Divine Inspiration: Dolce & Gabbana Alta Moda 2019
No one takes #throwback more seriously than Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana. For Dolce & Gabbana’s Alta Moda 2019 collection, the designers look back as far as the BC era when parts of Italy were colonised by the Greeks, who brought their art, architecture, culture, and religion to the peninsula. This confluence of civilisations serves as the starting point for the collection, in which the enduring myths of classicism are invoked as inspiration for the dynamic duo.
First showcased in the Valle dei Templi in Dolce’s native Sicily, the collection draws on the goddesses of ancient Greek and Roman mythology, wherein each piece is named after a divine being and designed in reference to her beauty and patronage. Golden crossbows and shields, laurel wreaths, caducei, and knee-high gilded sandals all make an appearance, but the mythological allusions also go beyond the obvious to reinterpret the legends through artisanal proficiency.
Amphora patterns and meandros motifs materialise as intricate needlepoint, beaded appliqué and sequins, and intarsia on tulle, lace, and silk. Fringe is incorporated in micro-beaded frills that rustle like tinsel, while rich plumage is evoked through super-dimensional embroidery. Florals bloom across porcelain-like fabrics, and the neo-classical paintings of Jacques-Louis David are printed on silk gazar. A series of gowns pays homage to the Grecian goddess silhouette with peplos formed from plissé pleats, while other dresses shimmer with coral fronds like the jewellery from Sciacca. Italy meets Greece in an exquisite medley that only Dolce & Gabbana could dream up.
Check out the entire collection below:
