Photo By: WWD Staff
The new Dolce & Gabbana ad campaign shot by Steven Klein.
Launch Slideshow 3 images
IT'S RAINING MEN: It seems Stefano Gabbana and Domenico Dolce can't help irking someone's sensibility when it comes to ad images.
After being criticized in their past ad campaigns for showing blood and knives and depicting a barely dressed woman pinned to the floor by a group of men, now it's time for their fall campaign to be in the eye of the cyclone. Shot by Steven Klein, the pictures feature a crop of female models in skintight dominatrix clothes, metallic belts and whips, surrounded by naked models in statuesque poses.
The critique this time, according to a spokeswoman, is that men are portrayed as objects. The set is similar to the futuristic-cum-seductive backdrop.
"Since these images have offended someone, we want to stress that we wanted to represent a strong and dominatrix woman, as is today's woman. It's the vision of a dream more than reality, where the whip symbolizes women's power and where the naked models refer to a classic beauty inspired by Michelangelo," said Gabbana. "We wanted to place this artistic reference above everyday reality, but there was no intent to be vulgar or offend anyone's human dignity."
Speaking of the image of men, the two designers are featured in the September issue of Italian GQ talking with editor in chief Michele Lupi about fashion, men and their fast-changing whims and style. "[Men] are more self-confident, calm and do not fear showing their feelings or a more feminine sensibility. They are less interested in emulating the traditional and formal models, as in suits with hankies," said Gabbana. "Contemporary men prove their freedom by exceeding the formal and strict rules which used to give self-assertiveness."
Dolce and Gabbana styled the cover shot by Klein with a silver bikini-clad Gisele Bündchen and the fashion spread with David Bailey.
The designers' stint is part of a restyling project, began by Lupi in November when he joined GQ. It led to a 13 percent ad page increase in the first quarter of this year compared with the same period the previous year.
— Alessandra Ilari and Francesca Vuotto
After being criticized in their past ad campaigns for showing blood and knives and depicting a barely dressed woman pinned to the floor by a group of men, now it's time for their fall campaign to be in the eye of the cyclone. Shot by Steven Klein, the pictures feature a crop of female models in skintight dominatrix clothes, metallic belts and whips, surrounded by naked models in statuesque poses.
The critique this time, according to a spokeswoman, is that men are portrayed as objects. The set is similar to the futuristic-cum-seductive backdrop.
"Since these images have offended someone, we want to stress that we wanted to represent a strong and dominatrix woman, as is today's woman. It's the vision of a dream more than reality, where the whip symbolizes women's power and where the naked models refer to a classic beauty inspired by Michelangelo," said Gabbana. "We wanted to place this artistic reference above everyday reality, but there was no intent to be vulgar or offend anyone's human dignity."
Speaking of the image of men, the two designers are featured in the September issue of Italian GQ talking with editor in chief Michele Lupi about fashion, men and their fast-changing whims and style. "[Men] are more self-confident, calm and do not fear showing their feelings or a more feminine sensibility. They are less interested in emulating the traditional and formal models, as in suits with hankies," said Gabbana. "Contemporary men prove their freedom by exceeding the formal and strict rules which used to give self-assertiveness."
Dolce and Gabbana styled the cover shot by Klein with a silver bikini-clad Gisele Bündchen and the fashion spread with David Bailey.
The designers' stint is part of a restyling project, began by Lupi in November when he joined GQ. It led to a 13 percent ad page increase in the first quarter of this year compared with the same period the previous year.
— Alessandra Ilari and Francesca Vuotto
