Haute Couture Fashion Week in Paris was a fashionable fête that had many memorable moments (we can’t stop thinking about all the must-see looks) but the high-fashion fantasies continued in Italy, where Valentino presented the Fall 2022 collection in Rome on the iconic Spanish Steps. Then, designers Stefano Gabbana and Domenico Dolce upped the ante again by hosting their off-calendar, destination Alta Moda show (their own version of Couture) in Siracusa, Sicilia. The occasion also marked the luxury Italian label’s 10-year anniversary of Alta Moda, so naturally, in true Dolce & Gabbana fashion, the event was quite the spectacle.
For the occasion, Dolce & Gabanna looked to the Mediterranean island’s Piazza Duomo for its venue, where they brought out some of the biggest names, including Drew Barrymore, Sharon Stone, Helen Mirren to name a few, to fill the front row and take in their intricate and stunning designs. Mariah Carey also emerged, making an oh-so-chic appearance hand-in-hand with the designers themselves. On the runway, Leni Klum walked the collection, with her supermodel mom Heidi Klum in the FROW for support.
The collection contained Dolce & Gabbana’s brand signatures with over-the-top ruffle gowns and tailored exuberance. Further nodding to the culture, gowns featured religious iconography in hues of red, black, and gold, referencing the storied tradition and history of the island (we are in Sicilia, after all).
Ahead, see all the standout moments from the Dolce & Gabbana Alta Moda 10-year anniversary extravaganza.
Celebrities from around the world flew in for the show
Stefano and Domenico brought out their usual crowd for what felt like a big fat Italian family reunion rather than a made-to-measure show. Among the stars in attendance at the Dolce & Gabbana Alta Moda Women’s Show include Mariah Carey, Helen Mirren, Sharon Stone, Ciara, Drew Barrymore, Heidi Klum, Kris Jenner, Lady Kitty Spencer, Lupita Nyong’o, Ellen Pompeo, Vanessa Bryant, Natalia Bryant and more.
Mariah Carey arrived with the designers
The iconic singer made a grand entrance holding hands with designers, Stefano and Domenico, but it was her dress that stole the show. She donned a colorful patchwork gown reproducing the iconic Sicilian tiles, entirely hand embroidered using Swarovski crystals with a plunging neckline and a short circular train. The look was completed with Alta Gioielleria earrings, a gold bijoux encrusted tiara, and silver metallic platform sandals.
Model Leni Klum walked the show
Heidi Klum’s daughter Leni, looked just as stunning as her mom on the runway, proving that the apple truly doesn’t fall from the tree. The 18-year-old model wore a black dress fitted on the top with a studded corset, embroidered lace, and an ultra mini skirt on the bottom.
Another mother-daughter duo made an appearance, Vanessa Bryant and Natalia Bryant. The 19-year-old daughter of Vanessa and the late Kobe Bryant recently signed with IMG — perhaps she’ll make a runway appearance at the next show?
The event was a family affair
Not only did celebrities make their way to Sicilia for Alta Moda, but their famous tots also tagged along for the festivities, too. Ciara and Russell Wilson made the show a family affair with their two sons and daughter, all sporting gold, gilded looks. The most surprising family appearance was by Grey’s Anatomy actress Ellen Pompeo who arrived with her husband Chris Ivery and her rarely seen children Eli Christopher, 5, and daughters Sienna May, 7, and Stella Luna, 12.
Models dressed as Sicilian widows walked the runway
The collection heavily dived into religious innuendos. A procession of models dressed s Roman Catholic saints and widows took the runway pulling inspiration from head-to-toe black ensembles complete with veils that Sicilian women would wear while in their mourning period.
The extravaganza commenced with a party at 13th-century Castello Maniace
Leave it to Dolce & Gabbana to turn their 10-year-anniversary into a four-day celebration filled with a concert in a 5th century BC Greek theater and a seaside dinner ending with a fireworks show. The luxury label closed out the festivities with a glorious fête at one of the oldest standing castles on the island that once was the residence of numerous queens of Sicily, where Dolce’s star-studded guests took court for the night.
