Dolce & Gabbana Offer an Alta Moda to Adore in Alberobello

Amid the hilly streets of the village of Alberobello, Dolce & Gabbana presented their latest Alta Moda collection on a balmy July night...

Amid the hilly streets of the village of Alberobello, Dolce & Gabbana presented their latest Alta Moda collection on a balmy July night. The often surprising designs demonstrated how deep artistic roots can blossom into creations that soar. A sincere and at times touching homage to a unique place, the designs warmed up the typical D&G glamor until it melted into a passionate modern romance.

A Show and a Setting to Swoon Over

As always, the design duo's latest offering drew attention and excitement to the site of their presentation, this time in the Italian coastal region of Puglia. The charm of Alberobello's unique architectural character embraced the presentation rather than overwhleming it.  The show was held in a picturesque piazza that served as the perfect stage for a show paying homage to the crafts and folkways of Puglia. Luminaries such as Kim Kardashian, Helen Mirren, Venus Williams and James Marsden were just a handful of the instantly recognizable faces in the audience. A stroll through the curving streets of the village was enough to whet the artistic appetite of invited guests who were treated to an exhibition of the spirit of the city translated into the walking drama of high fashion.

Regional Romance Lights a Fashion Flame

Dolce & Gabbana’s famed commitment to fatto al mano was once again reflected in their latest women's collection, perhaps more effectively than ever. The strong imprint of traditional Apulian artisanship gave the pieces added warmth and a kind of soft humanity. The collection includes a handful of man-tailored jackets and suits; however, most of the designs are overtly womanly, soft and romantic as a daydream. Tulle, chiffon and lace play starring roles. While the pieces never feel frilly or frivolous, they are interwoven with femininity. Layers of lace swish winsomely, but the sophisticated scale and color decisions mean that the pieces are neither girlish nor grandmotherly. Flower motifs and lavish embroidery communicate how human skill and artifice can combine with natural inspiration to create magic.

Despite this apparent softening, however, the Dolce & Gabbana edge was still evident in almost every design. Elaborate decoration, especially the rich use of embroidery on jackets and capes, gave fans of D&G what they always crave – more. Close observation revealed that even pieces with simpler finishing nevertheless employed intricate and detailed construction. Sheer lingerie-inspired dresses tip the romance into sensuality, a territory very familiar to the brand’s longtime admirers. The femininity of lace and chiffon was given a dramatic edge by appearing most often in black. Although you sense a touch of nostalgia in pieces that nod to earlier times, at no point does the wistfulness slip into self-indulgent sentimentality. The final effect is both transcendent and down-to-earth, speaking eloquently to the human heart.

By introducing a touch of rustic artisanship into their fashion fantasy, Dolce & Gabbana once again defied expectations while delighting onlookers with what they didn’t yet know they wanted.