The Dolce & Gabbana Spring 2017 Haute Couture collection was an epic fashion production set at the backstage industrial area of the Teatro alla Scala di Milano, which is one of the Italian fashion capital’s most suggestive and evocative places. “This place is very magical,” Dolce announced. “We were fascinated when we came here a year ago. We both go to the opera–we’re Italian, drama is in our blood!”

The collection, said Gabbana, was the result of their immersion in the archives, looking through decades of historic costumes from every conceivable opera: Madama Butterfly, Falstaff, La Traviata, La Bohéme, The Magic Flute, Lucia di Lammermoor, and more. “Oh, we came out with our heads spinning!” said Gabbana.

The collection features the standard Dolce & Gabbana patterns, such as intricate lace embroideries and opulent jewelry designs going hand in hand with more street wear-inspired attire options, like oversized sweatshirts and animal printed coats.

While looking at the proposals, the creative duo has managed to skillfully translate street-style into haute couture. “We wanted to look at the daughters of the customers,” said Gabbana. “Who is the next couture client?” They’ve had plenty of young kids in and out of the house since they started inviting millennials to sit front row at their ready-to-wear and men’s shows, and, more recently, to walk in them.

The collection’s beauty was in the detailing, with luxurious embellishments, gemstones, sequined embroideries and pearls, included soigné cuts, such as layered ruches and pleated cascades of organza. Double-layered sable collars, regal headpieces and crimson roses that adorned the show’s scenarios were the ultimate details.

Go backstage at the Dolce & Gabbana Alta Moda couture runway shows as opluence reigns with regal embellishments.