcia), Sophia Richie, Rafferty Law (son of Jude), Gabriel Kane Day-Lewis (son of Daniel), Jennifer Tilly (an Oscar nominated actress) and Destry Alleyn Speilberg - daughter of... yes, you guessed it Steven! This was the next generation of celebrity kids, with a number of cute children also strolling down the runway in fur ensembles accompanied by their model 'parents'. There was glitter, a lot of leopard print, tones of embellishment and even a few Justin Bieber t-shirts! Women wore sparkly gold crowns, the men looked suave in suits while the accessorise were plentiful - well, they are what makes the brand the most money. It was refreshing to see so many different body types on display with the models even smiling! Yes, they had smiles on their faces which is unheard for Milan Fashion Week.

The whole show was just so much fun. Colour, patterns and prints leaping out wherever you looked on the runway. And as expected, D&G were all over social media. I have to hand it to D&G. They're smart, tapping into what people are interested in now and using it to their advantage. Austin Malone fans don't like Dolce. But if Austin Malone is walking in the show, Dolce and Gabbana already have loads more fans who will tune in just for him. I do wonder what other brands think of their opulent fashion shows, regarding them as cheap and tacky or clever and fun? They don't follow trends and pretty much do the same thing every season, yet D&G are one of the biggest fashion brands in the world. And I LOVE THEM!

See all the best catwalk looks below from the Dolce and Gabbana Fall 2017 show...

Tropico Italiano: Dolce and Gabbana SS2017

Judging by the 'Tropico Italiano' show invitation, you could tell Dolce and Gabbana were feeling exotic, patriotic and in the mood for a party this season. I was expecting bright colours, a clear love for all things Italy and a lot of embellished pieces dripping in the more is more aesthetic which ultimately is Dolce and Gabbana. And I was not disappointed. Before the show even started, huge palm trees stood at the head of the catwalk with glittering, red letters hanging overhead reading 'Tropico Italiano,' in case the message still hadn't sunk in for some attendees.

With Cameron Dallas, Sophia Richie, Rafferty Law, Miroslava Duma and walking Dolce advertisement Anna Dello Russo sitting front row, the show began with an excited hush from the front row. Matador jackets came encrusted with jewels and medal, black lace was sheer and sexy with Dolce's classic black bra peeking out from beneath, bright printed sunflowers featured on silk midi dresses while the brands black suit was updated this season with a pair of fun slippers and casual tshirt. Sara Sampaio rocked an amazing keyboard mini skirt with a black and gold jacket while new comer Hailey Baldwin for a figure hugging black, lace cocktail dress. All 93 looks sent down the catwalk had an enormous attention to detail embedded in them, putting other designers to shame.

As always with Dolce and Gabbana, Italy was a prominent feature. I don't know any other designers who love their country from than this designer duo. Italain flags were printed on blouses, china dolls found in Siciliy featured on midi skirts while references to Italian food, notably pasta were everywhere. "The starting point is no longer the outfit itself," read the show notes. "It's the desire to tell our story, reveal an emotion, a way of life...Our DNA is in the South and all the symbols that represent it; flowers, pasta, bread, good luck charms, shells, fish, religious symbols, music, ice cream, drinks, dolls..." The list goes on forever. I certainly spotted an ice cream printed dress, doing a double take as I did so, as well as plenty of religious symbols such as the cross and the Virgin Mary on t-shirts and dresses. I especially loved all the colours; yellows, blues, reds looked ravishing against black and white.

And how could you tear your eyes away from those gorgeous accessories? The colourful, wedge heels, the shoulder skimming earrings, the little clutch bags dripping with floral embellishment and the decadent headdresses which gleamed in the light. Models walked with flowery crowns upon their heads or a red rose, carefull tucked to one side of their precise middle parting. Add that to the red lips and black, cat flicked eyes and you've got your classic Dolce girl, all dressed up to the nines. What I really enjoyed about this show was the overall atmosphere. Models were smiling, the Italian music was pumping and the energy on the catwalk was just pure happiness. You almost forgot you were watching a catwalk show at Milan Fashion Week.

The finale was just as jubilant. As the last model took her final turn, dozens of dancers jumped onto the catwalk and began leaping, prancing and generally just enjoying themselves with the music. Believe me, you wouldn't get this at Chanel. It was like an enormous Italian street party, where everyone was invited. And I do mean everyone, as the show was streamed live on the website and on the brands Facebook page. As with every Dolce and Gabbana show, the models strode on mass down the catwalk at the end, making sure not to trend on any dancers as they went. Simple t-shirts bearing the D&G logo with mini skirts covered in flowers and flat sandals, were the finale uniform of choice, before Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana took their bow to a rapturous applause.

I wouldn't say this was the best Dolce show I've ever seen, but it was certainly the most fun.  Part of me kind of wishes I was Italian now. Vive Italiano!

