It was too gimmicky: A Night of 1000 Madonnas. But I think this went well beyond homage; it felt like bald-faced plagiarism as so many of the looks were taken from Madonna’s iconic collaboration with Jean Paul Gaultier in 1989-1990. And even if one was fine with the Madonna cosplay concept, why couldn’t they get out of the Blond Ambition period? (There were a few white lace pieces referencing “Like a Virgin” and one dress that copied the bodysuit from the “Open Your Heart” video.) Strangest of all, Dolce & Gabbana made no references to their costumes for Madonna’s 1993 tour, The Girlie Show, which brought the designers into the mainstream just as Blonde Ambition had done with Gaultier.
I have to think these looks are largely for the runway only because I can’t imagine there are many women willing to walk around with décolletage resembling a pair of storks’ bills. Otherwise, with each new season, it’s getting harder and harder to distinguish Dolce & Gabbana from Agent Provocateur.