Dolce&Gabbana front contemporary silhouettes and forms that are made palatable through a predominantly dark palette in its Fall/Winter ’24/25 Men’s Collection.
There is no skirting the matter — black is one of the safest shades to wear. It is inoffensive, easy on the eyes, sophisticated and versatile, arguably the most so. There is seldom an event where black is deemed unacceptable and there is no article of ostentatiously coloured clothing or flamboyant prints that cannot be salvaged with a black basic.
When donned entirely though, black has also come to represent a devil-may-care attitude. A reckless disregard that we cannot help but admire if not envy. The cinematic references are plentiful — think of the famed anti-heroes of the varied superhero universes, or even the more grounded in reality bad-boy-adjacent caricatures clad in black leather jackets and pants. There’s an ineffable quality of coolness to an all-black outfit that is hard to place your finger on, but we all recognize as gospel. Dolce&Gabbana have recognised this je ne sais quoi and executed it, unapologetically, in its Fall/Winter ‘24/25 Men’s Collection, Sleek. Capitalising on the spirit of Nero Sicilia (Black Sicily), the collection presents contemporary menswear under the cover of darkness.
For one, it pushes forward the boot — a pragmatic footwear for the rough and tumble of the traditional man— as a stylised item for everyday use. Its high-cut Seldana and leather ankle boots represent a gamble — sporting unorthodox forms for masculine footwear — and yet emerge as versatile articles. The prior, with its calf-high shaft that ends in a curved crescent collar, is unusual for a boot presenting itself for daywear and yet is grounded in a practical sensibility through its all-black design. The same can be said about the latter ankle-cut boot, which similarly boasts an effortless wearability on account of its sleek palette. Save for the slight sheen on both boots, the vast darkness of each is a masterclass from Dolce&Gabbana in easy elegance.
The exploration of new forms is also extended to the Nappa plonge DG Soave pouch and bag. Micro-scaling its carriers and embellishing its shoulder bag with a thin strap is an atypical choice for menswear and yet is made conventional through a prudent palette. In this sense, Dolce&Gabbana manages to transform its more modish structures and silhouette into palatable masculine forms that redefine what it means to be a contemporary man.
Ultimately, each item in the collection is pliant enough to serve as a foundational block for an outfit or as a statement piece in itself, while serving as exemplars of the sleekness that the house set out to evoke. Kudos are extended to Dolce&Gabbana for its ability to present bolder silhouettes that are made innocuous through a darker palette.
Once you are done with this story, click here to catch up with our August 2024 issue.