D&G sexes up Milan Fashion Week

Forget subtle tones and retro allusions: Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana raunched up Milan Fashion Week with their new D&G collection on Thursday to the sounds of James Brown’s “Sex Machine”.

Dripping gold jewellery, micro tunic-style dresses and big platform sandals were the main features of the lusty lineup for the warm months of next year.

The colours were bright greens and pinks with prints reminiscent of some of Gianni Versace’s classic designs and the fabric of preference was silk twill.

Some of the models looked like expensively dressed Roma dancers with billowing skirts, others like palace courtesans from the Roman Empire lounging by a pool in outsize straw hats, chunky necklaces and wrist-covering bracelets.

D&G said the defining feature of the collection was the use of foulards.

The silk twill foulard is used “as a central element in the construction of clothes, shirts, trousers, skirts and accessories,” the designers said.

The shapes “are either soft or made tighter by a foulard winding itself sensuously around the body,” said the couple, whose show took place in the historic 1940s Metropol cinema in central Milan owned by their company.

The two also announced that starting next year their D&G line will be integrated with their main Dolce & Gabbana collection. “We’re as happy as when we launched it 20 years ago and we’re full of energy,” they said.