The sunset on Ostuni, the white city, painting the typical apulian houses in the most beautiful shades of pink and orange is the perfect backdrop for Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana’s Alta Sartoria collection.
The traditions of Southern Italy, a keystone of the Dolce&Gabbana imaginary, are the base of the inspiration for the show, especially the ancient tradition of the Corredo – the bridal kit, which mothers used to start preparing when a baby girl was born.
White linen tablecloths, nightgowns, bed sheets and napkins ornately decorated with lace used to be presented to the girl when she married. These were then passed down from generation to generation, just as the Designers intend their clothes to live.
Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana have sourced antique Corredi and repurposed them in jackets, suits, coats, taking what was typically destined for women and repurposing it for the highest form of men’s tailoring, Alta Sartoria..
Beige, White and a dash of Brown, along with Dolce&Gabbana’s classical Black are the colours of this Collection, punctuated with gold thread and enriched by meticulous embroidery. The Designers have also taken the ceramics of Grottaglie, world-renowned for their beauty and originally from Ostuni, and used them to adorn several looks of the show.
Ostuni
Between the Itria Valley and the Alto Salento lies the enchanting Ostuni, known throughout the world as the ‘Città Bianca’ (‘White City’). this nickname stems from the dazzling dominance of white in the town’s ancient core, entirely whitewashed with lime, which according to legend served as a deterrent to enemies approaching from the sea, blinding them with its brightness.
The historic centre of Ostuni, which the Apulians have always called ‘Terra’ (land, earth), clings to the steep sides of a hill and is surrounded by walls with towers that date back to the Messapians, an ancient population that founded this enchanted place as early as 1,000 BC. Over the centuries, all the conquering peoples — from the Ostrogoths to the Lombards, from the Moors to the Spaniards — continued to reinforce its walls, contributing to the preservation of the authentic beauty and pristine purity of this extraordinary place.
Piazza della Libertà is the beating heart of Ostuni. Its distinctive triangular shape is due to the numerous renovations it has undergone over the centuries. Facing the square are a former Franciscan convent, now the town hall, the adjacent church of San Francesco and, further away, the church of Santo Spirito and the archaeological remains of an ancient fortification.
Dolce&Gabbana will show the collection in this very square as a homage to Ostuni, an authentic open-air scenic space as unique as every Alta Sartoria creation