Kim Turnbull, Cristina Chenii, Livvy BanksPhoto: Davide Frandi

In an alternate universe, Dolce & Gabbana is a travel agency dedicated to spotlighting and promoting the very best of Italy. For the 10th annual Mytheresa x Dolce & Gabbana sojourn in ‘the boot,’ it was time to welcome friends of both brands to join them in Costa Smerelda, Sardinia, to put the new Porto Cervo-inspired capsule to the test.

Upon arrival to the legendary Cala di Volpe hotel, the influence of the locale on the collection’s color palette and silhouettes was immediately evident. Porto Cervo only dates back to the early 1960s, when the Aga Khan set about developing the untouched Gallura coastline in homage to what an authentic, postcard-worthy village would have looked like. These days, the place still has a retro yet elegant jet-set feel to it—which made the perfect backdrop for printed silk kaftans, bustiers and bloomer shorts, and crop tops paired with A-line skirts. The hotel’s peachy and pinky facade which overlooks the turquoise sea got a clear look-in on the mood board too.

Almost 100 people—from Dolce & Gabbana runway regulars to Mytheresa’s top clients—gathered for sunset cocktails in the Atrium Bar before making their way to the poolside lawn for an al fresco dinner. “This table looks just like Carrie Bradshaw’s Dolce dress,” quipped one observant guest, referencing the seminal ‘90s floral body-con number that was reassigned to Heidi Klum for the celebrity fashion show because Bradshaw was too petite. While it wasn’t quite that print, the dinner table and chairs had indeed been dressed up to match the capsule collection. Blending in, Tiffany Hsu, Mytheresa’s chief buying officer, debuted a floor-sweeping silk chiffon top over matching trousers; a Dolce-designed outfit that her own personal style was said to have inspired.

As guests, including models Kim Turnbull and Rebecca Donaldson, actress Zinnia Kumar, and TikTok sensation Katerina ‘Kate’ Mossi, tucked into antipasto, buffalo stracciatella-stuffed local Sardinian pasta, and sea bream with caponata, Italian opera played from the nearby speakers. Alfonso Dolce had even flown in to give a toast—a welcome chance to visit one of his personal favorite places in Italy, he said. “This is real life Italian style—and the real life Dolce Vita lifestyle,” the CEO beamed as he looked around the group.