Giorgio Armani closes Milan Fashion Week

King of fashion Giorgio Armani closed a whirlwind fashion week in Milan on Monday with an autumn/winter 2015 collection starring a new skirt-trousers combo which had fashionistas all in a tizz.

In marine blues, greens and soft greys, these were no ordinary skirt-over-trousers affairs: while at the front they looked like separate items, at the back the skirt merged into the trouser legs to create a low-slung pant seat.

The skirt material was soft, the trousers almost leggings -- and thus "skeggings" were born, to be matched with flat black patent shoes and worn by women who don't mind looking from behind like a teenage, skateboarding boy.

And the evening wear had a touch of the adolescent about it too, with "Cinderella" dresses in sparkling blue or soft pink, their straps simple and a ruff across the bosom -- more high-school prom than elegant soiree.

The 80-year-old Armani proved he had not lost his touch with the sophisticated woman, however, unveiling a series of slate-grey and black trousers which billowed around the thighs but tapered to a slim fit above the ankle.

These were worn with aquamarine or blue jackets in squares of soft leather, stitched loosely together so glimpses of skin peeped through. There were also fish-scale jackets with pink, blue and marine lines criss-crossing a grey background, creating a wave effect -- a colour scheme captured on the occasional pair of trousers or bag, as well as a bow which adorned some of the outfits.

Shawls with long fringes made a comeback, trailing down behind models or used as a belt, and there were a couple of fur and velvet jackets in cornflower and midnight blues, worn to the hip or the waist, for the cold winter days to come.

For all the marine romance, outfits were paired with non-nonsense structured moon bags in patent leather and even the floaty evening dresses were worn with black patent leather boots -- Armani's Cinderella is taking no risks with glass slippers. (AFP)

Photos: British Vogue