“Italian Beauty”: Dolce & Gabbana Reimagine the Grand Tour for SS2025

Since their glory days in the ‘80s, Dolce & Gabbana have never strayed far from their sultry, sexy Italian roots. Even if, during their technicolour, TikTok-obsessed phase from a few years ago, they seemed more at home in cyberspace than in Palermo, Sicily.

The brand has faced several scandals and subsequent boycotts, keeping them mostly under the radar in recent years. However, like Giorgio Armani, they possess remarkable staying power. They may no longer lead the fashion discourse, but their strong, consistent vision remains a significant asset. While luxury brands including Gucci, Burberry, Givenchy, and Chanel struggle with their next chapters, Dolce & Gabbana continue to forge their own path.

A case in point is their SS25 men’s collection, "Italian Beauty," which embodies their core aesthetic. Inspired by the quintessential Grand Tour of the 19th century, where wealthy young Europeans visited Italian cities from Venice to Florence (Milan, less so), the collection resonates with the current political climate in Italy and much of Europe.

“Italy,” read the show notes, "is a unique country of rare beauty. The sea, the mountains, the cities, the historical richness of the places, the archaeology, the culture, the monuments, the tradition for food, art, architecture, and the incredible craftsmanship and tailoring, which is still handed down from father to son.” These elements, Dolce & Gabbana assert, make Italy unique.

The collection seeks redemption in a distant past when life was supposedly simpler and better. The clothes pay homage to Marcello Mastroianni and other effortlessly elegant Italian playboys — boxy, short-sleeved shirts and blousons, in crocheted raffia or soft leather, worn with wide shorts or high-waisted, loosetrousers rolled up at the ankle. Plus loose suits, often in Dolce &Gabbana’s signature “Sicily black”, striped polo shirts, and sleeveless tops in restrained colours.

Italian Beauty at its best.

Courtesy: Dolce & Gabbana

Text: Jesse Brouns