Dolce & Gabbana

For my first post, I'm choosing to review one of the most recent fashion shows (yesterday, in fact): Dolce and Gabbana, an established fashion house that never fails to present unique collections that are true to their Italian heritage. Their latest show was for Fall 2012 Ready-to-Wear, and it received glowing reviews. 

The show was in Milan, where "Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana set the stage for their latest show with chandeliers festooned in real flowers and vines along with an enormous gilded mirror that was propped at the end of the runway. It was unabashedly lavish, but it had nothing on the duo's new collection, which was dripping in gold bullion." (Style.com) This particular collection was inspired by Dolce's Sicilian heritage as he "was born in a town in the center of Sicily and, as an infant, slept in his father’s tailoring workshop as his parents outfitted the local congregation for high days and holidays." (Vogue) 

The main themes of the collection seemed to be slightly more old fashioned, drawing from a religious Italian style. Common materials were black lace and metallic gold thread. Pieces included dresses, capes, and skirtsuits with lots of embroidery. Velvet and needlepoint work gave the collection a somewhat luxurious feeling.

As Style.com's Nicole Phelps put it: "Dolce and Gabbana pushed its vocabulary with positive results, but it wasn't unfamiliar enough to dampen the religious devotion of its fans."
 

This piece is a great example of the entire theme of the collection: more conservative, and definitely Italian. I love the skirt and cape-shaped top, as well as the lace knee high socks and sleeves peeking out. The contrast of the more edgy boots looks great with the rest of the outfit. (Photo from Style.com)