Dolce & Gabbana FW2021

This year the Dolce & Gabbana FW2021 Women’s Fashion Show felt like the supermarket aisle where a 5-year-old picks out their favourite Barbie with a selection of clothes. “Life in plastic, it’s fantastic”, as quoted in the song “I’m a Barbie Girl” by Aqua in 1997. Let’s face it that is exactly what the Dolce & Gabbana Fashion Show was: “Fantastic!”

Dolce & Gabbana digital transformation

With the world going digital, it only makes sense that the brand would lean into the artificial – and wow, did they!

Firstly, it’s all about the e-girl. Technicolour graffiti contrasts shimmering high-tech material reminiscent of digital pixels, cables, holographs and plastic. Neon animal print and faux robotic limbs also made an appearance.

Finally, in true post-2020 fashion, Dolce’s signature tiaras feature atop face shields.

Welcoming back the 90s

For ages, “90s sexiness” has been what fans have been asking Dolce & Gabbana for, and finally, this year, they gave in. Although, Gabbana confirmed that the starting point was different from then. Gabbana continued by saying that in the 90s, youth dressed sexy for other youth. Now, the young generation dresses sexy for themselves.

In a nod to the 90s, beautifully cut graphic tees emblazoned with “I’m a supermodel” and “90’s Fashion” were paired with barely-there mini skirts. Structured corsets embellished with oversized crystals were paired with paper bag jeans and opera gloves.

Also, with virtual reality being the “latest fashion” in experiencing the material world, garments and jewellery are supersized for “the digital mentality”.

Dolce & Gabbana 2021 fashion through a filter

Everyone is looking at the world through a filter which is what the clear visor glasses we saw on the runway signify. Social media is all about filters, cropping, make-up and camera timers and the world of fashion fits right in – with virtual fashion shows, virtual design apps and virtual models.

Dubbed the #DGNextChapter, the collection was a collaboration with the Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia. Artificial intelligence and robotics were the inspiration for this collection.

A robot made by the Istituto featured on the runway.  Is it just me, or did it look a lot like the “blue man who lives in a blue world”? “I’m Blue (Da Ba De)!” This song played during the show, too. Gabbana’s newly dyed blue hair fitted in perfectly.

But, Dolce & Gabbana’s new collection is not just about adapting to the digital world. “The most important thing about technology is humans. Humans make technology. It’s handmade,” Gabbana says.

For more information, visit /www.dolcegabbana.com/en/