Prior to September twenty-fifth, my experience of Dolce & Gabbana’s predictably fabulous makeup line was limited to drive-bys at the Saks counter. You all know about my summer fling with the perfect orange-y red lipstick, [Venere](http://www.saksfifthavenue.com/main/ProductDetail.jsp?FOLDER%3C%3Efolderid=2534374306424658&PRODUCT%3C%3Eprdid=845524446227977&R=737052199795&Pname=Dolce+%26+Gabbana&N=4294912362+306424658&bmUID=j52d5jy)._ Then the invitation arrived from the mothership: would you like to be our guest in Milan, to document the fashion show and backstage? Here’s the answer.

I flew, I saw, I drowned in makeup. I’d already begun a dalliance with Secret Eyes mascara, so that gilded tube came with me from New York, and then I spent a whirlwind weekend with a pretty stellar new red lipstick— Passion Duo in Infatuation(apply, blot, reapply was my motto).

On the big day, Pat McGrath whisked me backstage to meet the designers and see the look. A photo collage of Sophia Loren on the Italian Riviera hung over the artists’ stations like a shrine to fresh, Mediterranean vivaciousness. Domenico and Stefano spoke about “the charm and beauty of Southern Italy; the food, the smells and the sense of occasion,” and they weren’t kidding: models wore earrings made from Farfalle pasta and pranced down the runway in nipped waist 1950’s silhouettes as “ Mambo Italiano” played on repeat. Skin literally glowed (I’m beginning to think that a foundation brush is a girl’s best friend) and eyes twinkled under a pencil-and- shadow-lined upper lid.

But enough writing—check out the video. Ciao!