DOMENICO DOLCE and Stefano Gabbana cited the Spanish influence on Sicily between 1516 and 1713 as their starting point for this afternoon’s finale show of a Milan Fashion Week. It was certainly a send-off – these boys have the theatre of putting on their heartfelt, ode to Sicily, ode to Italy, shows down to a fine art.
And so, too, do they when it comes to their clothes – this another bejewelled, lace smothered, embroidered and floral adorned collection that took their stock sensibility (you can spot one of their dresses a mile off) and transposed it with a Spanish theme.
So the colour palette centred around black, white and red for lots of lace dresses (which we know they do so well) and carnation-covered ponchos, fringing swaying away; matador braid-embroidered suits and ornate trophy belts; polkadot flamenco skirts and dresses; headscarves and carnations worn in hair slicked back into severe buns.
It was all very beautiful – it’s hard not to like lace, gems and flowers when they’re all executed in one mass fell swoop like this but it’d be nice to see them develop away from purely referential themes – albeit they do them very well.
To end came the signature Dolce finale – a parade of girls in crisp white shirts, red high-waisted shorts and ballet flats. It was, as always, a sight to behold.