Feb 28 - Giorgio Armani stunned Milan Fashion Week with a Cinderella-like dream-world show on Monday, while Dsquared2 kicked off the penultimate day with feisty American pioneers in a snow-covered Wild West.

Giorgio Armani at Milan Fashion Week - A/W 2011 collection (photo by Pixel Formula)

If the Emporio Armani collection presented earlier in the week had captivated with all blacks, the Giorgio Armani catwalk seduced with soft pinks, starring delicate, hooped skirts and dresses in satins, silks and chiffons.

Inspiration came from the world of dreams, "dreams that evoke tales of passion", with a catwalk that mirrored female fantasies, guests were told.

Long pink glittering dresses and trousers were worn with loose, pink and black fur neck-warmers or pale pink shawls with silk tassells, while classic black dresses with open backs were covered with velvet off-the shoulder cloaks.

Giorgio Armani at Milan Fashion Week - A/W 2011 collection (photo by Pixel Formula)

Soft pink fur shrugs and pochettes in pink and grey satins were worn with grey pinstripe suits with ruffles at the back or wide, high-neck black jackets over diamante-embroidered trousers or flowing chiffon skirts.

Long woollen coats and loose-fitting capes were set off by flesh or powder-pink trousers cut off at the ankle, turned up and worn with peep-toe satin shoes with plexiglass heels: Cinderella's glass slipper, perhaps.

At the Dsquared2 show, snow fell on the models as they strode back and forth from the mountainside in outfits inspired by "wives, girlfriends and daughters of pioneers and minors who colonised America in the mid-19th century".

Dsquared2 at Milan Fashion Week - A/W 2011 collection (photo by Pixel Formula)

"Early American settlers" met "black creek granny bikers", resulting in pioneering women who would not have looked out of place in a frontier-town shootout. Three male models with glasses kept a low profile in their midst.

Pink, fur-collared leather jackets and long furs were worn with jeans or long denim skirts, fur-covered holsters and Ten Gallon hats. Untucked checkered shirts were worn with denim or leather trousers and knee-high lace-up boots.

Dsquared2 at Milan Fashion Week - A/W 2011 collection (photo by Pixel Formula)

There were nods to masculine lines, with tuxedo bibs and bow ties worn with leather cuffs, gilets and large studded belts. Come nighttime, the girls seduced with coyote and fox furs over grey figure-hugging dresses with sweeping trains.

"It was such a fun show to do," Caten twins Dean and Dan said backstage after the show. "We were inspired by the film 'Brokeback Mountain', so we did something a little androgynous. We just played around, really."

Dsquared2 at Milan Fashion Week - A/W 2011 collection (photo by Pixel Formula)

"Weren't the men funny? They were so submissive compared to the girls." Is this the woman of the future? "She could be, she's our woman for 2011 at least."

by Ella Ide