Dolce&Gabbana continue their journey. A journey towards a colourful Italian sense of belonging, local traditions and style. Tropico Italiano (Italian tropic): they create and define it in every single aspect along the catwalk; their soul appeals and captivates the audience, like a tourist getting dragged into wonder and marvel. Authenticity and desire of showing their true self, both virtues and defects. Almost like Lenù Lila, the rione (the district). Elena Ferrante describes it: authentic in its imperfections and tragedies, yet alluring; its uniqueness is welcoming and it’s impossible to get detached from it. Reality has been read and made tangible, in all its beauty.
Thus, through laces, layers and embroideries, the reader runs fast from Venice to Pisa, from Rome to Florence, from Capri to Naples. Moreover, appealing transparencies, roses and holy pictures printed on dresses. The lavish Italy, the North, Centre and South… and its thousand fears.
What bewitches us is reality, also in the case of Elena Ferrante: the truth lying in the post 50s districts of Naples, the same truth that instils warmth, harmony, and desire of remaining inside a captivating feeling. In this way tradition comes true: pasta printed on garments, ice-creams, drinks and tomato advertisements. A folk carol echoes on the catwalk; it seems like our main characters are actually there: Lenù Lila as well as Solara and Caracci families. Its great but flawed beauty is celebrated in the union between the Bel Paese and the two stylists: an actual grand style “marriage”.
New Fashion – Book crossover. What about the main characters? Elena Ferrante with her tetralogy of “My brilliant friend” and Dolce&Gabbana with their “Tropico Italiano”. What combines them together is the so called Italian spirit, which is the main aspect of Dolce&Gabbana’s collections, as well as the core theme of the whole tetralogy. It has been analysed in each aspect, in every more or less tragic, unfair or hidden part, to such an extent that every single element has been merged in a real-life novel, told through women’s eyes. Also Dolce&Gabbana deal with Italian spirit and tradition by digging up folklore and turning it into art. The art of reading, narrating… in a very Italian way.
I have read the whole tetralogy non-stop, literally devouring it; I do believe that Elena Ferrante is one of the contemporary writers who can best narrate facts, actual facts, coming across already known and sometimes forgotten truths. Therefore, the good man meets the “bastard”, because that “bastard” actually exists; in the same way, friendship is analysed in every shade of meaning by showing ups and downs. Nothing is concealed, everything is written… in black and white.
What about you? Have you read the tetralogy? What do you think about Dolce&Gabbana’s runway show? Tell me your impressions below.
We don’t talk about Fashion we don’t talk about Book. We talk about the &.
(Image of Dolce&Gabbana SS17 is taken from TheGlassMagazine)
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