Dolce & Gabbana // Autumn Winter 2012 // Milan Fashion Week

Normally I get to review collections from afar. Admiring the skill and the craftsmanship through my laptop. But not this season. Nope this season I was sat block C seat 570 as the cavalcade of models stormed the Dolce & Gabbana runway. Now I could play it all cool. Be all nonchalant about the whole event, and act as though this was a regular occurrence for me. But it’s not so I won’t.

When you get an email from one of the major fashion houses in the world asking if you’ll be attending their menswear show, well it would be downright rude to say no. So after a hunt round the internet flights were booked, the hotel was booked, the taxi to the airport was booked and I sat like a small child before Christmas counting down the days. Totally cool! So blasé about the whole event. Nonchalant even. Then the alarm didn’t go off, then my flight was delayed, the concierge feigned any knowledge of my tickets, AND boom Milan has a wildcat taxi strike. Nonchalance flew out the wind faster than I could sprint through the Milanese metro.

I of course need not have worried, despite be scheduled to start at 2pm, Zegna had started late and as such so would Dolce & Gabbana. My baroque framed invite was scanned, I was pointed to my seat, helped myself to a glass of lovely champagne from the model waiters in pristine tailcoats and sat down. Soaking in the atmosphere, we were in the opera and waiting for the curtain to rise. The FROW included the likes of David Gandy, Tim Blanks, Anna Piaggi and Milan Vukmirovic. The lights dimmed, the velvet curtains pulled back and a veritable torrent of men paraded in front of my eyes.

At first I tried to take photos, but not having a decent DSLR they’re a bit rubbish (see below), then I tried tweeting, then I returned to pen and paper. The collection was breath taking. The music from the Marriage of Figaro swept through the Metropole, taking us back home to the family. Sicilian capes and baker boy hats thundered past, flannels and astrakhan collars all looked beautiful. This collection was certainly a consolidation of the teams skill. Tampering the more outlandish elements of the now retired D&G label into something more refined, into beautiful silk pajamas. There was very little if anything I did not want for myself. This did nothing to hurt the brand as a whole and I think this will be a great launch from here on out.

Oh and as for the finale, there is definitely something to be said for having that many models storm past you. Though even I had trouble finding where to look!