Sunday, February 27, 2011

Best of Milan Fashion Week

Dolce & Gabbana FW11

by Grace Gordon

Dolce and Gabbana went big this season with massive technological updates to their show, 83 looks, and a strong, clear delineation of styles. Before the show started, guests were asked to log on to the D&G website to leave comments, which were then streamed live on screens situated above the runway. These comments were mixed with footage of the front row, backstage, and exterior of the venue.

Their fall/winter collection focused on the duality of sexuality by featuring either a menswear-influenced look or womenswear look in turn. One followed the next in a loose boy-girl algorithm (the “boys” were played by female models who donned pork pie hats and swept-back hair to achieve the masculine look). This was an incredibly playful and fun collection that was butch and femme at the same time (perhaps Dolce and Gabbana were a little influenced by the Queen of dual-natured sexuality, Lady Gaga).

The “boys” wore jacquard print puff sleeve blazers, drop-crotch trousers, tuxedo jackets and harness-back vests. The girls wore starburst print dresses in black and white, shaggy fur coats, lace cut-out frocks, flowy chiffon print gowns, and big cat prints. The boys and girls then coupled up for a glitzy finale. The rogue Dolce & Gabbana fashionista has tamed her wild ways this season, channeling a toned-down and inventive style of dress that embraces the bifurcated nature of modern day fashion.