Ten years ago, Dolce&Gabbana introduced the first Alta Moda collection to the world. An impressive 73-look-collection designed by Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana was presented among the ancient cloisters and Italian gardens of the former San Domenico convent in Taormina on July 9th 2012.
Since then, this yearly collection has epitomised the DNA and values of the brand, getting more impressive and spectacular year on year.
To mark the tenth anniversary of Alta Moda, Dolce&Gabbana took inspiration from the brand’s Sicilian heritage, using the Sicilian woman as a muse and returning to the hometown of Domenico Dolce to put on a show to remember.
A spectacular performance took place in front of the iconic Cathedral of Syracuse, a Unesco World Heritage site in the area of Siracusa, Sicily, where a collection of 106 women’s outfits were presented to an audience of VIPs and celebrity guests.
On the front row, an impressive lineup of VIPs eagerly awaited the big reveal. Mariah Carey was escorted to her seat by the designers themselves as she wore a custom-made Dolce&Gabbana fitted dress, while Sharon Stone and Helen Mirren also wowed in colourful D&G creations. Also in attendance were Drew Barrymore, Kris Jenner, Christian Bale, Casey Affleck, Heidi Klum, Monica Belluci and Vanessa Bryant, as well as a host of VIPS and clients of the house.
Drew Barrymore, Mariah Carey, Sharon Stone, Helen Mirren
The show began with a live re-enactment of Cavalleria Rusticana, a classic Italian opera from the late 1800s by Pietro Mascagni. This particular performance was part of the production directed by Davide Livermore, which recently opened the 2022 season of classical plays at the Greek Theatre in Syracuse. Dozens of men and women were enrolled to participate in this theatrical display which tells the tale of a Greek tragedy. The story was divided into five acts telling this ancient story and setting the tone for the drama and extravagance of the collection the audience was about to discover.
Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana with Mariah Carey
As the curtain fell on the show, models took over the runway, beginning with an elegant bride dressed head to toe in white. This tribute to the Sicilian woman saw many of the House’s key codes re-envisioned in a monochrome colour palette. Black lace was the material of choice for many of the looks, so very Dolce&Gabbana, but shying away from the bold colour palette we have seen in many recent collections.
Corseted dresses with hand-embroidered details were inspired by traditional baroque, all sculptured by hand. Traditional Italian motifs including angel wings and cherubs were used throughout with a nod to religion and the history of the region.
Tulle, organza, velvet and crepe were delicately used throughout, while embellishment and embroidery using silk thread, velvet, crystals and sequins added sparkle to the looks.
While much of the first part of the show featured only black and white looks, there was a return to colour for the closing section of the lineup, but not in the way we have seen it from the house before.
Draped chiffon and taffeta dresses and coats were presented in full colour, from red to magenta to lime green, all dramatised with dramatic capes and hoods, this showstopping gowns with their simple yet dramatic composition were a new arrival for the brand.
The show closed with a standing ovation for the designer duo who proceeded to mingle with the crowds, embracing their closest friends and clients as they meandered through the audience. This incredible emotional show marked ten years of success in this realm for the designers, with many more to come.
