Armani goes south for womenswear

By Jo Winterbottom

MILAN (Reuters) - Giorgio Armani tapped a Mediterranean vibe for his womenswear collection for next spring and summer on Monday, while D&G found inspiration in Glastonbury Festival for hippy flares and flounces.

Armani cropped loose satin Turkish trousers above the knee and tied them with bows in sand, rock grey and marine blue.

Models wore fine mesh nets over their hair and the fishing theme was extended to shawls and shoulder shrugs in a lattice worn with slim silk evening gowns.

To a backing track of typical southern Italian songs with more than a hint of North African drumbeats, models slouched down a black and light striped catwalk for a laid-back mood.

Armani used gauzy grey mini sarongs to offset sparkling vests or picked sea green to highlight grey silk on a long dress with a bustier bodice.

The designer took classic navy and twisted it with thin cream stripes for bias-cut skirts and shirts and kept up the uneven look for skirts with layers of varying lengths in black or silver.

Shoes were unusually high and glittery for Armani, while bags in midnight blue or black were held by one strap or clutched.

Armani was also presenting his new mobile phone -- a sleek, black model designed with Samsung Electronics Co Ltd. He also plans a television set and other home electronics.