[Photo provided to China Daily]

The duo has shown their collections in Sicily, where Dolce was born, Venice and now Capri. Each place is not only a backdrop for beautiful fashion, but a fascinating private journey to experience the essence of Italian culture.

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The eyes have it

"The collection is seasonless," says Dolce, 56. "On Capri, a woman does not live the seasons. She lives life, love and passion. Alta Moda is not just a way of dressing. It is a lifestyle."

As the sun set below the high cliffs, some 200 guests - 10 from Asia - arrived by boats lavishly decorated with fresh flowers and lemons. Making their way along a rocky path to the private club Fontelina, everyone felt like characters from Federico Fellini's movies.

The blue-and-white striped deck chairs, brocaded cushions, wooden-slat beach chairs were scatted around the rocks. Champagne was served by waiters in sailor's shirts with seagulls flying over.

To the sound of Italian operas, the first group of models in dramatic, full princess ball gowns with colorful hand-painted stripes and golden or ruby-inlaid crowns, were ferried by boat and walked ashore along the rocky slopes.

According to Luke Leitch from the Daily Telegraph, who sat a few seats away from a young Arabian princess, she and a Brazilian heiress next to her were texting their orders, even before models found the time to take the gowns off.

They knew every piece is a one-off and whoever orders first, gets it.