The main theme of the Milan menswear catwalks this week was glamour, glamour, glamour, from Dolce & Gabbana's fun-filled homage to La Dolce Vita to Giorgio Armani's "metrosexual" fashion, which seemed to take a page from David Beckham's book .
Hip elegance was the name of the day overall for the collections seen during the week. Chic lines, impeccably cut suits and plush fabrics from suede to velvet are the season's staples, and more than one designer – Calvin Klein and Roberto Cavalli, for example – showed off sexy leather trousers. And menswear creators proved that glitz isn't just found on the womens wear runways, showcasing their latest collections in theatrical presentations equalling the major productions seen during the women's shows.
Etro's opted for colourful circus style as tartan-clad, bearded male models – some of whom looked suspiciously like extras from The Lord Of The Rings – strolled down the runway. Meanwhile, Dolce & Gabbana set the stage for their Italian movie tribute with a reproduction of the famed Trevi Fountain and an Anita Ekberg lookalike, inspired by the some of the film's famous scenes.
The sultry blonde was just one of many women seen on the catwalk in Milan, indicating the use of female models is the future of men's fashion shows. Tom Ford's Gucci swan song – presented in a custom-built show room with a white fur catwalk as its centrepiece – included four female dancers wearing crystal bikini bottoms. "It's about celebrating a playboy, about hedonism, luxury, glamour and sex," said the designer of his latest collection.
Giorgi Armani, famed for his tailored suits, used both male and female models in his ode the newly-dubbed "metrosexual" man who embraces his fashion-conscious side. "It's urban glam - very metropolitan and sophisticated," said Armani, later remarking: "It's a question of esthetics, not gender."
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
