Decadent aristocrats at Dolce and Gabbana

AFP, September, 2007

MILAN (AFP) — Decadent 17th century French and Italian aristocrats might well have been able to pick out something to their taste from the offerings of Dolce and Gabbana in their ready-to-wear collection for next spring-summer.

Petticoats of frothy tulle, a riot of flounces, frills and furbelows, and hand-painted fabric in rich red, violet, yellow and grass green, would not have been out of place at any European court.

But design duo Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana are too canny and edgy to merely reproduce historical costume. They used precious brocade that looked like a wall tapestry for ultra-wide pants worn over flat shoes. The same brocade in turquoise, emerald or gold cropped up in short frocks, cinched into the waist and wrapped in sheer black gazar....