Divine Decadence: Dolce & Gabbana’s Alta Moda 2025 Reigns Over Rome
Since launching Alta Moda in 2012, Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana have reimagined Italian haute couture as a deeply personal, culturally immersive experience. Each year, the designers choose a different iconic Italian location—from Taormina to Venice, Florence, and now Rome—a city where emperors once ruled and cinematic legends danced through the streets—became the stage for Dolce & Gabbana’s fashion spectacle that transcended time. Their Alta Moda 2025 show, held on July 14 amid the ancient ruins of the Roman Forum was a resurrection of grandeur, myth, and unapologetic glamour.
Models glided past crumbling columns and sacred temples, their gowns echoing the majesty of Roman goddesses.
D&G Alta Moda 2025 Photo credit: Matteo Gebbia /Gorunway.com
The Collection, : My thology in Motion
This season’s Alta Moda was a dialogue between epochs. Sculptural silhouettes paid homage to ancient Rome, with corseted bodices resembling gilded armor and flowing fabrics evoking the drapery of classical statuary. Gold leaf embroidery, mosaic motifs, velvet capes, Roman coin and temple-inspired embellishments, black feathered gowns, chiffon ruffled capes reminiscent of Elizabeth Taylor’s Cleopatra turned each look into a wearable relic.
D&G Alta Moda 2025 Photo credit: Isidore Montag / Gorunway.com
But the designers didn’t stop at antiquity. They also channeled the cinematic opulence of mid-century Italy, with curve-hugging gowns, dramatic trains, and voluminous skirts that recalled the glamour of La Dolce Vita. It was a celebration of feminine power, both divine and earthly.
Cher: The Eternal Icon
The festivities began on July 12 with a surprise performance by Cher, who at 79 proved she’s still the goddess of pop. Her wardrobe changes were as dazzling as her vocals—platinum wigs, corseted jumpsuits, and a finale catsuit dripping in crystals. Yes, she sang — but more than that, she brought ancient Rome to life.
Cher - D&D Alta moda
A Cinematic Journey
Complementing the fashion was “Secret Dolce Vita”, an open-air exhibition curated by Edoardo Dionea Cicconi. Archival photographs captured intimate moments of Italian life, offering a nostalgic lens through which guests could view the collection’s inspirations.
Alta Moda Week Highlights
July 12: Opening night on Via Veneto, evoking the spirit of La Dolce Vita.
July 13: Alta Gioielleria presentation at Villa Adriana in Tivoli.
July 14: Alta Moda show at the Roman Forum.
July 15: Alta Sartoria show on Ponte Sant’Angelo.
July 16: Final celebration at Cinecittà film studios.
D&G Alta Moda 2025
Dolce & Gabbana’s Alta Moda 2025 was more than a show—it was a celebration of Italian heritage, craftsmanship, and storytelling. A cultural pilgrimage, a love letter to Italy’s eternal beauty. In blending mythology with modernity, the designers reminded us that fashion, like Rome, is built to last.
Stefano Gabbana was unable to attend due to family reasons.
