Family Affair: Christmas with Dolce &Gabbana high fashion collections
At the end of 2020 we face two choices: to be positive or not to be positive? Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana have no doubts: life must be encouraged. And what better way than thanks to the warmth of the family. Cosmopolitan, transgenerational, imperfect, beautiful, colorful, fun. Every family in our eyes is just like that. From 7 to 9 December, shortmovies dedicated to the presentation of the new Haute Couture, Haute Couture and Haute Jewelery collections will be launched . Spontaneous videos and moments of celebration, all filmed inside the Dolce & Gabbana salons in Corso Venezia - which tell precisely a "family portrait", a comparison between generations who interpret and live the world of High Fashion in their own way. Where couture is revised and corrected for the younger generation, where the jewel is not only the prerogative of grandmothers or mothers, but also of the uncle and cousins. This new declaration of spontaneity of style, all devoted to enhancing individuality, is the key concept of the collections and a tribute to Milan and the La Scala Theater. We asked the stylists to tell us about their vision of sartorial fashion in an exclusive interview for L'Officielitalia.
The new collections highlight the idea of an extended and multi-generational family. How important is the family in such a particular historical moment, especially in view of Christmas?
SG: 2020 has profoundly changed us and our habits, but the family remains at the center of our priorities. The family is one of the values we are most attached to and has always been the basis of our work. Today more than ever we need the strength, the emotions that this bond represents.
The new Alta Moda and Alta Sartoria collections tell a “family portrait”, a comparison between generations who interpret and live style in their own way. A cosmopolitan family, which brings together very different personalities. The collections are thus the expression of a new aesthetic, where classic and contemporary are contaminated.
How is Christmas celebrated at Dolce & Gabbana?
DD: As you can see in the short movies we worked on! We imagined a nice family dinner, a party between relatives who have not seen each other for a long time, a moment of joy and sharing. The fascinating side of the comparison between generations is the beauty of the whole. Seeing a grandmother with a grandson, with her daughter, despite the great age difference is beautiful! They fit together.
Both in the Alta Moda collection and in the Alta Sartoria collection we see iconic key looks of the maison on parade but also new proposals in a mix between past and contemporary. What does this collection want to convey?
SG: Each look best interprets the individuality of the individual, emphasizing their uniqueness. We have chosen to dress “experienced” women in a more classic way, therefore with sheath dress, embroidered lace dress, ballet flats or décolleté. While the boys' looks are a kind of broken mirror, they bring very different styles together in a new way. We observe a lot the new generations, how they freely mix garments, accessories without having a precise idea; in this way they make everything possible and allow us to be creative! The perspective changes in this way.
Many of the protagonists of the video have hair of different colors, is there a particular reason?
SG: Young people today also express themselves like this. They often change their hair color, wear extravagantly makeup. We wanted to tell the generational comparison also through these details. It was fun!
How do you think we can bring the young generation closer to appreciate the value of craftsmanship, of the handmade?
DD: This is our most important goal, to bring young people to know and appreciate the handmade, the beauty and uniqueness of the Italian artisan tradition. The craftsmanship, the excellence of the workers are the basis of our creations and we are proud to be able to give them light with our work.
Also to ensure continuity to these excellences, the Botteghe di Mestiere project was born in 2012 ; a professional training course, within the company, which aims to pass on the basics of tailoring to the new generations and offer, at the end of the training course, a concrete job opportunity. It is a project we care a lot about, because it reflects and conveys all those values that are fundamental for us: the importance of manual skills, of tailoring, of “creating” with passion, technique and consistently with the moment we live. Fashion must reflect reality.
