>> Back in black. Gucci kicks off Milan Fashion Week with a moodily enchanting Fall 2012 collection in nearly every shade of black — or near black — imaginable. Silhouettes were flowing, dramatic, and — for a touch of toughness — accented with military details. Off-the-shoulder gowns, high-neck blouses, and mullet-hemmed skirts came in flocked-velvet florals and sheer silks, while billowing riding capes and jodhpurs were cut in patterned brocades and tapestry textiles. A smattering of wintery florals and caramel-colored furs provided softness. "This is a modern-day romanticism, a dramatic sensuality, a dark glamour, with subtle games of provocative intellect," creative director Frida Giannini explained.
