As we had written during the runway shows for the Spring/Summer collections last September, fashion dolls were quite a presence, culminating in the Dolce & Gabbana Sicilian doll bags. Well the dolls/bags are available to purchase, and the price is quite steep: 1450€ each.

The dolls are ceramic, encased in ornate window carry-cases, complete with hand-painted faces that resemble the souvenir figurines that were sold at train stations in 1950s Italy. The clothing though is pure Dolce & Gabbana. The dresses are tailored to match those worn in the S/S 2015 collection of the house, with accessories to match. They are 29-cm tall (i.e. Barbie size), carry a miniature version of the Sicily bag and come with their name engraved on a gold plaque on the bag/case as well as a serial number of authenticity.

IMMACOLATA (Immaculate) CERAMIC DOLL

CASE:
Height: 44cm Width: 29cm Depth: 14cm
Single Layer top handle
All over print
Velvet lining

DOLL:
Height: 29cm
Handmade clothing
Leather Sicily bag
Gold galvanised jewellery

CONCETTA (conception) CERAMIC DOLL

ADDOLORATA (grieving) CERAMIC DOLL

PACKAGE:
Height: 44cm Width: 29cm Depth: 14cm
Single ayers top handle
All over print
Velvet lining

DOLL:
Height: 29cm
Handmade clothing
Leather Sicily bag
Gold galvanised jewellery

You can buy them at all Dolce & Gabbana boutiques - or online at Louisa Via Roma

It seems fashion dolls finally hit their stride with the catwalk. After the Lagerfeld Barbie, soon to be unleashed to the world (or more precisely to the very few lucky people who can get her) during Paris fashion week beginning immediately, and Moschino's all out fun Barbie extravaganza, along comes that incredible Italian duo, Dolce & Gabbana, and feature dolls in their Spring Summer 2015 fashion show in Milan.

The dolls were in bag-like boxes with a clear front, dressed in the same outfit the model carrying them was wearing. Detailed accessories were completing the outfits. The dolls look like archetypal Dolce & Gabbana women, more Mediterranean than fashion like. I would love to have them for the accessories and the outfits as well as duplicates to keep for display.

This Dolce & Gabbana collection had Spain as the main inspiration, so all outfits and accessories drew heavily on the rich cultural and historical treasures of the Iberian peninsula. Combined with a strong theme of catholic church artifacts incorporated into accessories like bags and shoes, it made for a very strong show. Red of course was the dominant colour, combined with lots of black.

I would love to have some of these outfits translated to doll size, along with some of the intricate accessories. The bags alone were more than 10 different designs.

The Guardian reported that Vogue's Editor In Chief Anna Wintour "grinned broadly when models marched down the catwalk holding fashion dolls in perspex boxes. Dressed in typically Dolce & Gabbana black, tailored skirt suits with widow's veils and crucifix necklaces, the toys, said Gabbana, were "ironic and funny", inspired by princess dolls in the Disney store and those sold at train stations in 1950s Italy".

Below is the video of the entire runway show - you can see the dolls in their bags too.

Photos: Yannis Vlamos / Indigitalimages.com from Style.com

Fashion Doll Manufacturers

Fashion Doll Boards

Fashion Doll websites