Behind the Scenes Dolce Gabbana 2025 Runway show. Story by Eleonora de Gray, Editor-in-Chief of RUNWAY magazine. Photo Courtesy: Dolce Gabbana.
Milan Fashion Week has always been a hotspot for the world’s top designers, but Dolce & Gabbana’s Spring Summer 2025 show was in a league of its own. With Madonna sitting front row and the collection dedicated to her cultural influence, the event was destined to make fashion history. The show was a provocative homage to Madonna’s iconic 1990 Blonde Ambition Tour collaboration with Jean Paul Gaultier, reimagining the legendary conical bra corset for a new generation of empowered women. Behind the grandeur, there was an intricate web of inspiration, artistry, and behind-the-scenes magic that brought this memorable event to life.
A Seamless Blend of Nostalgia and Innovation
Behind closed doors, Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana were focused on one thing: merging the rebellious spirit of Jean Paul Gaultier’s designs with their signature Italian craftsmanship. Weeks before the show, the design duo revisited Gaultier’s work, dissecting the artistry behind the conical bra corset and exploring how they could translate it into their own language.
Dolce & Gabbana’s atelier became a hive of creative energy, with a dedicated team of artisans carefully crafting each piece, using Italy’s famed lace-making and embroidery techniques. This was not just an homage but a celebration of the evolution of femininity, channeling Gaultier’s provocative past while also speaking to the modern woman. While Gaultier’s original work was raw and daring, Dolce & Gabbana softened the edges, creating a sensuality that was bold yet feminine, fierce yet refined.
Madonna’s Return to Fashion’s Center Stage
As whispers circulated throughout Milan about Madonna’s involvement, anticipation reached a fever pitch. Inside the Dolce & Gabbana studio, the excitement was palpable. The pop icon’s presence wasn’t just symbolic—it was personal. After all, it was Madonna herself who, in the early 90s, had redefined fashion and pop culture with Gaultier’s conical bra. Her appearance at the show, beneath a veil of mystique, signified the full-circle moment that Dolce & Gabbana had worked so hard to create.
In the final days leading up to the show, Madonna was closely involved in some of the styling decisions. Although her role was kept under wraps, it’s said she had a hand in choosing a few of the pieces that made it to the runway. One of her key requests? Ensure that the essence of the empowered woman—her strength, her freedom, and her allure—was at the forefront of each look.
The Corset: A Modern Take on a Fashion Revolution
The pièce de résistance of the collection, the re-imagined conical bra corset, was the product of weeks of meticulous design. Dolce & Gabbana’s creative process was a masterclass in Italian craftsmanship. Unlike Gaultier’s original, which was a bold, almost defiant statement of femininity, the 2025 version embraced a more fluid, graceful interpretation. The corset was no longer a standalone symbol but became seamlessly integrated into dresses, jackets, and even capes—imbuing each piece with the strength and sensuality of the female form.
Italian lace, silk, and leather adorned the designs, with each stitch representing the marriage of past and present. Layered corsets over flowing skirts, exaggerated shoulders, and sheer fabrics were all crafted with the dual aim of honoring Gaultier’s legacy while breathing new life into the concept of feminine power. The audience, awash in admiration, witnessed a new chapter in fashion—a meeting of two distinct eras but with a vision that transcended time.
A Behind-the-Scenes Glimpse: Craftsmanship Meets Art
While the runway dazzled, backstage, the atmosphere was one of calm precision. Tailors and seamstresses, who had worked tirelessly on each garment, made final adjustments. Makeup artists and hairstylists, tasked with balancing nostalgia and modernity, carefully referenced Madonna’s signature 90s look while incorporating contemporary trends.
Madonna, the undisputed queen of pop and fashion, sat front row with an air of intrigue and quiet satisfaction. Though veiled, her mere presence electrified the atmosphere, and her nod of approval after the show said it all: Dolce & Gabbana had done more than honor the past—they had elevated it.
The Collection’s Impact on Milan Fashion Week
Dolce & Gabbana’s Spring/Summer 2025 show was a moment where past met present, where nostalgia met innovation. The reimagined conical bra corset was a metaphor for the evolution of femininity itself—a testament to how fashion, like women, evolves while staying rooted in its most powerful elements. From the elaborate craftsmanship behind the scenes to Madonna’s approving gaze from the front row, the show encapsulated the spirit of Milan Fashion Week in its purest form: bold, innovative, and unforgettable.
As the lights dimmed and the final model disappeared behind the curtain, the message was clear—Madonna’s influence is timeless, and Dolce & Gabbana had solidified their place as modern-day curators of femininity. The Spring/Summer 2025 collection wasn’t just a tribute to an icon; it was a reminder that fashion, like the empowered woman, can never be contained—it can only evolve.
See All Behind the Scenes of Dolce Gabbana 2025 Ready-to-wear show
