TREASURE ISLAND

“It’s not just the clothes, the two metres of pearls, of pleats. It’s about the family, about Sicily and about black,” says Domenico Dolce. “It’s a style of life.”

- DANA THOMAS

Sicily has always been at the heart of Dolce & Gabbana. Domenico Dolce hails from Polizzi Generosa, a medieval town near Palermo, and the duo’s opulent, maximalist approach to design and style embraces and builds upon the Mediterranean isle’s rich baroque history. And so, how perfect that they chose Syracuse, a 2,700-year-old city on Sicily’s Ionian coast, for their 10th anniversary Alta Moda event in July. For four days and nights—mainly nights—Dolce & Gabbana threw lavish shows and crazy-fun fetes to celebrate the beauty and charm of the region, honour Italy’s artisans and ring up millions in sales (clients are said to drop an average of £85,000 each). No small affair was this: 20 hotels, 900 workers and 150 caterers all contributed to make the magic happen. And what magic it was.