Dolce and Gabbana take Napoli for new Fall campaign

For the past few years, a Dolce and Gabbana ad campaign has become, well, quite boring. Of course the central focus is always on the traditional Italian family, grandparents and babies in tow, usually frolicking by the sea, sitting down an old Sicilian street laughing or eating spaghetti in a quaint courtyard. However for their fall 2016/17 campaign, Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana have mixed things up - a lot is seems. So much so, they're even advertising other brands in their photographs - look out for a Louis Vuitton scarf and Armani handbag in the final photos.

So why this rather uncharacteristic change of direction? It's all down to war photographer Franco Pagetti who was asked especially to shoot the D&G campaign. A very odd choice considering his lack of fashion knowledge or any knowledge about Dolce and Gabbana for that matter; Pagetti insisted on not only shooting the models but real people too. Shot in the culturally rich streets of Naples, normal members of the public joined in on the shoot even though they weren't decked out in Dolce gear (that's where the other designer wear came from!) Dolce and Gabbana had given Pagetti full freedom when shooting, with no make up artists or assistants hovering around him, while a few model faces did pop up in front of the lens such as Bianca Balti, Sasha Kichigina, Cong He, Mayowa Nicholas and other Dolce faves. "We are in the picturesque cobbled streets of Spaccanapoli – with arcs of drying laundry hung between windows above us – in a neighbourhood where everyone knows everyone and everything," the brand explain on their website.

I love that Dolce shoot their campaigns in different Italian locations each season. They really are an amazing travel brochure for Italy! One season it's Sicily, the next Capri, maybe Milan and now Naples - a city rich with history and heritage. There really is no beating a cobbled Italian side street for this designer duo. "We're here in Naples because we think these people are the best people in the world. Very strong. With unlimited heart," Dolce stated on their Facebook page."It is still like the 1950s here, in a way. This is a place that hasn't lost its roots and we appreciate that."

I have to say this isn't one of my favourite D&G campaigns, with my all time favourite still being the stunning Spring/summer 2011 collection (which you can see in full on the blog). However, for fall 2016 all the classic Dolce characteristics are visually clear in the ad campaign. Queue dancing grandmas, hot Italian men in suits and lots of laughter. Take a look at the pictures below and taste a snippet of la Dolce Vita.

Need reminding of the collection? Watch the magical womenwear show again...

#TBT: Dolce's Idyllic Italian Summer

The mayhem of fashion weeks has finally died down and all is back to normal in terms of fashion. As the weather gets slightly better (not much better, but I'm trying to be positive here!) I wanted to draw attention to one of my favourite ever shows by two of the most talented men in fashion - Dolce and Gabbana. I remember watching this show and just falling in love with all the beautiful lace paneled pieces, summery mini dresses, flashes of leopard print and the overall carefree spirit of the collection. And lets not get started on the role callof famous models, back in the day whenmodels were models and not just celebrities. Lindsay Wixon, Joan Smalls, Natasha Poly, Lily Donaldson, Karlie Kloss, Constance Jablonski, Alessandra Ambrosio and Izabel Goulart.. the list literally goes on. The styling was also fantastic in this show, with all the earrings, necklaces and shoes matching the total look perfectly.

Inspired by a traditional Italian wedding, in Dolce's spring/summer 2016 show, most of the pieces were white, pure and virginal. Then you had the dramatic black corsets and the sexy cut out dresses which juxtaposed the rest of the collection. Floral embroidery sewn into lace skirts looked amazing, as did the encrusted crop tops and matching midi skirts. Every piece was absolutely exquisite and perfectly reflected how I view a classic Mediterranean summer holiday. Enjoy and dream of happy summer days to come...

A Fairytale Fantasy at Dolce & Gabbana

From all the photos Stefano Gabbana was furiously uploading to his Instragram account yesterday, we knew the Dolce & Gabbana autumn/winter 2016 collection would feature an element of Disney princess fantasy. From the fairy godmother turning Cinderella into a beautiful princess, and Snow White whistling away, to Ariel swimming around with Flounder under the sea, it was clear that princess would be a huge inspiration behind this upcoming collection. And, as expected it was.

Set on a black and white check catwalk, with a life size silver coach awaiting the arrival of a glittering Cinderella, this show was fantastical in every sense of the word. What I love about Dolce is that they don't follow trends as such, but instead do whatever it is they want to do. Models all had beautiful ribbons, trinkets and jewels in their hair, either embellished onto caps with feathers or weaved into individual strands. White lapels were used on matador jackets with silver military frogging, black was a key colour coming in trouser suits and shifts with little brooches on the collar while their classic, sexy black dresses were given a princess makeover with embroidery work down the sides. Most of the trousers were cropped, interesting for autumn/winter, as were the dresses with plenty of mini dresses taking centre stage and baring plenty of leg.

