Milan Fashion Week has closed with spectacular shows from Giorgio Armani and Roberto Cavalli.
In a week dominated by animal prints and muted desert colours, Armani surprised as always with his “La Femme Bleue” show, featuring colours inspired by the robes and veils of the Tuareg people of the Sahara.
The master showed evening dresses, tapered trousers and tailored jackets in the evocative indigo blue colour, accessorised with sensational turbans which are sure to be copied everywhere.
“Not all women are mannequins”, said Armani and he certainly produced a classic look that high street chains will want to imitate.
Roberto Cavalli, celebrating forty years in the fashion business, presented the “snake woman”, showing python prints, animal-printed chiffon dresses with suede fringing and fringed leather and suede bags. The look was definitely “rock star”.
The 1° Classe Alviero Martini collection, always with the travelling woman in mind, showed animal prints in amazingly light, easy-to-pack fabrics and introduced a stunning giraffe print.
Colours were grey, black and brown with bags in grey and blue. Jackets were fitted and belted with metallic clasps. One khaki dress had puff sleeves to make the look more feminine.
Donatella Versace’s show, “Opposites Attract”, was, as you would expect, one of contrasts: mini and maxi, muted and bright, tailored and loose-fitting: Skirts were below the knee and the dominant colours were red and turquoise. Fringed garments again appeared.
Dolce and Gabbana also surprised, with a collection predominantly in white. The fabrics were embroidered, crocheted or of lace and were inspired by materials that you might have found in a Southern Italian bridal chest. Lines were clean and the look was spring-like and refreshing.
Frida Giannini for Gucci showed tulip skirts in shimmering fabrics teamed with sleeveless cross-over tops. Again, desert colours made an appearance in tailored riding jackets but evening dresses were in metallic fabrics.
Peter Dundas for Emilio Pucci showed seventies-inspired maxi dresses with lacing and bell-bottom trousers teamed with blazers and the signature printed headscarves of the House. Again, the look was “seventies rock star”.
Miuccia Prada’s look was inspired by Latin American themes. There were banana and monkey prints, vivid colours and tango shoes and dresses. The designer herself wore “banana” earrings to the show.
Missoni showed cheerful, Aztec-printed ponchos in grey, black and yellow. Dresses were geometric in cut, with flashes of blue relieving the savanna-inspired prints.
But if we had to pick the star of the week, it would be Armani, for the designer had an attraction that no one else could produce:
Yes, Armani had Clooney and Canalis, calling in during a tour of Milan.
Dressed in black and grey, the couple posed with the designer for photographs and appeared incredibly happy.
