Dolce & Gabbana’s Roman Spectacle of Couture

Dolce & Gabbana staged their Alta Moda 2025 show inside the Roman Forum on the evening of July 14. The site, closed to the public for the event, became the backdrop for a collection that blended couture construction with iconography from ancient Rome. Guests were seated along the Via Sacra, the sacred road that cuts through the Forum, facing ruins that date back more than two thousand years.

The show presented approximately ninety couture looks. Design references included classical sculpture, imperial dress codes, and mythological symbolism. Materials such as velvet, silk, and organza were shaped into gowns with sculptural lines, while metallic corsets and mosaic-inspired embroidery were featured across eveningwear. Bust motifs, Roman coins, and draped silhouettes recalled the aesthetics of ancient stolae and togas, adapted through contemporary craftsmanship.

Among the guests were international figures from film, fashion, and music. Cher opened the show with a live performance, wearing a look inspired by her 1989 stage costume. Christian Bale and his family were also present, along with clients and long-time supporters of the Alta Moda line.

The following evening, Dolce & Gabbana presented Alta Sartoria—the menswear couture collection—on Ponte Sant’Angelo, directly facing Castel Sant’Angelo. The bridge, closed for the event, became a runway for formalwear with ecclesiastical and regal references. Embellished capes, tailored tunics, and crystal-embroidered suits reflected the brand’s focus on Italian heritage through luxury materials and ceremonial structure. The evening ended with fireworks over the Tiber.

The designers described the Roman Forum as a natural setting for this chapter of Alta Moda, connecting place, memory, and craftsmanship. The 2025 presentation marked a return to Rome and a continued commitment to site-specific shows that engage directly with Italy’s cultural and architectural legacy. The week concluded with private exhibitions and client gatherings across the city, reinforcing the brand’s position in haute couture as narrators of history through fashion.