Dolce & Gabbana is another in a long line of famous fashion houses by way of Italy. For a country barely larger than the state of California, an overwhelmingly large percentage of the world's high-end fashion is a result of the boot-shaped land mass. The fashion conglomerate takes its name from the owners: Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana. The brand is relatively new in comparison to other fashion lines out there, getting their start in the 1980s and experiencing the height of their success only a few short years later.

Dolce & Gabbana are the quintessential power couple of the fashion world. Their partnership began while they were each working as assistants to fashion designers in Milan, Italy. The duo discovered that they shared a lot of interests in common, and after forming a partnership in love, they merged their names for fashion in 1985 after the organizers of the Milano Collezioni invited them both to participate in a new talent show launch. In 1986, the duo tirelessly worked to produce their line and subsequent “ready-to-wear” women's fashion show. The show was a smash hit, and stars of the day like Madonna and Nicole Kidman flocked to the line.

Dolce & Gabbana have consistently earned high praise for being wholly original in a world overrun with imitation. Their dark colored animal prints and cutting-edge design style was said to be inspired by classical Italian movies. The success of their women's line quickly prompted the duo to create a men's wear line. Although the menswear doesn't receive the notoriety of the women's line, it's still one of the most popular names in terms of men's high fashion.

While Victoria's Secret and Fredrick's of Hollywood have made a huge name for themselves by offering women scantily clad garments to wear under their clothes, Dolce & Gabbana are famous for a superman-like approach: using the underwear as outerwear. Their trademarks include corsets and bra fastenings as “everyday” attire. Other trademarks of the famous fashion line include pinstripe suits, embroidered coats, and even accessories like sunglasses. Their biggest claim to fame is making average women look sexy and chic. Their clothing is used consistently by fashion magazines from all over the globe.

Since expanding their company to include fragrances, the duo has earned multiple international awards, including a Perfume Academy prize for the best feminine fragrance of the year. Overall, the duo have dabbled in some of the most risky fashion styles in the modern era; and while this is a surefire ticket to devastation usually, Dolce & Gabbana are habitually celebrated for pushing the envelope and producing their classical-meets-modern risky fashions. From coats and shoes to perfumes and dresses, D&G have their hands in almost every modern fashion on the market. It may be hard to fathom, but at barely 25 years old, the brand is sure to see its best years in the future.