Photo Flash: First Look at Dolce&Gabbana Winter Woman 2014 - TAILORED MOSAIC

For Dolce&Gabbana's WINTER WOMAN 2014 "TAILORED MOSAIC" collection, Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana were inspired by the mosaic of Monreale for this collection. Scroll below for a taste of the new designs!

"The city of Monreale started to become important around the XI century with the arrival of the Normans in Sicily. The Cathedral of Monreale, consecrated to Santa Maria Nuova, was built between 1172 and 1185 under the commission of the Norman King William II of Altavilla, together with the archiepiscopal Palace and its beautiful cloister. In the top half of the walls a series of golden mosaics were created between the end of 1100 and the middle of 1200. Two of these mosaics represent William II crowned by Christ and William II who offers the church to the Virgin. Local artists and experts from Byzantium and Venice were called in to realize those striking works of art."

Dolce & Gabbana made use of the abilities of artisans of the highest level to create mosaics on shoes, dresses, jewels and bags. As the art of mosaic-making is a slow and precise one, achieved by placing single piece next to the other, at the same time tailoring is made by single stitch after single stitch.

Shapes and proportions feature the "A-line" and hourglass. Fabrics include wool and silk organza, brocade, herringbone, checked fabric, poplin, double-stretch crepe and lace. Prints show mosaics on organza, double-stretch crepe and brocade.

Accessories feature princess and queen-style golden crowns encrusted with stones and mosaic, gold filigree bustier embellished with stones and mosaic and dedicated to Saint Agatha, Agata bags that are an homage to Catania's saint patron: Saint Agatha, filigree bags, shoes with filigree and inlaid-mosaic sculpted heels, platforms with mosaic and sunglasses with mosaic and golden filigree.

The show's finale featured red lace dresses enriched with embroideries and stones. All was set to original music by Nino Rota from "La strada", "I clowns", "Il Bidone" and "Boccaccio '70" directed by Federico Fellini in Milan, February 24th 2013.