Style Inspiration: Dolce & Gabbana
Get the Dolce & Gabbana Look on the high-street
I hope the people remember Dolce & Gabbana for the sensuality, for the Mediterranean sense, for our honesty to the life.
-Domenico Dolce
Dolce & Gabbana has one of the most distinctive brand personalities – think of Dolce & Gabbana and you think of sunny Sicily, small Italian villages, big italian families and big designs. It’s one of the most recognised fashion houses since the 80s, so it’s no surprise that there is so much on the high street that has clearly taken inspiration * cough * or ripped off * cough * from D&G. Being one of my favourite designers, it made sense for my next ‘inspired by’ post to be on D&G.
[Check out my Style Inspiration posts on Gucci and Chloé]
If there is one thing that Dolce & Gabbana doesn’t do, it’s doing things by halves. It’s the definition of maximalismo. Everything is exuberant.
Fun fact: Dolce & Gabbana have said that when they die, their eponymous fashion house will die with them – they do not want anyone else to take over after they are gone. Every offer they have received so far, for example, when they broke up as a romantic couple, floods of offers came in to take control but they refused.
The DOLCE DNA
If you want to experiment with your style and add a splash of D&G flavour to your high-street outfit, then here’s what to look for:
- Lingerie pieces
- Feminine florals
- Colourful prints
- Regal and religious accessories
- Baroque extravagance
Photography by D Rayner Photo (edited by me)
Powerful but romantic. Womanly.
-Tim Blanks, Vogue
1. Lingerie pieces
Bralettes, camis, satin pyjama pieces, corsets, structured tops… These are the types of pieces that make up the basis of Dolce & Gabbana’s aesthetic. Perhaps, the corset is the most iconic – a favourite of their muse Sofia Loren – which subsequently returns to their collections. I saw this bejeweled bustier top on Zara and immediately knew where they got their inspiration from. Black and red are staples of the D&G diet, more specifically, black lace and red jewels and lips.
Look One | Earrings: | Bodice: Zara | Trousers: | Bag: | Mules: River Island
To me, flowers are happiness.
-Stefano Gabbana
2. Feminine florals
Florals make up a large proportion of Dolce & Gabbana’s prints, especially roses. Instead of ditsy prints, look for large flowers that dominate the fabric. This white and is absolutely stunning (any weddings coming up soon?) and a complete D&G dupe.
Have fun with the florals – clash them with other prints, like polka dots or leopard print, maybe go for a nautical vibe and pair a floral top with stripes.
Look Two | Earrings: | Top: | Skirt: | Bag: Asos
In life you need to take a risk
– Stefano Gabbana
3. Colourful prints
Go for statement prints that remind you of summer. Prints that are beloved by D&G (and lucky for us available on the high-street) are florals, as mentioned, prints with fruit, post-card prints (an example of what I mean below), animal prints – especially leopard, a classic – scarf prints and tile prints to evoke their gorgeous maiolica print…
This H&M dress may be a bit extra, but as soon as I saw it, I needed it. The sweetheart neckline, the ruffles, the banana and yellow lily print just screamed Dolce & Gabbana.. which may be why it sold out straight away. I tried three times to buy it when it went out of stock! Eventually, I came, I saw, I conquered! It was all worth it. This dress has earned so many compliments every time I’ve worn it.
If you’re afraid of wearing something like this, then maybe first try it out with flats and understated jewellery and start by wearing it to an event like a wedding, where you’ll feel more comfortable all dressed up.
Unfortunately, this dress is sold out! But here are some gorgeous alternatives:
We built our fashion around three fundamental concepts: Sicily, tailoring, and tradition.– Domenico Dolce
4. Regal and religious accessories
Sicily is at the heart of the brand, so pieces that reflect the traditions of this Italian city are key. Domenico and Stefano love to play with bringing Italy’s historic and religious past into their modern-day looks. Expect to see a lot of big crosses and headpieces that would be fit for a queen 👑.
Gold is a key metal, so pick out items with gold buttons and or cute headband to jazz up an outfit. Statement earrings are a must – the bigger the better. You’ll find loads of that are especially made to look like the ones seen on the runway.
Go for jewels upon jewels! Jewelled earrings – check. Embellished bag – check. Stone headband – check. Pretend you’re Beyoncé in the ‘Bow Down’ video.
(Okay, I cheated with this outfit, because the top is not a high-street dupe, but I’ve listed a few tops below that are similar to the D&G top I’m wearing).
Look Four | Top: Dolce & Gabbana – in blue | Earrings: | Skirt: Asos | Bag: Asos (sold out – ) | Shoes: Topshop – similar | Headband: Asos
Purse friendly versions of this Dolce & Gabbana vest:
Baroque /bəˈrɒk/)
is a highly ornate and often extravagant style of architecture, art and music that flourished in Europe from the early 17th until the late 18th century. The baroque style used contrast, movement, exuberant detail, grandeur and surprise to achieve a sense of awe.
5. Baroque extravagance
The pattern on this Asos jumpsuit fits perfectly into the baroque category; it’s got the roses, the ornate gold borders, panelling and the colours are stunning together. Reminds me of the Sistine Chapel ceiling!
To get this look, make sure you have some gold or silver tones, along with textures like embroidery on top of intricate patterns and jacquard fabrics.
Look Five | Jumpsuit: Asos |Bag: | Sunglasses: Primark
I had a lot of fun putting together these outfits! Are you inspired to jazz up your outfit with a statement earring or cute box bag? Let me know in the comments what you thought 😉
Also would you want me to share the Lightroom presets I made for these photos? Let me know!
Thanks for reading!
x