Fashion's fantastic open house

The Portofino show is classic Dolce& Gabbana style, with Chinese, Russian and African influences. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Haute couture shows are no longer just about fashion but also location.

They've recently been held in mansions and palaces, for instance.

But Italian designer duo Domenico Dolce and Stephano Gabbana are perhaps the first to host one in their own homes.

Having presented Dolce & Gabbana's couture line, Alta Moda, in Sicily, Venice, Capri and Milan, the pair opened their respective Portofino houses for an event from July 9-12.

The ancient fishing settlement on the Italian Riviera boasts a picturesque harbor, where Julius Caesar, Augustus and England's King Richard I rested. More contemporary visitors of note include Maria Callas and Cary Grant.

The town was neon-lit at night for the Alta Moda event.

Alta Moda won a slew of loyal clients since launching three years ago. About 300 of them attended the Portofino show. Others preferred to place orders remotely after the show to dodge the spotlight.