Moneyinretro – Money in Retro

My first encounter with Dolce and Gabbana was in the 1990s when the brand was beginning to make it big on the world stage. This was an exciting time for the company, aided by headline celebrities such as Madonna, who helped raise the profile of the label. Branded in monochrome, the exotic-sounding Italian name ‘Dolce & Gabanna’ projected a cool, sharp, edgy image enhanced by the fact that two handsome Italian designers were at the helm. By the time the last decade of the twentieth century drew to a close, the brand ‘Dolce and Gabbana’ was a household name. Their designs were being seen on high-profile celebs and models, launching this dynamic design duo into the stratosphere. Dolce and Gabbana designs are considered high-end luxury, cut to enhance in the finest fabrics and finishes; consequently, a buyer can expect to pay commensurately. Priced comparably to Givenchy, Valentino, Gucci or Burberry, Dolce and Gabbana off the peg retails for approximately 45% less. Dolce and Gabbana inspiration and innovation The artistic genius of this Italian design duo, who have a clear obsession with and ability to communicate and appreciate the female form and spirit more significantly than any other of their peers, is famed for the duo’s unique ability to capture and embody the incomparable intensity, seductivity and character of centuries of Italian artistic expression, which is eloquently reflected and communicated throughout Dolce & Gabbana’s collections. From the outset, the brand established a reputation for enhancing and showcasing the natural seductive curves of the female form as encapsulated by their iconic slip dress, which has often been copied but never equalled. In taking a seemingly unremarkable piece of foundation wear and reinterpreting it as formal attire, Dolce and Gabbana reflect the voluptuous, sultry images as made iconic by the legendary Italian movie era at its height during the 50s and 60s. It was this little twist on a seemingly unremarkable undergarment, which is of course synonymous with female sexuality and peekaboo eroticism that truely emblazoned the brand's identity on the public consciousness. The slip dress was just the right design for the right time. The legend that is Madonna had brought a new pop vogue to what had previously been considered old fashioned foundation wear such as corsets and pointy bras but the singer resurrected and utilised the mysterious power of feminine underwear as evidenced by the corsets and exaggerated conical bras worn in her music videos, captivating the general public with her no apology, confrontational feminism. In many ways Dolce & Gabbana were just vibrating the mood and capitalising on the zeitgeist of the period at a time when the general consciousness, post 80s power dressing, seemed prepared and were ready for a new chapter in reflecting female sexuality. The truth is, Dolce and Gabbana have always been on the cusp of change, sometimes even preempting change or influencing change, leading others in the fashion industry to maintain a close and watchful eye on the brand in order to retain relevance in an industry and market of continually happening style and fashion. In fact some of Dolce and Gabbana’s most iconic creations have been an integral part of celebrity rise to fame, collaborating and communicating a vision, a new concept and world view to the public; who can forget Lady Gaga in her full length, black, peekaboo lace Dolce and Gabbana dress. An endorsement by one of the duo’s greatest brand ambassadors, the influential Jennifer Lopez has secured for the brand a pedestal from which they can not be knocked despite the 2008 misgivings about the Dolce & Gabbana advertising campaign where a Chinese model depicted eating spaghetti with chopsticks covered billboards. Such is their reputation for transformation and empowerment of the female form that the Italian duo have garnered a loyal celebrity following, with stars such as Madonna, Beyonce and Jennifer Lopez making pop history in their collaboration. The August 2021 ‘Alta Moda’ show in Venice is testament to the duos’ most recent creative genius and the fact that they have lost none of their ability to communicate their very unique, eloquent vision of femininity. One of the movie industry’s greatest advocates of the female voice and image has been a brand ambassador in their Venice show: Dame Helen Mirren. Hers is a voice that garners public gaze, commands attention and gets bodies to sit up and take notice. This is one of the key elements of Dolce and Gabbana’s success; not only the fact that they advocate and champion female rights, but also the fact that they have an understanding of contemporary issues they listen to the mood or current zeitgeist and reflect it back in their apparel. They breathe in the popular temperature of the moment and exhale it back into clothing for the general public to boldly wear their feelings and thoughts as a badge of honor. Is Dolce and Gabbana a Luxury Brand? The brand too has a name that is synonymous with quality, guaranteeing a distinctive luxury, where only the very highest calibre materials are considered, specifically sourced and uniquely designed. Each new season reveals a sumptuous treat for the senses; painted fabrics, foil metallic brocades, delicate lace, liquid silk satins and breathy floating chiffons printed in decadent gothic images. From the heavily beaded or embroidered to the stained glass prints of religious revival, Dolce and Gabbana fashion is luxury in art form. The design duo’s appreciation for and awareness of the female form is revealed season after season where Dolce and Gabbana’s vision is projected through an evocative corset, lace trimmed chemise/slip dress or bias cut panels of a shift dress constructed in tartan cloth. The designer's mastery of cut collaborates and communicates with the shape and contour needs of the female form, and the designers exploit every possible asset that can be derived from a fabric to enhance the figure. The end product is a singularly luxurious piece, which if bias in design eats into a cloth, a cut which can be wasteful and costly. However, design takes priority and this is clearly part of the brand ethos, all or nothing; evidenced from the brand logo impressions on zips to the most costly uniquely printed and embroidered fabrics which contribute to making a Dolce and Gabbana piece a collector’s prize of the future. How much Does Dolce and Gabbana Cost? Dolce and Gabanna dresses generally retail for approximately 2,500$ with the exception of during sale time or perhaps when or if discounts are applied. The jackets and coats retail for about a similar price to Gucci or Burberry: 125.00 whereas their trousers and skirts retail for 650$ on average. Their clothing line for children, as with the Dolce and Gabbana accessories range and sportswear, are priced for rapid turn over. Decadent and gothic, Dolce and Gabbana’s characteristic grand Italian mastery lies in the mystery of the weave of a fine tapestry combining history and imagination. The most expensive item that can be bought in Dolce and Gabbana comes from the Alta range, a specific element of the brand, created for those discerning clients who demand just that little bit more in terms of uniqueness. Quality and luxury comes at a premium but arguably so too does cheap fast fashion; devouring the Planet’s resources and costing the buyer extra by only giving a limited period of wear. In answer to this Dolce and Gabbana offer quality throughout their range which lasts and endures but none more so than in their ‘Alta’ offering which surpasses the expectation and reveals the greatest realisation of the fashion duo’s imagination; more art than fashion and more fashion than art, there is nothing or no one who can touch Dolce and Gabbana at their best. If you enjoyed this, don’t miss: Is Louis Vuitton Cheaper in France?

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