Currently, how many divisions do Dolce and Gabbana have in their company? Has it grown since this chapter was written? If so, how?
The Dolce and Gabbana company has remained the same since the writing and publishing of this book. The company still features Dolce and Gabbana, D&G, and D&G Junior. However after the Spring/Summer 2012 collection, D&G is being phased out and the company will only run Dolce and Gabbana and D&G Junior.
Do you think Dolce and Gabbana cater to the fashionistas that the rest of the design world has rejected? Why do you think they have dressed women like Isabella Rossellini, Madonna, Kylie Minogue, and Brooke Shields? Do you think these women are risqué? Why or Why not?
I think that when the brand was first created that it did in fact serve the fashionistas that the rest of the (then conservative) design world had neglected. Dolce and Gabbana were two of the first designers to realize that not all those who appreciated fashion wanted to dress like their grandparents, they realized that many of them had a unique point of view and that they wanted to express that. However since the introduction and success of this brand many others have begun to follow suit with brands such as Dsquared2 and Betsey Johnson also coming to prominence for this glam individuals. I don’t think that Dolce and Gabbana chose these particular women because they some them as ‘risqué’ per se, they chose them more because they saw them as women who fit the brand image and were trend setters, women who could get their brand seen. It worked for both parties involved in that the women in the ads were very ‘Dolce and Gabbana’ and so they looked good and liked the clothing and helped promote it successfully.
Do you think gay and lesbian consumers purchase different fashion brands than heterosexuals? Do you think it was smart for Dolce and Gabbana to target this market? Why or why not?
As a gay consumer myself I can confidently say that I do not think that we as a community purchase different brands than our heterosexual counterparts, especially when it comes to fashion. While we may be more apt to try fashions that are considered risqué, avant garde, or downright outlandish, there are straight consumers that do as well (even if most are in fact singers and other public figures). Also the gay community purchases the more ‘conservative’ brands such as Ralph Lauren and Carolina Herrera.
