Peekaboo: Ferretti wows with see-through in Milan

MILAN, Sept 21, 2011 (AFP) - See-through dresses and languid lines might just be the flavour of the spring and summer of next year judging by the John Richmond and Alberta Ferretti shows at Milan Fashion Week on Wednesday.

Alberta Ferretti - SS 2012 / Photo: Pixel Formula

The two designers -- both known for their trend-setting outfits -- wowed assembled Italian celebrities and fashion scribes with collections evoking romantic holidays far away from the bustle of Italy's commercial hub.

Ferretti's dresses -- mostly in black and white but with the occasional radiant green or blue thrown in -- featured see-through sections and open backs, evoking Gucci's Art Deco collection theme shown off earlier in the day.

Alberta Ferretti - SS 2012 / Photo: Pixel Formula

There was also a line of jungle print and khaki dresses in tropical colours that made the models -- many of them with a wet hair look -- appear like sexy nymphs emerging from a rainforest shower straight onto a white-carpet catwalk.

Ferretti was worn recently at the Emmy Awards by actresses Rashida Jones and Cobie Smulders and Andie Macdowell's 16-year-old daughter, Sarah, made her catwalk debut with Ferretti at New York Fashion Week earlier this month.

The theme for Richmond's collection was more glamorous 1950s -- again with plenty of hints of see-through but also pencil skirts, classic leather handbags and the oversize tinted sunglasses also worn by many people in the audience.

There were also various interpretations of the little black dress -- followed by variations in white, pink and green. Richmond, a British designer based in Milan, has become famous for dressing rock stars like David Bowie.

High heels sprouting yellow feathers were the first warning that something was about to change from the classic lines at Richmond's show and the outfits morphed into something altogether more decadent and ultimately bizarre.

John Richmond - SS 2012 / Photo: Pixel Formula

Cocktail dresses gave way to a black crocodile skin jacket like something from the film Mad Max and then outfits encrusted with jewels that would not look out of place at a Pearly Kings and Queens parade in London's East End.

The pencil skirts of a latter-day Jackie Kennedy turned into dominatrix-style black skirts with long trails including the last number featuring a print of two skeletons prostrating themselves before a naked woman.