Dolce & Gabbana out of this world with space glamour

MILAN (Reuters) - Milan's fashion designers, having put up the for sale signs on winter collections, launched their ideas on Sunday for what men should be wearing next autumn -- and Dolce & Gabbana said it would be space-age glitter.

Nobel literature laureate Dario Fo may have lamented last week that catwalk shows are boring but Dolce & Gabbana's, themed on the film "2001 -- A Space Odyssey", won audience applause and "overwhelmed" Jake Shears of glam rock band the Scissor Sisters.

Models in space-suit style zip-heavy jumpsuits in whites and metallic colours strode down the catwalk, watched by over 1,000 reporters, buyers and photographers, as the lights flicked from blue to white and the film's soundtrack filled the converted cinema.

Sharp-lined suits echoed the space theme, also using metallic colours, while razor-thin ties in black, gold and gun metal over white shirts poked out under both the jumpsuits and the slicker suits. There was metallic knitwear -- in both chunky, country-style shapes and slim-fitting.

"I was a bit overwhelmed that there was so much stuff that just looked fantastic," Shears told Reuters after the show.

He picked out bronze metallic suits and white leather lean tailored jackets over jeans as especially attractive to wear.

"I love the slim silhouette. I'm crazy about it because I know that it fits me, because I'm a little guy," he said.

The straight, slim silhouette strutted down Versace's catwalks too, where platinum-blonde Donatella Versace sent her models out in black, military-style coats and suits.

The designer had already moved away from her trademark flamboyant style at the menswear spring-summer show in June 2006 and Sunday's offering continued the more muted approach.

SPLASHES OF Color

Kingfisher flashes or red scars of plastic livened up black jumpers and black-and-white blooms of bowties added a twist to elegant, somber evening wear.

Versace's "Noble Chic" show included some women's wear too, with little black dresses sporting similar flashy splashes teamed with achingly high shiny heeled shoes.

Men's fashion shows do not attract as many attendees as those for women's wear, but Milan this week still hosts over 1,200 photographers and reporters, along with major international buyers.

From January 14 to January 18 there are 51 shows for 50 brands -- there's a double helping of Giorgio Armani on Wednesday -- at venues across the city, from Dolce & Gabbana's converted cinema to the stock market.

Fo himself will introduce Romeo Gigli's show on January 18, closing the week's events. The 80-year-old playwright will grace a catwalk that will be surrounded by life-sized reproductions of Renaissance paintings of an imperial triumph.

Other big names on show during the week include Roberto Cavalli, Prada and Gucci.

Belstaff, the epitome of British biker jackets which is now owned by the Malenotti family, promises a collection inspired by Steve McQueen for Wednesday, according to Italian Vanity Fair.

"The shows are ... a great sounding board and a great public relations instrument," Dolce & Gabbana told Reuters last week.