Dolce Gabbana 2014 Womenswear Collection

Dolce & Gabbana review and high street alternative recommendations by Emma Scott

Note: The author's views are entirely his or her own and may not reflect the views of RetoxMagazine.com

D&G Fall/Winter 2014

A queen for the day

It’s hard to not pick up on what I would say is an obvious medieval influence for this Fall 2014 collection from Dolce & Gabbana. The first giveaway is the incredible golden crowns worn by the models, each adorned with an array of colourful gems, that wouldn’t look out of place in a live action fairy-tale film, but not exactly my first choice of accessory when choosing an outfit for the day. This extravagant choice of accessories is then continued down to the earrings that match the style of the crowns, and fall level with the wearers chin.

Regal and beautiful are the best ways to describe the heavily detailed and beaded garments, your eyes are instantly drawn to them and the outstanding level of detail that has been put in to each and every one, making them all unique. However there is something that only can be seen on closer inspection, which makes these garments especially unique.

Piece by piece

A huge of amount of time, craftsmanship and patience has been taken into creating this collection, how do I know this? Well going back to what makes the garments unique; some are beaded to resemble a mosaic, with each square of the mosaic being a separate bead. Now that is dedication to a garment!

It is here we see a religious influence radiating from the collection, with images of angelic looking figures, crosses and intricate patterns that would not look out of place as a stained glass window or tapestry on the side of a medieval cathedral. I love how the light bounces off the garments, making them appear to glitter, this amount of ‘bling’ and glitz would have a been a key way to display wealth if you were a King or Queen during the middle ages, and again reinforces the theme of royalty and regality. This is then partnered with a colour palette of rich maroon red and cool metallics such as gold and silver.

A modern twist on an old classic

It’s not all stuck in the past however, many of the garments would not look out of place in a modern office environment. Black and white twill weave peplum tops, and grey herringbone weave coats make an appearance, given only a slight hint of the medieval theme with gold cross necklaces and earrings.

The silhouettes and cuts of the garments are kept relatively simple, for the busier beaded garments long sleeve, high necked shift dresses made a frequent appearance, along with the occasional knicker short bodysuit. For the simpler, ‘office’ style garments, long woollen trench coats and knee length a-line skirts are a staple feature, with smart pinafore style dresses and oversized lace applique shirts in crisp white. Cooler shades of coal black, pale grey and white are quite a contrast the rich shades seen at the beginning of the collection, however they offer a much more wearable and modern alternative that can be accessorized easily.

Nevertheless my favourite garment of the collection has to be armour style peplum top in gold. The stiffness of the fabric and the shiny metallic finish, embellished with emerald and ruby coloured beads resembles that of a suit of armour and would look amazing with a pair of black jeans for a night out.

All things bright and beautiful

I have to say that this gorgeous collection is one of my favourites from D&G, I love how they have taken their idea and theme and created different extremes, from the heavily beaded shift dresses complete with matching crowns, to office style outfits with pops of colour from the golden crosses worn around the neck. I like the middle level of this however, such as the pale blue, beaded chiffon tops, paired with black shorts. This offers a nice mix of both simplicity and detail, and creates a nice balanced outfit perfect for a night out or special occasion, making it a very adaptable and wearable collection.

Get the look!

The first outfit is for those who want a hint of beading and embellishment but don’t want it throughout your whole outfit. This beaded top from A-wear is a great compromise; in a pretty nude colour it has a beaded and sequin pattern on top of a lightweight chiffon fabric. It is sleeveless with a scoop neckline, and the pale coloured beads are decorative yet not too overpowering. At £27.00 you can’t go wrong! Then add a pair of matt black shorts to balance off the outfit, such as the black tube shorts from River Island.

Get the look!

The second outfit of choice, if you’re looking for something that reflects the workwear style of the D&G collection, then this grey tweed dress from Vila clothing is perfect. At a bargain price of £22.50 its simple crew neck, sleeveless design with pleating at the waist is easy to accessorise and very practical for a day at the office!

Get the look!

Pair this with tweed effect jacket from Next, which has a rounded neckline and untailored fit to complete the outfit. Or for the summer months, try a knitted grey cardigan. Then similar to the outfit previously, accessorise with a pair of gold or silver heels, and gold dangling earrings or bangles to add a pop of colour. Pricing at only £45, it also has the option to buy a matching skirt!

And finally, my last choice, I couldn’t not find a garment using the gorgeous red colour seen in D&G’s collection. This lovely dress from Monsoon, features rows of beads and sequins giving it lots of sparkle. The flattering tailored shape and rounded neckline will skim and compliment most figures nicely, and is simple enough to be accessorised with a gold cardigan, if you can find one! Even better it is now only £55 reduced from £179, so grab it whilst you can, it will be perfect for parties and winter weddings.

Now if you don’t want to break your bank balance, or if you already have a red dress or want to bring your office wear up to trend, then all you need is some accessories! This medieval style gold cross from Adele Marie Filgree for Asos.com is perfect, it is oversized so will stand out and the gold finish and long chain will stand out against the grey tones of office wear, or compliment bright red tones. At £15 it will be a nice addition to your outfit!

Get the look!

For earrings these gold teardrop pair from New Look, have a diamante detail so they will catch the light and look great. Wear your hair up in a loose bun or ponytail to really make them stand out, and for only £5.99 they’re not a bad price either!

And finally shoes, these gold crackle effect heels from New Look are a must have, I chose not to use sparkly or glittery shoes as to not over do an outfit, if you’re wearing something that is heavily beaded. Therefore the crackle effect adds hints of gold and shine but in a more subtle and chic way. They are priced at £22.00.

To round it all off, keep make up simple, matt foundation with a layer of mascara then a sweep of red lipstick. Wave hair to add some volume then pull up into a loose bun for an effortless and pretty look. Oh and if you really feel like it, add the crown as well!