©ourtesy of Sarah Harris Vogue.uk
Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana have had money matters on the mind of late. Those much documented tax woes manifested this afternoon in a collection that was quite literally all about the money – ancient gold coins to be precise that looked like they had been dug up on an archaeological excursion – before being polished, naturally. That excursion too, might have extended to a tour of the roman ruins, those as well were a recurring motif this afternoon. It was an imaginary journey, they said, to rediscover ancient Sicily. Coins were blown up to the size of tea plates and joined together to make impressive waist cinchers, or else chain-mailed into a jingling mini dress, while others were suspended in hoop earrings or stuck to barrettes positioned into messy up-dos.
Lithographs of sepia-hued, postcard-pretty crumbling
columns, Greek temples and theatres were printed over silk dresses;
strict and midi length and buttoned all the way up the back, or else,
mini and flared with wide sleeves – two silhouettes that Dolce and Gabbana
have been preoccupied with for several seasons now. Variations on those
would have been welcoming to witness, in fact, there were several
parallels between this collection and the duo’s autumn/winter 2013
outing where they mined the golden mosaics of Sicily’s Cathedral of
Monreale (all that gold must be a winner at retail, these designers hold
big appeal for the moneyed set). Those clients then, will be delighted
with the gold rush finale today; golden dresses every which way – from
lace to others encrusted in faceted crystals, or crafted in laser-cut
leather.