Milan Fashion Week - Best Picks for Spring 2009 - Part Two

Here it is, the last couple of days of Milan Fashion Week. I must admit that I have been very impressed with the showings. From D&G to Fendi, the collections have been creative, thought provoking and sensual. Did I mention that I love the Italians?

Here's a sampling of the tastiest morsels.

Etro: I love the Etro paisley. I think there is nothing (well... almost nothing) sexier than a man who wears an Etro suit with the paisley print hidden beneath the lapel. For Spring 2009, Veronica Etro incorporated the print into beautiful flowing and airy dresses. Her collection was clean and fresh, with an ethnic influence. Beautiful!

Jil Sander: Raf Simons displayed a minimal and modern collection complete with sexual subtleties. His collection had fringes and catsuits, and were black and mysterious. I'm not normally a fan of fringes but these were very sexy - flashes of flesh through the strands left the looker wondering what else was beneath...

Alessandro Dell'Acqua: This collection was full of detail. There were definitely, what some refered to as, Pocahontas references. Some pieces had too many and others had just the right amount. There were a couple of looks that were just too fringed. The boots were intriguing... suede, slouchy boots with a tiny slit in the middle of the toes.

Gucci: I could write all day about Gucci. My favourite fashion house did not let me down at the Spring 2009 show. Ever since I got to float around in their beautiful scarf dress from Spring 2007, I've been in love with all things Gucci. Spring 2009 made me think of beaches, safaris and hot and sweaty climates. The clothes will do incredibly well at the retail level, and Zara and H&M will definitely be poaching some of these ideas. There were fedoras, suits with stove-pipe trousers, floating dresses, vivid colours, eye catching prints - all so hip and so Gucci. I want absolutely everything! Frida Giannini proved once again that she understands the Gucci brand.

Pollini: Traditionally known for its shoes, Pollini impressed all with the Spring 2009 collection. Jonathan Saunders brought his own creative eye and infused it into the tradition to produce colourful, playful, flirty and youthful clothes.

Marni: Consuelo Castiglioni got rid of her drab colour blocked shapeless clothes from seasons past and spiced up her show with prints, vivid colours and garments that showed the wearer's curves, yet still managed to remain distinctly Marni. The Spring 2009 collection is pretty and full of personality with layered, mismatched prints that don't look so mismatched...

Versace: Next season, Versace is luxurious, not tacky. Striking, sexy and typical Donatella. The clothes hugged the body, skimmed the upper thighs and were predominantly black and white with some splashes of colour towards the end of the show. Loved the zippers formed into hearts that appeared on some pieces... so cute. These dresses should come with a warning label. Warning: The wearing of this dress will cause most men to cum in their pants.

Fendi: Karl Lagerfeld is always so far ahead of the game at Fendi. He uses the most up to date processes and fashion forward ideas. The Fendi collection for Spring 2009 was romantic and provocative. Transparency was the main theme this season with garments having several layers of transparent fabric or cut outs that resembled those paper dolls you made as kids. Many pieces were cinched in at the waist by wide, heavy belts - Fendi always has such fantastic belts each season. This really was a very creative collection presented by Karl. But I have to ask, where on earth did he come up with the idea of transparent fur?!

Dsquared2: Dan and Dean Caten were inspired by Charlie's Angels for Spring 2009. Their collection had a very heavy 70's vibe to it that worked very well for them. Denim played a key part throughout in flared and stove pipe styles of jeans. There were plenty of casual, very wearable pieces but the end of the show turned to high glamour with dresses worthy of Studio 54.

Dolce & Gabbana: The Dolce show lived up to all expectations. It was a bit kitschy (like the D&G show) and it was over the top. With a collection self described as "Pajama Baroque", Domenico and Stefano showed silky pajama like tops paired with half circle skirts (as seen at D&G). The pieces were geometric, sexy and sultry.

Milan left us with an appetite for more. I have a feeling our hunger will be satiated in Paris next week. But all of this high fashion leaves me wondering... with the economy doing as poorly as it is, will consumers want to buy transparent fur, feathers and fringe? Or will they be more inclined to buy classic pieces to get them through the tough times looming on the horizon?

Read our past reviews on the International Fashion Weeks at CIVILIZED SPICE:

Milan Fashion Week - Part One

London Fashion Week - Part Two

London Fashion Week - Part One

New York Fashion Week - Part Two

New York Fashion Week - Part One

Photos courtesy of Style.com