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MILAN - Dolce & Gabbana spiced up the sixth day of winter womenswear shows in Milan today with metal masks, crops and corsets that eschewed cosy warmth for sizzling fetish sex appeal.
The audience of buyers and journalists waited nearly an hour for the show, but impatience was quickly forgotten when the models hit the black catwalk in high gold and silver stiletto heels wearing sculpted leather, leopard print and feathers.
The designer duo of Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana, who gave us big cat prints and disco gold at their more informal D&G show on Monday, showed off fur-like fabrics and leathers with corset-shaped metallic belts.
One "dominatrix" carried a silver twisted riding crop and another wore a shiny metal Carnival-style mask. Slim chains looped from hips in what the designers called an "indefinitely fetish" style.
Net tulle wrapped up leopard fur fabrics or provided a gauzy covering for wolfish grey coats.
Tulle was used in ruffles for evening dresses, or they were sheer from groin to floor and splashed with sparkling embroidery.
A deep red feather body was sculpted high over breasts, with a wide black patent corset belt, creating an exotic bird perched on spiky black patent heels.
Standing out from the fur and feathers came a grey silk short dress with a bodice which looked sprayed on with metallic paint -- far too exposing to wear out in the chill of winter.
Next up among leading designers is Versace tomorrow - where Donatella Versace is likely to continue the glitzy theme - before the shows end on Feb 24.
- REUTERS