MILAN–Ferragamo’s Spring 2011 show opened to the sounds of waves lapping, I imagine, against a very fancy yacht. Designer Massimiliano Giornetti’s collection was, according to the line sheet, “snapshots of a perennial summer, living by lazy rhythms, in boats and rarefied society gatherings.” To protect their hair against the sea breeze, models wore Gypsy-like silk kerchiefs, and to keep warm, decadent suede jackets over crocheted bikinis in beachy neutrals. On a bohemian bent, Giorentti sent down long peasant skirts with cropped tops. For a cover up, fluid shimmering full-skirted sheer dresses that could double as evening wear (with the right undergarments, of course).

Click through for more looks.

MILAN–It was clear Versus was in a playful mood before the presentation started. The set was a playground complete with a swing set, a slide, and one of those spinny chair things. Despite the fact that the models never actually slid down the slide (much to my dismay), Christopher Kane’s collection for Versus made good on that promise of playground fun.

The first looks out were bright tartans that seemed to reflect on Kane’s Scottish heritage, though they were all prints drawn from the Versus archives. Then he infused the tartans with tight neon floral prints that crossed over the bust on knee-length, form fitting, ruched dresses and inserted them into the pleats of kilts. Gradually the prints gave way to bold rainbow bright color blocked dresses.

That’s my take. Here’s Kane’s:

“For this Versus SS11 collection I played with combining floral, tartan stripe prints from the Versus archive, to achieve twisted and drape mesh dresses. The colour palette is very bright and optimistic (yellow, green, purple, orange, red and blue). I have worked printed mesh into longer, leaner dresses, and knitwear for a more casual sporty/grungy approach. The core of the collection is multi drape stretch mesh dresses using layers of printed mesh. Short comes in multicoloured pop dresses. Shoes and bags feature print and brogue details.”

Click through for more looks.

MILAN–Even though Emporio Armani‘s Spring/Summer 2011 collection was dedicated to the “fancy girl” and a (butchered) version of Lou Reed’s “Walk on the Wild Side,” opened the show, Emporio Armani was anything but wild and fancy. The collection was chic work wear: Pewter and titanium shift dresses that were belted, structured skirts paired with cropped tailored blazers, and tiered chiffon dresses and tops that recalled the underside of jellyfish. The stand-out feature of the collection was a stretch tulle knee-length skirt seen under just about every skirted look in shades of gray. It added interest and edge to the otherwise sensibly chic collection.