madonna and d&g

[pinoni]

Their 18-year friendship with Madonna wasn’t enough to ease the fears that Stefano Gabbana and Domenico Dolce had about doing something “more business-y” with the pop icon.

“We were always afraid it would ruin our relationship,” contended Gabbana.

Not anymore. As part of a flurry of activity between the designers and Madonna, including the filming of the “Celebration” video inside Metropol, the designers’ Milanese runway venue, she agreed to appear in the Dolce & Gabbana spring campaign.

Steven Klein snapped the eight black-and-white, horizontal pictures in a former lay convent in uptown Manhattan. They will appear in groups of two or three to better display the reportage effect. A budget for the campaign, which breaks in February fashion titles, wasn’t available, though Gabbana described the investment as a “serious one.”

The shoot mirrors the mood of the designers’ sexy spring show, brimming with heritage Dolce & Gabbana staples and romantic accoutrements. “The collection is very Italian, very Sicilian,” said Gabbana. “It’s a return to our roots with a modern angle, so we asked Madonna to interpret it in a different and human way. We believe that people are ready for a new message.”

That message has Madonna playing a housewife, albeit a sensual one, carrying out her daily chores. Madonna appears holding a broomstick, washing dishes in a bubble-filled sink, eating spaghetti with her fingers and chopping vegetables, surrounded by lace curtains and tablecloths, dishcloths and old wooden furniture.

For the campaign, Madonna chose a number of looks, including crocheted tops and dresses, floral skirts and leopard spots, which she mismatched to her taste.

During a brainstorming session before the shoot (Gabbana marveled at how well versed Madonna is on old Italian movies), they all agreed on Luchino Visconti’s film “Bellissima” as an inspiration. Released in 1951, the neorealist film stars Anna Magnani and Walter Chiari.

In one shot, Madonna even appears as a latter-day Magnani, gazing off-camera with tear-smoldered cheeks. “She really cried, she really dipped into the part and took it very seriously,” gushed Gabbana.

[darkside_kiddo]

Even photoshop can't make her look 20 any more, why can't they just face the facts?

[altitude]

Originally Posted by darkside_kiddo

Even photoshop can't make her look 20 any more, why can't they just face the facts?

no ageism please dk

i know she's a media whore full of hypocrasy and delusion but i still like her and wouldn't say no (after a few beers).

[Dunnymonster]

She still looks great for her age, but the pictures above are just way too photoshopped, she has the skin of a 20 year old, at least leave the odd line or wrinkle and keep us guessing I say LOL

[harrypothead]

Originally Posted by altitude

no ageism please dk

i know she's a media whore full of hypocrasy and delusion but i still like her and wouldn't say no (after a few beers).

yeah the media-whore bit is a real turn off. i much prefer the natural look even on mature women. keep it real and stop pretend. pretense is ugly.

[darkside_kiddo]

Nothing wrong with the age, it's just rather pathethic when she tries to look 20 in photoshop. We all know gravity takes its toll after a certain time period, why hide it? Wrincles are cute, i love taking pictures of old people for that exact reason. Black and white, high contrast on high gloss paper... ^^,

[Dunnymonster]

Originally Posted by darkside_kiddo

Nothing wrong with the age, it's just rather pathethic when she tries to look 20 in photoshop. We all know gravity takes its toll after a certain time period, why hide it? Wrincles are cute, i love taking pictures of old people for that exact reason. Black and white, high contrast on high gloss paper... ^^,

Is the high gloss paper used to help iron out some of the craggy features LOL

[darkside_kiddo]

Originally Posted by Dunnymonster

Is the high gloss paper used to help iron out some of the craggy features LOL

Nonono, it just feels more special and art-ish Using that as an excuse instead of more like "yeah, and i, uh, kinda think the wrinkles look great when making a huge deal out of them, and... eeh... it just looks great, aye?"

[tony_stark]

Originally Posted by harrypothead

... pretense is ugly.

...Indeed.