Italian designers Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana are the guys behind the high end fashion labels, Dolce & Gabbana and D&G. They’ve dressed celebrities and pop stars like Angelina Jolie, Rihanna, Gisele Bundchen, Monica Bellucci and Kylie Minogue. Their larger than life ads have been sprawled across billboards and all over the glossy pages of Vogue. Now the twenty-three year old brand has become synonymous with cutting edge couture and has earned its place as a worldwide name.
For many, their expertly woven designs are hard to resist. And perhaps you’ve already made the decision to invest in their latest creation. Or maybe you’re just considering the thought of venturing into something new. Whether you’re a D&G devotee from their early days in Milan or a newly minted fashionista, there are a few pointers all savvy shoppers will want to know before adding the next piece to their wardrobe.
It may help to know the difference between D&G and Dolce & Gabbana. The designers are from the same fashion house but the lines are entirely different. The Dolce & Gabbana label refers to the luxuriously expensive couture line and is often produced in limited editions. The collection is designed to reflect an unconventional yet timeless style, one that could be worn for years to come. The higher end label can be found on day and evening apparel, accessories and fragrance.
Contrast that with the trend setting D&G label which introduces a less exclusive casual line each season. You’ll find the more affordable D&G logo on just about everything from beachwear to watches and jewelry. There’s also a D&G Junior line targeted to the grade school set.
Whichever label you choose, you’ll want to know where to buy it. In addition to their 93 retail boutiques scattered around the world, Dolce & Gabbana continues to maintain a popular presence in most of the better department stores. Bergdorf Goodman, Neiman Marcus, Saks and Nordstrom are among those. There are also a number of online retailers that carry a variety of the designer’s goods and some do offer discounted prices. But with online shopping how can you be assured of authenticity?
Before parting with your hard earned dollars, you’ll want to know how to spot a fake. One way to recognize a counterfeit Dolce & Gabbana item is to keep in mind that the spaces between their names are intentionally omitted on their merchandise. If the label doesn’t appear as Dolce&Gabbana you can safely assume it’s only a copy of the real thing.
The company took further measures in 1997 when the designers implemented an anti-imitation system to help counteract the piracy issues plaguing the market. Holograms and intricately patterned threads that react to special ultra-violet lighting will identify a product as authentic.
Go straight to the source at DolceGabbana.com for the fun news of what’s hot right now. Browsing the pages felt almost as exciting as having a front row seat at a fashion week show. If you’re looking for something special you might also try a few recommended sources for the designer’s shoes and handbags. They include styledrops.com, eluxury.com and dellamoda.com.
If you do decide to consider the Dolce & Gabbana line, you’ll be able to do so knowing some of the essential details. Then you can relax and shop with confidence.