Designers presented their visions for autumn/winter in Milan this week amid signs the fashion industry is starting to feel the effects of the economic downturn – Roberto Cavalli has cancelled a presentation while Giorgio Armani warns stores are buying less.
Frankie Morello chased away the credit crunch blues, though, with a playful collection heavy on geometric shapes and origami-like details. One standout piece was a baby pink, long-sleeved dress with a skirt made up of a mass of 3D cones.
Designers at Blugirl, the teenage line from Capri-based fashion house Bluefin, also favoured pink, a more vibrant shade of fuchsia, in their line of flapper-inspired, thigh-skimming dresses.
At the runway presentation of Giorgio Armani's younger line Emporio Armani, models sashayed down the catwalk two-by-two in sassy, micro-skirts, hot-pants and flirty velvet smock-dresses in a palette of navy blue, dark green and black.
It was a collection designed to show strength and optimism, with no cutbacks on creativity and energy, according to its creator.
Moschino clearly had the current climate in mind when it came to naming its runway presentation. Looks on display in the 'Cheap & Chic' show included a classic LBD with batwing sleeves and a loose-fitting trousers and top combo in shades of deep purple, jazzed up with a metallic blue short-sleeved overshirt.
At Lorenzo Riva the emphasis was on the hips with a collection of bell-shaped dresses which contrasted knitwear-like looks on the bottom half with satin around the bust and waist.
Meanwhile Gaetano Navarra also mixed and matched textures and patterns in every shade of black and silver while experimenting with futuristic shapes. A pair of fawn baggy trousers was teamed with a top comprising reams of satin wound around the body and one arm to create a huge puffball sleeve.
Photo: Getty Images
Photo: Getty Images
Photo: Rex
