Sparkling stuff: Dolce & Gabbana’s tiara design goes under the hammer at Dorotheum

The Italian fashion design duo Dolce & Gabbana have put their own spin on one of the grandest European traditions—the society event known as the Vienna Opera Ball. The glamorous pair have designed a tiara for the ball’s debutantes, creating an arresting headpiece topped with six rose-coloured flowers made of enamel and adorned with 702 Swarovski crystals. The sketch of the tiara goes on the block in a charity auction taking place at Dorotheum tomorrow (24 January). Bids start at €500; funds raised by the auction will benefit two projects initiated by the Caritas charity. D&G incidentally looked to Mozart’s opera The Marriage of Figaro for inspiration, particularly the words sung in the eighth scene of the first act: “Giovani liete, fiori spargete!” (Happy maids, scatter flowers!). Their design will become reality, with one lucky debutante due to wear the finished tiara at the prestigious ball next month.