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Dolce & Gabbana Ad Archive: Africa SS 05

Posted Jul 8, 2011

News of Richard Avedon's death reached Milan just as Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana were referencing the fashionable photographer's work for their 2005 spring/summer runway show.

Initially inspired by a trip to South Africa, Botswana and Zimbabwe the spring/summer collection was also intended to be a nod to the photographic work of Avedon and legendary photographer Irving Penn.

 

  Through the years Dolce & Gabbana’s distinctive signature has always been the animal print and there was scarcely a single outfit in the entire 2005 spring/summer collection that didn't incorporate it.

  Safari-themed pieces featured fascinating details like African tribal beading, lace, feathers, fringes and crystal embroidery while a sexy (and very popular) python print was an obvious nod to Avedon's 1981 image of a Burmese python wrapped around Nastassja Kinki’s naked body. 

  Of course the ad campaign that followed the runway extravaganza didn’t shy away from the sexy tribal theme… it fully embraced it.

When it came time to shoot the ads for the seductive collection, photographer extraordinaire Steven Meisel shot a posse of models including: Bianca Balti, Katja Shchekina, Marija Vujovic, Jeremy Dufour, Noah Mills, Julien Hedquist and David Smith.


Meisel’s goal creating the memorable ad campaign was to highlight the exotic nature of the collection. Glamorous animal print pieces were shot against a gritty background to produce raw and unique photographs unlike anything seen in previous Dolce & Gabbana ad campaigns.

Blurred flashes of colour, a bizarre sexual vibe and an incredibly moody atmosphere… the 2005 spring/summer ad campaign is truly one of Dolce & Gabbana’s most unique.

 

Written by  Christopher Turner

 

TAGS: Bianca Balti Katja Shchekina Marija Vujovic Jeremy Dufour Noah Mills Julien Hedquist and David Smith dolce&gabbana dolce & gabbana d&g d & g online luxury magazine swide christopher turner turner christopher ad advert advertisement campaign campagna spring summer animalier leopard zebra leopardo 2005 05 ss