Fashion's fantastic open house

The Portofino show is classic Dolce& Gabbana style, with Chinese, Russian and African influences. [Photo provided to China Daily]

The brand's Chinese clients have surged over the past half year from nearly 10 to more than 30. Chinese account for about 40 percent of the brand's ready-to-wear global sales.

The Portofino show's guests attended it not only for fashion but also to experience Italy. Rather than a half-hour show, the Alta Moda event spanned days during which they could sunbathe and party.

"They want the best. They love the party. And I like to do it fun. The 100-percent Italian style of life is possible in a fantasy," Gabbana told China Daily and another newspaper, on his yacht in the Portofino harbor before the Alta Gioielleria high-end jewelry exhibition.

That was followed by the women's couture line, Alta Moda, the next evening and the men's line, Alta Sartoria, the third day.

In fact, the whole collection is inspired by the idea of fantasy and reality, and pushing the boundary between the two.

"We take inspiration from Shakespeare about what is real and what is fantasy," Gabbana says.

"The real is fantasy or the fantasy is real? We play with all these kinds of things."