Against the backdrop of a typical Italian village, Dolce & Gabbana took fashionistas on holiday with a spring collection that paid tribute to the designer duo’s home country.

Showcasing at Milan Fashion Week at the weekend, Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana decorated dresses with all things Italian, from Venice’s gondoliers to gelato stands. Dresses looked like postcards, some with messages reading “Kisses from Rome” and “Greetings from Naples”.

Under a banner reading “Italia is Love”, a mock fruit stand, restaurant and ceramics shop decorated the catwalk. Songs in praise of Italy played and models stopped midway on the catwalk to take selfies on phones.

Known for their use of embellishments, the designers used an array of colours, sequins, gems, pom-poms and appliqués for their spring/ summer 2016 collection.

Beach umbrellas and landmarks such as Pisa’s leaning tower and Florence’s cathedral were among the decorations, alongside embroidered daisies and poppies, adorning summer dresses.

Several trouser suits were also decorated with intricate floral embroidery, while silk pyjama-style shirts and trousers were striped.

Long silk dresses bore prints of Sorrento’s lemons or Sicily’s ceramics and were accentuated with scarves worn as turbans.

Models wore bejewelled sunglasses and embellished headpieces, some like headphones, covered in fruit decorations.

Handbags, and small baskets, were also rich in detail, as were see-through socks that had sparkling embellishments.

For the show’s finale, models changed into short dresses, made to look like postcards from cities and holiday spots across Italy – from San Remo in the north to the Almafi Coast.

There were also silk floaty dresses and embroidered designs at Etro’s spring/ summer 2016 catwalk show.

The romantic collection included plisse and tiered skirts, wrap-like tops, long and short frilly dresses as well as bomber jackets.

A nod to dancing was evident in footwear – ballerina flats had laces, while high flat boots were tied at the front.

Meanwhile Donatella Versace sent models down the catwalk in belted dark green and sand army jackets.

Shorts suits, also bearing animal prints, were worn with bandeau tops.

Offering a youthful take on a brand known for bold animal prints, Peter Dundas presented his debut collection as creative director of Italian fashion house Roberto Cavalli.

He cut sleeves off denim jackets and coloured them in pastels, teaming them with skin-tight or looser trousers.

Other denim jackets were short or oversized with plaits running down the sides.

Dundas kept up the trademark animal prints by putting lions’ faces on knits and dresses. Zebra print featured on gilets and mini dresses.

The designer also tied large bows on one-shoulder crop tops, and embroidered tassels across his denim creations and dresses.

The palette was mainly pastel pinks, peach, lilac and terracotta, turquoise and black and white.

read more: semi formal dresses