With the Oscars airing tonight, Dolce & Gabbana couldn’t have picked a better moment to showcase the house’s dazzling red-carpet finery.

The Italian design duo of Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana explored the theme of “Eleganza,” the name of their 127-outfit show.

That meant everything from tailored tuxes – there were more than a dozen variations on the penguin suit – to lingerie-inspired evening looks, sequined slithers, frothy white wedding gowns and their signature sexy black dresses. All were inspired by masterpieces of Italian art, like the portraits of noble women by Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael and Botticelli.

“Black is the most iconic element to Dolce & Gabbana’s DNA…black, black and more black,” an announcer stated as the models paraded everything from romantic net and lace dresses to fitted blazers and pencil skirts.

Molto elegante