PARIS (AP) — For the primary time of their 40-year historical past, the Italian design duo Dolce & Gabbana are showcasing their work within the French vogue capital. Paris, the birthplace of high fashion, now finds itself internet hosting a strong Italian counterpoint to French luxurious vogue.
The message, as curator Florence Müller places it, is direct: “Yes, Italy does it too.”
The landmark exhibition, Du Coeur a la Most important (From the Coronary heart to the Hand) working from Jan. 10 to March 31, is a not solely a love letter to Italian craftsmanship, however to the interconnectedness of vogue. “The story of couture is global,” Müller defined. “Embroidery, lace, brocade — they existed long before Parisian couture, in Italy, in India, and beyond.”
Unfold throughout 1,200 sq. meters (1,400 sq. yards) of the newly refurbished Grand Palais, the exhibit showcases over 200 appears from the corporate’s Alta Moda and Alta Sartoria collections and 300 handmade equipment, in addition to objects like Sicilian ceramics. It consists of 10 themed rooms that delve into the creative roots of Dolce & Gabbana’s work.
Baroque grandeur defines the gathering, unapologetically maximalist and layered with gildings. Among the many highlights is a robe impressed by Venice’s Murano glass, encrusted with glass mosaics from Orsoni Venezia 1888, the glassmakers behind the golden mosaics of St. Mark’s Basilica. Müller described it as “a sculpture on textile — pure craftsmanship elevated to art.”
Opera takes middle stage. A black velvet robe softened by gold gildings captures the drama of Bellini’s Norma, whereas a romantic blue gown for Verdi’s La Traviata flows like an aria, its tulle layers whispering love and loss. In the meantime, icons of the model, resembling Sophia Loren and Naomi Campbell, are immortalized in big work. Classical Italian opera and conventional Sicilian people melodies present the soundtrack, including layers of drama.
However Du Coeur a la Most important is not only about completed items. 5 actual seamstresses from Dolce & Gabbana’s Milan atelier work stay through the exhibition, crafting bodices, bustiers and corsets earlier than guests’ eyes. “This seamstress is sewing lace to form a dress, while another is draping fabric by hand,” Müller mentioned. “It’s extraordinary. This is not just fashion — it’s art.”
Sicily, Domenico Dolce’s birthplace, lies on the coronary heart of the gathering. Conventional Sicilian hand-painted carts, ceramics and lace-making methods are woven into couture. But the exhibit additionally underscores vogue’s often-ignored world influences.
“Luxury goods and artisans traveled more than we think,” Müller mentioned. “The silk and brocades used at Versailles Palace came from India, and Italian artisans were hired to craft the Hall of Mirrors … (Fashion) is constant exchanges and inspirations — this exhibit reveals what time forgot.”
Italian and French vogue have lengthy been framed as rivals, with French conglomerates resembling LVMH and Kering and Paris Vogue Week generally considered as the head of the business. However this exhibition challenges that hierarchy, exhibiting that the 2 traditions are extra interconnected than they’re opposed. Each depend on les petites mains — “the little hands” — the artisans whose precision and keenness elevate couture to artwork.
“The techniques may differ — Sicily’s lace traditions versus Paris’s tailoring — but the soul of couture remains the same: the human touch,” Müller mentioned. The exhibit reveals the shared ingenuity of French and Italian ateliers, whether or not in a Sicilian workshop or a Parisian salon.
Even past couture, the exhibit highlights the breadth of “Made in Italy.” On a regular basis objects like Smeg fridges and low presses given a D&G transforming mirror the ethos of Italian craftsmanship, reworking practical objects into canvases for artistry.
“Fashion is art. It’s meant to inspire, to dazzle, to make us dream. Whether you wear it once or never, its value is in its beauty, not its practicality,” Müller mentioned.
When requested about hyperbole of the dazzling robes — lots of which appear inconceivable to put on on the road — she replies with a smile: “So what?”
Author : LasVegasNews
Publish date : 2025-01-10 10:56:47
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