There’s an intrinsic relationship between fashion and the Ancient Greek concept of gods and goddesses. The very terrestrial and human qualities of the deities of the past bring them ever closer to the realities of people today. In fashion, where the hyperbole is an everyday event, and the emphasis on perfection (not only aesthetic), where the ideal woman is as beautiful as Aphroditeand as wise as Athena, and the men akin to Adonis and Zeus, the deities of the Olympus come back to life. None more so than in the Dolce&Gabbana Spring Summer 2014 collections, where in both the men’s and the women’s collection the mythical and godly inspiration of theMagna Graecia conquered Milan.

See the whole runway collection in the gallery 

The womenswear collection is based on a dreamlike interpretation of a journey in the lands of the Magna Graecia, the Valley of the Temples near Agrigento and the Segesta Templesboth in Sicily. With an eye towards one of Federico Fellini’s notorious films, Satyricon, the collection retraces the steps through a dreamlike state, a journey between reality and surrealism.

Lithographs of temples are printed on duchesse silk and linen, as are patterns of Ancient Greek coins. The coins take on a life of themselves in the accessories, where they are fashioned into oversize belts, earrings and headbands or added as details to shoes and handbags. The coins are strung together to create two show stopping dresses which remand to the ancient Greek uniforms worthy of Athena herself. Another reference to the more warrior side of this philosophical society consist in the two leather looks, embossed like brocade and later hand painted with gold paint.

The romantic element of the collection is embodied by the almond blossoms, trees venerated as bearers of wisdom and signs of rebirth in Ancient Greece. Printed, embroidered and applique blossoms billowed on soft organza or very special macramé lace on novel top heavy silhouettes. Soft tunics with wide sleeves and soft elongated waists provided a diversion from the classic Dolce&Gabbana silhouette.  The technical elements of this portion of the collection further themselves from tradition, becoming truly futuristic with waxed stretch silk, only later hand patent with delicate blossoms.

See the whole runway collection in the gallery 

The goddess of hunting, Artemis is embodied in a Dolce&Gabbana interpretation of a strong trend for the Spring Summer 2014 season: coloured fur. Alpaca furs, reminiscent of the pelts worn by Artemis are a strong statement for the season and for the brand.

Mix and matching this season takes on a new meaning, one even stronger than before: embossed leather with almond blossoms, temples with coins, fur with polka dots. The latter, which seem like a unlikely addition to the collection served to bring more sensuality to the Spring Summer woman, like a sort of 1950s Aphrodite, so very Dolce&Gabbana.

The collection cannot be complete without talking about the shoes: incredible wedges ranging from figurative casts to intarsia and the Doric column heels. The knotted detail on the sandals is a mix between a fifties visual detail and a realistic take on the ancient Greek sandals.
With a beautiful army of Aphrodites, in gold Dolce&Gabbana lace, the Spring Summer 2014 collection finale earned its rightful place in the Olympus of fashion, which instead of being situated at the top of the mountain as told in myth, find its home in each and everyone one of us, in a dreamlike state somewhere between real life and surrealism.