This week I’ve been focusing on Mini Me children’s collections. A great resource I found is Melijoe.com, a Paris based online kids retailer that has amazing editorial content in their “Le Magazine”.
Dolce & Gabbana Inspiration: Mosaics of Monreale Cathedral in Sicily
One of my favorite discoveries at Melijoe is the Dolce &Gabbanna Tailored Mosaic Collection inspired by Italian Art History. For the collection designers Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana found fashion inspiration from the golden Byzantine and Venetian Mosaics of Sicily’s Cathedral of Monreale.
Simply a work of art, this gorgeous mini-me girls collection is taken directly from the Milan Runway, making it a true Mini-Me collection.
Now here’s a conversation piece for us mommy fashionistas. “Isn’t this a gorgeous dress…it was featured in the Dolce&Gabbana women’s Milan Runway show. The mosaic drawing was inspired by Italian Art History. Did I mention you can buy Mosaic shoes and a crown to make a complete Byzantine Princess outfit?”
While reading the Dolce&Gabbana press material I truly enjoyed the Art History lesson on the Cathedral of Monreale in Sicily and how Mosaics inspired the Fall-Winter collection.
The Cathedral of Monreale, consecrated to Santa Maria Nuova, was built between 1172 and 1185 under the commission of the Norman King William II of Altavilla. In the top half of the walls, a series of golden mosaics were created between the end of 1100 and the middle of 1200. Two of these mosaics represent William II crowned by Christ and William II who offers the church to the Virgin. Local artists and experts from Byzantium and Venice were called in to realize those striking works of art.
Dolce & Gabbana made use of the abilities of artisans of the highest level to create mosaics on shoes, dresses, jewels and bags. As the art of mosaic-making is a slow and precise one, achieved by placing single piece next to the other, at the same time tailoring is made by single stitch after stitch. – Dolce&Gabbana.
Alter Boy Inspired Chic White Lace Dress
The inspiration of the Altar Boy is found in white cotton poplin dresses with the intricate tombolo lace reference their vestments. A woman of any age can never have enough lace and these dresses feature chiacchierino lace appliqués at front and wide belle sleeves similar to altar boys garments.
Cleric Inspired Black Lace Jacket
There’s a definite cleric feel to the Dolce & Gabbana collection, but as ever, there’s a twist. Made in Italy from delicate floral-lace, this black coat embodies many of the underlying elements in the collection.
Tweed-Tastic Collection
With tweed a major trend in the Fall-Winter season, Dolce & Gabbana have gone all out, creating pretty dresses, shirts, coats, and even ballet flats. Blended with touches of mohair and alpaca, today the pied de poule masculine tweed turns into flowing feminine dresses and coats.
For the Finale – Cardinal Red Lace Dresses
The breathtaking runway show finale featured gorgeous red cardinal enriched dresses with embroideries and stones. For the girl’s collection, you’ll find beautiful red lace dresses with cherry patterns.
