A famous Italian actor (recently discovered) strolls down a crowded street in Rome (music plays in the background) he is sporting his dark sunglasses and wearing a slim black two-piece suit with a skinny tie. A  dark small brimmed hat is perched on his head and cocked to one side; his cigarette hangs from his mouth.  He smiles and acknowledges the passersby and the tables filled with girls in their dark fitted dresses who wave and smile at him.  They know him. Everyone knows him. He continues down the street without a care in the world. But he’s not quite as happy as he appears. He’s looking for a girl he caught a glimpse of the previous night and he’s determined to find her.  She’s strong, a bit difficult and very beautiful.  She’s the heroine in this story.

After 30 years in fashion and admittedly claiming to being obsessed by the movies (especially the Italian films of the 1960s) Dolce & Gabbana are celebrating their reign as Italian ‘Mix-Masters’ of the Fellini-esque dreams that filled their minds as youngsters growing up.  It’s hard to imagine that its been 30 years since they started on a pathway to change the world’s view of Italian fashion; it’s a story filled with drama that  a stylish heroine and her many loves who dominates their world that continues to be masterfully reinvented today.

This unique period in the Italian film industry will not be forgotten nor is the “papparazzi” who inhabited it, carefully recreated in all of their ad campaigns over the years*.  They brought the sexy back to fashion at a time when Studio 54  (and its famous crowd) was really the only interesting thing happening at the time.  Their revival of the sexy curvaceous woman known in the Italian film industry as “Sophia, Gina or Anita” are all women that are strong, outspoken and the inspiration for MADONNA who was an early champion of the clothes. Some extraordinary women have worn the clothes over the years so our salute also honors them as well; they are part of this fashion legacy that has always put women center stage.  Bravo!

Editor’s Note:  (*our thanks to D&G for some of the images, as well as LA DOLCE VITA a Fellini film archival photos)