By Marie-Louise Gumuchian

MILAN (Reuters Life!) - Italian designer duo Dolce & Gabbana, among Milan's top fashion names, are branching out from dresses to lipsticks, launching a make-up line they say they have been dreaming of for years.

Extending their creativity to the cosmetics industry, Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana have turned to the Sicilian and Mediterranean roots of their brand for the range, modeled by Hollywood actress Scarlett Johansson.

"We have been dreaming of Dolce & Gabbana make-up for years," Stefano Gabbana said in emailed comments to Reuters.

"If it was the right time we don't know ... We have followed our instinct and we went on, also because it was a long time that we have been thinking about a make-up collection."

Assisted by make-up artist Pat McGrath who has worked at their shows for more their 10 years, the designers say they were at the helm of every step in the making of the range.

"It was a studied and searched project, more than usual, because for us it was completely new and we wanted to do it very well," Gabbana said, adding the lipstick was his favorite.

The designers are known for their use of gold embellishments and the line's packaging has pure metal gold. Products include eyeshadow named "Guilty" or "Elegance" and lipsticks called "Drama" and "Devil." Prices range from 21 euros ($26.33) to 49 euros.

"We decided to call some of the products with the names of some important objects for us and for our brand," Dolce said.

"For instance Stromboli -- from the turbulent landscape of Stromboli's charred, glistening black sand, one of our favorite isles; Gold -- symbol of luxury; Dahlia -- the flower we love most or Ruby -- our favorite stone," he added.

The designers say the range will be sold in "very selected top luxury department stores" such as La Rinascente in Milan, Selfridges in London and Saks in New York.

The duo, who count top Hollywood stars as their fans, drew in the biggest front row of celebrities at the Dolce & Gabbana runway during the Milan womenswear fashion shows this week, including Johansson, whose shots for the campaign are inspired by Marilyn Monroe.

The line-up included Hollywood actresses Eva Mendes, Naomi Watts, Kate Hudson as well as "Slumdog Millionaire" actress Freida Pinto, and models Claudia Schiffer and Eva Herzigova.

They also had a star-studded party with Vogue for an exhibition, which opens in Milan on Wednesday, with 89 photos taken for the fashion magazine in the last 80 years.

Their womenswear collection, inspired by surrealism and its desire to push limits, included jackets, dresses and capes with puffed up, butterfly-like shoulders, some with fox fur.

Slim skirts were over the knee and the look was accessorized with headbands made out of leather gloves or large bows.

They stuck to mainly black and white, but added hot pink to a fur coat, as well as blue and gold touches to suits and wedges. For the evening, prints of Monroe's face featured on white and black silk Mikado dresses, both long and short.

Other designer brands with make-up lines include Dior and Chanel.

(Editing by Paul Casciato)

($1=.7977 Euro)