Dolce & Gabbana Retrospective

Dolce & Gabbana is one of Italy’s most well-known fashion labels. What were their first days like in the fashion industry? Where does the brand get their inspiration and plethora of fashionable ideas? FashionTV gives you a look back at one of the most successful fashion empires.

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It all began in 1980, when fashion designer Stefano Gabbana met designer Domenico Dolce. The two worked at the same fashion house in Milan, and along the way shared similar thoughts and ideas. Two years later they opened a designer consulting studio, which over the years became the notable “Dolce & Gabbana”.

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Dolce & Gabbana is synonymous with luxurious fashionable wear. The first steps as independent designers were not always easy. Stefano Gabbana describes those days, “In the beginning nobody believed in us…I remember the first and second collection we’d call customers, stores and magazines and they’d say, “Who? Dolce who?”

Today no one asks twice. The Dolce & Gabbana brand enjoys worldwide recognition.

Their first women’s collection was presented in Milan during 1985 and wasn’t such a big success. Since 1989, Dolce & Gabbana also created swimwear and underwear collections... Though their menswear lines are very popular today, the Italian designers launched their first menswear collection only in 1990.

The Dolce & Gabbana brand is timeless. The designers don’t try to follow seasonal trends, but rather aim for long-term ones. According to the designers, the most essential part of designing for them is to create an overall flattering look, rather than to set new trends or follow old ones.

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Dolce & Gabbana established a sub-label brand named D&G. Unlike Dolce & Gabbana, the D&G brand is a bit more casual and flamboyant. The urban-inspired label puts a lot of effort in inventing new fashion trends; their fashion shows usually draw a lot of attention. Everybody wants to be the first to know what will be D&G’s next fabulous and innovative step. Though D&G was very successful, the designers have decided not to carry on with it. The spring 2012 collection was the last production of D&G.

Top models like working with the duo Italian designers. In their fall 2011 ad campaign, Dolce & Gabbana collaborated with Isabeli Fontana, Constance Jablonski, Jac Jagaciak among others. Photographer Steven Klein shot a magnificent campaign where some of the girls wore flattering patterned dresses while others were dressed in menswear-inspired tailoring suits, giving the fall collection a new and sexy dimension. The Dolce & Gabbana spring 2012 fashion show was one of Milan fashion week’s top picks. The stunning models and bright color prints made it very clear—this is going to be a hot summer in Italy. The inspiration for this collection was Southern Italy in the 1950s and incorporated vibrant colors, creating a complete harmonic image.

Dolce & Gabbana’s designs are very popular on red carpets. Madonna, Lady Gaga, Naomi Campbell, Jennifer Aniston and Kate Moss are just a few of Dolce & Gabbana’s celebrity fans. Though they are very successful and influence designers all over the world, Stefano Gabbana is never completely sure that they are doing only their best. “We’re never 100 percent satisfied with the end collection…we always find something that isn’t perfect. We say all the time ‘next season.’” Domenico Dolce says, “If you start to believe in your own success and live like a successful person, you kill everything. The best success is the next success.”

In that case FashionTV is excited for Dolce & Gabbana’s NEXT successful collection!