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Entertaining, spectacular, with a limpid curatorial edge, the exhibition reads as an awe-inspiring homage to Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana’s artistry, and to their unabashed love for their country. “It’s impossible to express what I feel; tonight, I am so happy and grateful, “said an emotional Domenico Dolce in his speech before the dinner, held under the frescoed ceiling of Sala delle Cariatidi. “When I arrived in Milan as a young fashion student from Sicily, I fell in love with the city, and prayed the Madonnina (the golden statue of the Madonna that overlooks the city from the Duomo’s spires) to keep me here, and to not send me back to Sicily! She listened to my prayer and here I am, in this beautiful palazzo, surrounded by the women who have inspired our collections, and by so many friends, in this city, which I love dearly for all the opportunities it has given us. It brings me so much joy, it’s overwhelming. It’s huge, it’s too huge!”
Stefano Gabbana echoed Dolce’s happiness, highlighting the exhibition’s purpose: “It’s about leaving a legacy to young generations, to inspire them to persevere in the pursuit of their dreams, as we did when we started our company,” he said. “For us, this is a dream come true, and it’s proof that if you believe in what you do, you can make it too.”
The celebrity contingent had all but praises for the designers’ fabulous body of work. Isabella Rossellini, a longtime muse and friends, clad in a chic white brocade pajama and cool flat slippers, made a witty, affectionate speech. “Dolce & Gabbana have been described as one designer with two heads, a sort of ancient mythological creature,” she said. “Together, they’re formidable. They tell the story of Italianità, the Italian spirit—a mix of innocence, sophistication, and audacity. They do it with true artistry, mixing the sacred with the profane, the melancholy with the joyful, the romantic with the sexual”.
Cher, looking sensational in black ripped denims, shaggy furry jacket, and a matching beret holding in place her long black locks, reminisced about her longtime friendship with Stefano and Domenico:” I love what they do because it just fits me beautifully, and it’s daring; they have one foot in history, and the other in the future, they feel what’s coming; they still have the emotion, the dedication. The exhibition is amazing; I didn’t imagine that they had that breadth of work, it took my breath away. Their collections are always above level; I still have all their bustiers, all their dresses, and I still wear them.”