Do you remember that ongoing tax case that Domenico Dolce & Stefano Gabbana were the subject of? Just to refresh your mind, in April last year the design duo were cleared of all charges of criminal tax evasion but today the story resurfaced and there's a twist. According to Reuters, the designers will be forced to stand trial after all.
'Milan judge Giuseppe Gennari gave the green light for prosecutors to bring the fashion duo to court over allegations of tax evasion totalling around 1 billion euros ($1.25 billion),' the title revealed. Gabbana took to Twitter on Friday writing, 'Everyone knows that we haven't done anything.'
MTV had Beyoncé to thanks this weekend for giving them their highest viewing figures in the awards shows history but they're not the only one thanking the singer. Dolce & Gabbana - along with Lanvin - had the honour of dressing the singer when she made her big pregnancy reveal on Sunday night.
"We are very happy for her for her maternity, and we are proud she announced it while wearing Dolce & Gabbana!" Domenico Dolce told The Cut. "She is versatile, determined, and never afraid of changes," Stefano Gabbana added. "She will be a fantastic mother and we are sure that during her pregnancy she will not lose a bit of her glamour and sensuality."
When you think of top male models, David Gandy definitely springs to mind. So that said, it is hardly a surprise that Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana have decided to make the model the focus of a book.
Although Gandy appeared in Dolce & Gabbana's famous 'Milan Family' and 'Uomini', this is the first time that the duo have chosen one model to feature. The book will showcase images of Gandy from the brand's shows, campaigns and editorials shot by everyone from Mario Testino to Steven Klein. "I'm so proud of this project," Gandy told Vogue.com. "I couldn't have imagined in my wildest dreams when I first start working together with Dolce and Gabbana over six years ago, that I would ever have my own book."
Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana have a lot to smile about this season and we're not just talking about the fact that duo avoided that big tax evasion case earlier on this year. Their white lace dresses have racked up a whopping 43 covers so far this season, only five behind Prada with 48.
As we reported, the dress made a big appearance on Gisele Bundchen for Emmanuelle Alt's first cover for Vogue Paris as editor in chief, Britt Maren wore it for a German Vogue cover, Penelope Cruz dons it dor the latest American vogue issue and now Constance Jablonski appears on this month's Greek Vogue in the dress having sported it in on the cover of Spanish Vogue back in February.
But it doesn't end there. The dress has also been a hit on the red carpet too. Diane Kruger was the first to sport it back in February at the premier of 'Unknown' in LA and in March Kate Bosworth dressed it down with black army boots and a military jacket to host a party for Nylon.
Each season there's always a dress that has it's 'cover' moment. Last season it was all about that gold dress from Balmain which was worn by Natalia Vodianova on the December cover of Harper's Bazaar UK, on Cindy Crawford for Vogue India's October issue, Abbey Lee Kershaw on Vogue Germany, Anna Dello Russo on 10 and on both Anja Rubik and Toni Garn.
It's a legal sigh of relief for Domenico DolceandStefano Gabbana, who were cleared on Friday for charges of criminal tax evasion. Although they still might owe a substantial sum to the Italian government in back taxes, they won't face a trial over the matter, which stemmed from a two-year investigation of their business practices in Luxembourg.
Giuseppe Bana, a representative for Dolce and Gabbana's accountant, said of the matter: "The judge prevented this from going too far, it’s an investigation that should never have been initiated in the first place.” Luciano Patelli, the designers' accountant, and Dolce's brother, Alfonso Dolce, have also been cleared of the related charges they faced.
Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana are in the press again but not for the right reason. Yesterday the New York Times revealed that tomorrow the designers will find out whether prosecutors have gathered enough evidence to push for a full blown criminal trial against them for alleged tax evasion and fraud. According to reports last year, the pair are said to have not paid taxes on more than $1 billion of their income.
The newspaper indicated that if a criminal trial was pursued at the pair were found guilty of fraud, a maximum sentence of five to seven years could be imposed.
One legal case against Dolce & Gabbana was dropped last month, but that doesn't mean the designers are safe from other legal concerns. On Monday, the designers were officially charged with tax evasion over accusations that they were using a Luxembourg holdings company to handle their business safely away from higher Italian taxes.
The designers could face a full criminal trial, and if found guilty, they could be handed a prison sentence of as long as three years or a fine as steep as $1.3 million. According to a statement from Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana: "It's a paradox! Since when does one have to pay taxes on money one never actually collected?"
Although it's probably not comforting to the duo, other high-fashion brands have previously faced similar tax-related trouble in Italy. Labels ranging from Versace to Roberto Cavalli to Etro are among the list of those previously investigated.
We've just wrapped up Paris Fashion Week, and already, the rumours of next season's campaigns are starting. According to Fashionologie, Gisele could be the star of the Spring '11 Balenciaga campaign - which would make sense, considering that she walked in the show. Will other supers from the show, like Stella Tennant or Carolyn Murphy, join her? It can't be confirmed just yet.
Fashionologie also reports that Alessandra Ambrosio is racking up Dolce & Gabbana ad rumours, now that she and Stefano Gabbana have been tweeting feverishly. (Ambrosio has remained coy about it all during interviews.) In addition, Givenchy-runway-exclusive Izabel Goulart is thought to be lined up for the label's spring campaign, starring with Riccardo Tisci favourite Mariacarla Boscono.
