Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana toyed with mystical forests swirling in the subdued spotlight to the likes of Tchaikovsky’s “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy” – almost like a Mid-winter night’s dream of “Enchanted Sicily” told through the secret tomes of our dynamic duo. Amidst appliques of owls, fairies, armored princesses, Dolce & Gabbana RTW Fall 2014 sent out a dozen dresses printed with pairs of keys, and just as many classical motifs that unlock a remarkable tale of epic proportions.
Theirs is a romanticized story of the hidden Sicily, to be certain, one far distant from the religious opulence of previous collections. And in terms of iconography, that vision proved refreshing here, rightfully less regal than last season’s. Credit for that goes in part to the marriage of gothic insignias, shimmering balaclavas and gauntlets to pack a punch. The heavy armor-like studs had starkly contrasted air-borne floral dresses – a collision of two worlds in this magical kingdom. And, in a task that might prove mammoth, the pair had re-told an allegory that best debunks today’s unnerving view of fantasy role-play. The hooded girls have never felt more gusto walking through these woods.
