Mirren dresses for the occasion in Venice
Dame Helen Mirren wore a Dolce & Gabbana ballgown printed with scenes from Venice as she arrived by boat to attend the Italian fashion house’s Alta Moda show in the city. A host of other celebrities were on hand for the show, which ran over two days
As the sun set over the Grand Canal Jennifer Hudson popped up in front of the Doge’s crenellated Palace with its immense colonnade, to serenade the oligarchs and their partners invited to Dolce & Gabbana’s Alta Moda show.
Perhaps it was not the most accomplished rendition of Nessun Dorma ever. But the cadence of this aria is indestructible.
And what a backdrop. No wonder the mayor of Venice was so keen for Dolce & Gabbana to return (they staged an Alta Moda show here eight years ago). The label styles everything to the max – including ancient Italian cities.
Hudson looked sensational, glowing against that molten skyline in a golden, multi-structured ballgown which, in sartorial terms, matched the palace for audacious architecture.
Even when the wind later blew across the canal, almost sweeping the top layer of Hudson’s skirt over her head, modesty was preserved with layers and layers of tulle petticoat.
Large structures were the order of things. From 57 carats of diamonds in the jewellery presentation to big egos and huge price tags (the entry price of an Alta Moda frock is around £50,000).
On the first evening of the four-day event, I found myself in a queue behind Dame Helen Mirren wearing a magnificent black feathered Dolce cloud. For day two, she went bigger: a ballgown with a golden corset and a skirt printed with scenes from Venice that was so vast, Dame Helen may have required HGV lessons to steer it.
Other celebrities in attendance included Lady Kitty Spencer (whose wedding in Rome last month Dolce & Gabbana orchestrated), Kate Bosworth, Jennifer Lopez, Monica Bellucci and Heidi Klum, whose daughters were in the show.
Christian Bale’s daughter was also in the show. Sean “P. Diddy” Combs trumped them all by having three daughters on the catwalk. But the star of the show was Venice.
Large structures were the order of things. From 57 carats of diamonds to big egos and huge price tags