MILAN (Reuters) - Giorgio Armani took hemlines higher for his less formal Emporio Armani collection on Wednesday, while Gucci swept evening dresses right to the floor in jeweled black and Grecian column white.
Armani, who kept dresses just above the knee for his main Giorgio Armani line on Monday, made them shorter and cheekier for Emporio Armani, but kept to the bubble skirt shape nipped in to the hem that he had used before.
He also kept feet firmly on the ground in flat pumps, after saying on Monday that you did not need high heels to be sexy.
Models strolled down the catwalk in pairs, wearing complementary outfits so that chiffon stoles slung over shoulders were twinned, black spots on white and white spots on black.
Charcoal gray with a fine horizontal chalk stripe was used in one outfit for a skirt, and parallel for a shirt.
The shorter lengths and swing-back coats kept the mood lighter, while tights with mock gray and black knee socks added to the sense of fun.
Prada also put socks on models at Miuccia Prada's show on Tuesday, but she used vivid oranges and purples for her legwear.
Armani, who says "black is cool," took that color as a backdrop for outfits paired with white for thin and thick stripes or spots and chevrons.
Black crocodile print leather was used for skirts, jackets and bags.
He did dab in rich jade, turquoise and lilac for swinging short dresses, while for evening he sprinkled black sheer silk with mauve and magenta sparkling spheres.
He brought his tailoring magic to make silver cocktail dresses move like mercury.
GUCCI HITS THE FLOOR
Precious metals looked set to be the theme at Gucci's show, given the gold block invitation, but instead designer Frida Giannini used classical white and simple black for her collection.
Giannini, the first designer at the house to have full creative control after Tom Ford left, took evening dresses right down to the floor in black or white columns that she decorated with diamante or bows.
Models wearing long hair "L.A. Confidential"-style came down the catwalk in black gowns decked with huge silver leaves, or with sparkling epaulets.
A white evening dress pleated vertically at the front was held at the waist with a gold art deco buckle, while on other gowns necks took deep v-shapes down to the waist.
For daytime, Giannini put maroon and black together for below-the-knee skirts while black fur was flecked with chestnut in cuffs and ruffs.
High black boots were matched with elbow-length black shiny gloves -- a world away from Armani's low-level style and perhaps a foretaste of what's to come at daring duo Dolce & Gabbana on Thursday and glitzy Versace on Friday, before fashion week closes on February 24.
