Strapless Velvet Dress

Velvet travelled from the Far East to Italy in the 14th century and was first used for ecclesiastical vestments due to its capacity to retain rich colours – a quality that's highlighted by Dolce & Gabbana's fuchsia-pink dress. It's conceived with a gathered boned sweetheart bodice before falling gently to a knee-length hem. Complement the strapless neckline with shoulder-grazing earrings.

• 82% viscose, 18% silk. Lining: 86% silk, 8% cotton, 4% elastane, 2% polyamide

Think Sicilian lace, hourglass silhouettes and a big dose of grandezza, and you have the most glamorous of fashion houses: Dolce & Gabbana. Launched in 1985, the label offers a fresh perspective on Italian heritage, modelled on the designers’ idea of the Mediterranean woman – strong, feminine, exuberant. As seen in Harper’s Bazaar, Grazia and many others.