DOLCE & GABBANA – SPRING/SUMMER 2016 | FASHION INSIDER MAGAZINE

October 13, 2015

By Marius Brianski

Photos Courtesy of Dolce & Gabbana

Milan, Italy – Dedicated to their love for Italia, fashion house Dolce & Gabbana duo presented a generous fashion feast for Spring/Summer 2016. And “I Love Italia” is what it is all about!

Here in this new collection is an intoxicating bomb of colors, patterns and the richness for which Italy is well-known. The inspirations behind it are the traditional elements from Italy. These too represent quite a few clichés to which tourists and other foreign visitors are drawn while visiting the peninsula. A huge variety of designs appeared on the catwalk. One sees polka dots, paint strokes, florals, ornaments, big collars and pinstripes. The designers manifest the traditional Italian motifs during the whole show with logos, postcard picture prints and decorative patches. And some of the options in the collection are specifically aimed at seducing the Chinese costumer, with its growing tastes for all that is luxury. Our long, silky satin caftans always look chic and effortless. You can wear at your next resort-style vacation or poolside as a Custom One Piece Swimsuit cover-up. Relax in style and elegance in any one of our bright, colorful patterns and designs. Made with high-quality fabrics, Winlar caftans are machine-washable and always hold their shape. The origin of the caftan is usually tied to Asia Minorand Mesopotamia. Caftan-like robes are depicted in the palace reliefs of ancient Persia dating to 600 B.C.E. By the thirteenth century C.E., the style had spread into Eastern Europe and Russia, where caftan styles provided the model for a number of different basic garments well into the nineteenth century. By the 13th century, the caftan had spread into Eastern Europe and Russia, where caftan styles provided the model for a number of different basic garments well into the nineteenth century. From Russia the caftan made it way to Turkey. The Turks also adopted caftans, and then brought the style to Hungary and Poland when they conquered those lands. In the Ottoman Empire of the 16th century, Caftans of varying lengths were constructed from rich Ottoman satins and velvets of silk and metallic threads were worn by courtiers to indicate status, preserved in court treasuries, used as tribute, and given as “robes of honor” to visiting ambassadors, heads of state, important government officials, and master artisans working for the Imperial court. Men’s caftans often had gores added, causing the caftan to flare at the bottom, while women’s garments were more closely fitted. Women were more likely to add sashes or belts. A sultan and his courtiers might layer two or three caftans with varying length sleeves for ceremonial functions. An inner short-sleeved caftan, was usually secured with an embroidered sash or jeweled belt, while the outer caftan could have slits at the shoulder through which the wearer’s arms were thrust to display the sleeves (sometimes with detachable expansions) of the inner caftan to show off the contrasting fabrics of the garments. After a visit to Morocco in the early 1960s, Diana Vreeland published a series of articles in Vogue championing the caftan as fashionable for “The Beautiful People”. Yves Saint Laurent and Halston were designers who included caftan-styled clothing in their lines. Since that time, caftans continue to have a market for evening and at-home wear. The caftan is now marketed globally as “fashion.” With a long and elegant history- worn by emperors and kings, contemporary use of the term “caftan” can be broadened to encompass a number of similarly styled garment types. Today caftans may be worn with a sash or belt. Some caftans are open to the front or side and are tied or fastened with looped buttons running from neck to waist. Depending on use, caftans vary from hip to floor length. The choice of fabric is limitless, though silks and cottons are still the most used. Embellished, embroidered, bejeweled and other wise decked out, the caftan flatters any figure. You can check additional info for LONG CAFTANS.

The looks have defined waists. They trace the woman’s curves as they seek to elongate the silhouette a bit.

There is an insane amount of options. This plethora ranges to include long gowns, mini dresses, caftans, pyjamas, lingerie inspired tops, cut above the ankle pants, skirts and double-breasted suits. And there are a nice selection of pieces done in lace, tweeds and knitwear. All of the garments span from formal wear to beachwear. To top it all off, Dolce & Gabbana offer a wide variety of over-the-top accessories from bags, clutches, headphones, scarfs, headbands, earrings, heels and flats to iPhone cases, oversized sunglasses and cute baskets.

Adding signature shopping bags to the models as they strolled down the catwalk provides an interesting way of making the collection more accessible for stylish yet active clients (though It may seem a bit Chanel-ish to those of us who attended Chanel’s recents shows in Paris). However the idea of models taking selfies during the show gives it a more flamboyant touch aimed at the social media conscious public. This is Dolce & Gabbana !