Milan Fashion Week autumn/winter 2008

Although winter is looking to be brighter and bolder this year, designers are still moving away from overt sexuality and instead covering up with hemlines dropping way below the knee.

The title of the Armani collection was Free-spirited and designer Giorgio Armani ran with the concept.

The collection was made up of a wide-range of colours, fabrics and shapes. This season, the Armani woman is playful, yet not to be messed with.

Models wore feminine mid-calf length skirts teamed with blouses adorned with gorgeous flower prints. Boho-inspired gypsy dresses came down the runway along with velvet trousers and excessive furry coats. A truly free spirited collection.

Milan Fashion Week autumn/winter 2008

With the inspiration being old Hollywood glamour Roberto Cavalli's, collection was girly and soft rather than the sexy vampy looks Cavalli is known for.

With fifties-style organza dresses with floral embroidery, the feel of the clothes was quite summery. The collection included a diverse range of dresses that started out romantic and floral before turning darker. The dresses were prom-style by day and high-necked and full-skirted black governess styles by night.

Cavalli hinted at winter with a few pairs of grey wool trousers and shearling coats with animal print linings. Otherwise, a very girly collection.

Milan Fashion Week autumn/winter 2008

Dolce & Gabbana made a huge departure from their usual ultra-sexy style to show a Seventies-inspired, demure collection.

Stripes and checks were teamed with calf-length tweed skirts and trousers, while a pair of corduroy trousers was matched with checked shirts teamed with flat caps and silk neck-ties.

The collection showed a lot of volume with oversized Mongolian fur vests and poofy-sleeved tops and coats. Beautiful lace evening dresses featured and confirmed that Dolce & Gabbana was doing something different for this season

Milan Fashion Week autumn/winter 2008

The inspiration for Etro's collection was anything fantastical from Narnia to Victoriana.

Models wore fluid paisley print jackets and mini skirt ensembles to sheer evening gowns swathed in fur wraps. Puffed-short suits teamed with fringed clutch bags also featured as did sheer and multi-layered chiffon dresses in blurry prints and heavily belted fur gilets. Fantasy came in elaborate and fancy collars on sheer-panelled, short dresses shaped by bodices that buttoned up the front, while legs were accentuated, long and lean, in thigh-high and laced-up boots in grey, ivory, black and coral.

A fun and fanciful collection.

Milan Fashion Week autumn/winter 2008

Despite the faux pas of using real fur in fashion, Fendi designer Karl Lagerfeld showed an impressive collection of mink and fox fur that literally glowed as the models waltzed down the runway.

Lagerfeld kept the clothes short and with lots of volume remaining a common theme. The mini reigned supreme and the bubble-skirts that were fur trimmed in leather or cashmere were a hit.

Models wore cable-knit sweaters which were belted at the waist and had thick, high necks with big, draped sleeves while the navy caped coats that were understated luxury.

Fabulous.

Milan Fashion Week autumn/winter 2008

The collection by Gucci was a step away from their usual supersexy, vampish outfits in favour of a new line that is easier to wear but just as elegant and luxurious.

The inspiration for the collection was a glamorously bohemian seventies Russian hippie. Clothes were rich in folklore details such as elaborate embroideries, metal accents and colourful prints mixed with thin metal belts and scarves.

In a nod to eighties opulence stylishly cut fur jackets were shown. Evening dresses, in rich shades of purples were surprisingly low key with some metal detailing that hinted to militarism without going too far.

Milan Fashion Week autumn/winter 2008

The creative, chic female will have a field-day with the Marni autumn/winter 2008-9 collection.

The collection was all about minimalism and simplicity. Bold, oversized smocks, wooden platform heels and colourful creations were shown. Loose silhouettes, open-toed platform boots and chunky bangles were featured and for the first time. In a slight departure from the Marni norm, long-line dresses, worn with trousers underneath were also shown.

The collection featured lots of Alpaca and Monglonian fur and lots of layering.

This collection was Marni at it's best.

Milan Fashion Week autumn/winter 2008

Smart tailoring and clean lines were the order of the day at Maxmara . As usual the clothes were simple and fuss free.

The emphasised shoulders on on tops, jackets and coats gave the collection an Eighties feel.

The palette of the show complemented the sophisticated simplicity of the pieces. Colours were varying shades of charcoal, gun-metal grey and silver while flickers of lilacs, arctic blue and white gave the show a decidedly wintry feel.

Milan Fashion Week autumn/winter 2008

With something a little different for autumn/winter 2008-9 Missoni showed a sophisticated and slightly pared-down collection.

Missoni is all about simple luxury next season with cashmere, dresses with fur skirts, hooded ponchos in fur, suede and leather as well as subtle floral motifs, oversized knits and tailored slouchy trousers. The colour palette was turquoises and sandy browns but yet without the signature texture and pattern that one associates with the brand.

The Missoni eveningwear was a beautiful line of dresses, asymmetrical and strapless alike, which started out simply and bloomed with beading or frills. A beautiful collection that screams class.

Milan Fashion Week autumn/winter 2008

What a fun and flirty collection from Moschino . The collection was masculine meets flirty female.

Girlie dropped waist dresses came in black and white, pinned with brooches at the neck. The girlie dresses got a little wild with leopard prints on pussy bow-bloused macs that billowed out into tiered frills, teamed with opaque tights.

Moschino also showed masculine style cobalt blue coats that were reworked with a feminine touch such as rouched inserts and ruffled panels that plunged out from seams to create full-bodied skirts, while bows and hearts perched on shoulders replaced traditional epaulettes.

Milan Fashion Week autumn/winter 2008

The feeling of the Prada collection was a little bit of darkness and a whole lot of lace. The aesthetic of the collection was a risqué meets formal, risqué, because often, it looked as though the models were naked underneath, and formal because of the elegant lace.

The lace was large and loosely woven, and at others, finer, with block areas of sheer black lace.

Designer Miuccia Prada, chose simple shapes like high-waisted pencil skirts, fine, roll-neck knits, button-through shirts, chiffon shell tops, austere, long sleeved dresses and collarless cropped jackets for this season.

Beautifully crafted clothes for a femme fatale.

Milan Fashion Week autumn/winter 2008

The Salvatore Ferragamo collection had a winter meets Studio 54 feel. The show opened with all-white pieces. Models wore fur capes, dresses with silver panels and chain-mail embellishments and translucent white halternecks.

Stunning evening gowns featured along with a double-breasted navy coat worn over a sequin mini, a black fur cape and a line of high-waisted, wide-legged pants which is going to be a big trend for next season. Dresses with plunging metallic necklines and printed minis that were reminicent of Studio 54 were fun.

Milan Fashion Week autumn/winter 2008

The Versace collection was a rich and jewel-hued palette that encompassed everything from military coats and long length evening gowns.

Donatella Versace showed clothes that featured structured necklines twisting elegantly across the shoulder to leather bomber jackets in shades of neutrals and nudes to sophisticated amethysts, garnets, sapphires and rubies.

Models wore cute preppy cardigans that came cinched in at the waist and brightly coloured coats. Towering heels and sexy cocktail frocks sashayed down the runway. Gorgeous collection, as always.

Pics by: AFP Images
Compiled by: Jenna Shevel.