Eight days of catwalk at Milan Fashion Week

Spicezee Bureau

Milan: After the fashion extravaganzas in New York and London, Milan took over the baton for the next leg of the fashion season on Wednesday, kicking off eight days of catwalk shows and presentations. Milan is playing host to 97 fashion shows and 93 presentations between September 23 and 30, with designers hoping to lift the economic gloom with their womenswear for spring/summer 2010. However, big designer brands like Giorgio Armani, Prada, Versace, Roberto Cavalli, Bottega Veneta and Dolce & Gabbana are all squeezed into the central four days. "We thought that the market difficulties, the fall in sales would have induced designers to find agreement, instead it has pushed everyone to defend their own interests," Mario Boselli, chairman of Italy`s National Chamber of Fashion, was quoted as saying in media reports. Reports reveal that in the last few seasons, some brands have preferred a presentation to a catwalk run in order to cut costs. Major houses such as Prada, Armani and Versace have two shows -- one for buyers and one for the press. "The clothes need a soul, (the model) brings the outfit alive -- on its own it would not be able to give the right message. Even the music, makeup and the hair are important," celebrity favorite designer Donatella Versace told an Italian newspaper this week. Wednesday`s highlights included up-and-coming designers showing their creations and labels Pin Up Stars and Miss Bikini Luxe firing up the catwalk with boldly coloured and flowery bikinis.