Knitwear as used in bold bursts of colour, floral designs were stitched onto delicate lace dresses and there was even a metallic dress with lots of individual shards of glass glistening in the lights - mirror, mirror indeed! Large florals of lilies and other pretty flowers descended across elegant dresses, red and gold brocade looked like they had come out of Prince Charming's wardrobe, worn with white trainers and puffy Snow White sleeves looked magical on a sheer white midi dress, complete with an oversized Peter Pan neck collar. It was nice to have simple black tone down all the amazing bursts of colour, as when including the catwalk into the mix, there were prints almost everywhere you looked.

Towards the end of the show, models walked out in striking glistening dresses covered in sparkly jewels, with the model closing the show wearing a coat of red roses over a black lace midi dress. And then came the moment we were all waiting for... the epic finale! All the models strode out wearing striking pink garments, all covered in crystals and dripping in expensive jewels. When all seen together it looked like a shimmery sea of glitter and was truly sublime. Really amazing. Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana than made their well deserved bows, making sure this fairy tale finished with a happy ending.

A trip to Portofino with Dolce and Gabbana

First of all, let me start by saying Happy New Year! Whatever this year holds for you, I hope it is fabulous, enjoyable and you achieve everything you set out to do. With the start of 2016 brings in the new season ad campaigns. From Gigi Hadid and Natasha Poly for Versace, Natalia Vodianova for Prada and Lineisy Montero and Mica Arganaraz for Chanel; these spring advertising campaigns are sure to put a spring in your step. But it is the Dolce and Gabbana ad campaign which stands out as a clear favourite for me. 

If you can remember back to their Spring/Summer 2016 catwalk show, you will recall a trip to Southern Italy, preferably Portofino, with lots of selfies involved. Models paraded down the runway in colourful, embellished dresses, striking summer hats, brown raffia handbags and beautiful silk scarves on their head - think jet set Italian glamour circa 1950s. Their stunning campaign mirrors that jovial holiday feeling, with scenes reminiscent of a vintage Italian restaurant complete with gingham table cloths, plates full of spaghetti and all members of the family gathering for a fun lunch. There are even two nuns photographed passing by! 'Italia is Love' was the clear message of the show, and these photographs reflect Dominico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana's love for their country. All the models wear decadent crowns on their head, layers of jewelry and encrusted heels that are sure to be a sell out immediately. Overall, a wonderful campaign from two of my favourite designers. 

'I'll be at the Beach' - Vogue Japan

Last month I featured two fashion editorials from Vogue Japan on the blog and you all loved it. Both shot by acclaimed photographer Giampaulo Sgura, it featured a very serene and beautiful Caroline Trentini styled by the one and only, Anna dello Russo. 'Caroline's Symphony' was taken from the October 2015 issue of Vogue Japan, while 'Once Upon a Time in Siciliy' was from a couple of years ago, yet is just as beautiful. If you want to check it out later you can find both photoshoots on theFASHIONbox, as they are fantastic examples of the way Dello Russo is able to capture a specific mood and feeling through her atmospheric photo shoots.

So carrying on from last month, here is my favourite fashion spread for the month, styled once again by Anna Dello Russo and photographed by Giampaulo Sgura - they do make a good team! I was drawn to this amazing, cultural editorial while scrolling through the gorgeous images on Sgura's website, just because of the vibrant use of colour, wonderful styling and the sky was just so blue, reminding me of a summer long gone. It cheered me up on a dark, gloomy autumnal day in London and transported me to the colourful shores of Salvador, Brazil, where the shoot was originally shot, featuring in Vogue Japan May 2013, titled 'I'll be at the Beach.' I seem to have an obsession with Vogue Japan shoots!

Supermodel Magdelena Frackowiak is the star of the shoot, which centres around her on the beach, funnily enough, posing alongside wooden huts, cafe bars,strolling along the promenade past a derelict church and sheltering under large palm trees. In one lovely photograph, Magdelena is pictured with oranges on her head, sandwiched by gorgous twins Suzana & Suzane Massena, all wearing print dresses and flat gladiator sandals. The clothes, which feature a lot of Dolce and Gabbana dresses and jewellery, are bright and captivating, with lots of layers of chunky accessories, including bags, aviator sunglasses, scarves, belts and large sombrero hats. I love that when you look at a really well done fashion shoot, you feel as though you are transported to the place where the photos are taken. In this partciular editorial shoot, you can almost smell the salty sea and coconuts on the beach as well as feel the blazing sun on your back in sunny Salvador.

It must have taken at least a couple of days to finish such an in depth shoot, and I can imagine countless photographs taken by Sgura in the process. Everything from the lighting to the setting, the incredible styling to the models is perfect in this photoshoot and makes me want to jump on a place and head to a tropical paradise, and then I too can say, 'I'll be at the beach.'

'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