[Photo provided to China Daily]

Her taste and passion for elegance, the desire to gain independence inspired her to create haute couture. She started doing it in 1934 and then dressed many in high society, including soprano Maria Callas.

"Biki was a strong, emancipated woman, determined to leave a mark in the history of Alta Moda," says designer Stefano Gabbana, 53.

"She inspired us. Alta Moda for Biki was like a dream come true. And we still believe in that dream. Her creations and ours are born out of passion for elegance, love for Italian culture and the desire to clothe gorgeous women in unique garments."

The day before the women's haute couture show, Dolce & Gabbana launched its Alta Sartoria (men's haute couture) collection at its headquarters in Corso Venezia, the former Palazzo Labus, first built in 1565.

The colors of the ceilings and walls of the ancient rooms inspired the designer duo to create a neo-classical dawn-pink jacket for men.

The menswear range features collections for sports fans from tennis and golf to polo. Gabbana says he read that tennis was first played in Italy.

The inspiration for the collection also came from movie stars－Fred Astaire in the Three Little Words (1950) and Bob Hope and Bing Crosby in movie Road to Utopia (1946).

One bear-hug fur coat was inspired by 1920s Boston University.