It's just too hot to visit Italy right now so the editors of furs.com are here to take you on a virtual tour of Milan via the mens shows last month. The 2007 ready-to-wear Spring collections were big on shorts (again) but also were imaginative in their use of leather and suede. Versace washed its leather until it was soft and slouchy. Donatella Versace's new look showed a deconstructed jacket, baggy trousers and sandals. The loose jackets did not hide broad muscular shoulders though - don't worry! All of the clothes - as casual as they appeared - couldn't disguise that Versace glamour. The soft tan slouchy leather jacket must be worn bare-chested to the premiere of Miami Vice!!

Bottega Veneta was on a different page. Thomas Maier showed his version of the lightweight leather jacket but this time the leather was tightly cropped and showed off tight, muscular silhouettes - very steamy outfits in an already steamy Milan (it was 100 degrees that day!) The models were bare chested under their shrunken cropped and sensuous leather jackets. With any luck, this look will become a serious trend...please?!

Gucci also played up mens' sex appeal -think lots of bare chests and very tight, short shorts. Again, men were bare chested for much of this show (designer Frida Giannini obviously feels if they got it, let them flaunt it!) The look was based on the boys in her hometown actually (she's from Rome) and the 'boy's wore tight pinstripe trousers, floppy hairdos and teeny fitted little suede and leather jackets studded with grommets. You could imagine these gorgeous creatures on their vespas in Capri in the sixties. The shorts were SO small though, I'm not sure they wouldn't be arrested. Suede shorts? They were fantastic and I hope to see a lot more of them. Also, there was a blue suede jacket worn bare-chested that had no buttons and blew open in the breeze. Lovely.

Finally, Valentino edged the sexiness up a notch by using animal prints and crocodile stripes all again, worn with bare chests!

He showed clothes for the stylish but macho man. Imagine a crocodile blouson worn with python-printed shorts. Or army green cable-knit sweaters with crocodile inserts striped lengthwise. Ponyskin accessories included pony-skin loafers and like Donatella, he showed soft crocodile leather jackets and slouchie soft leather jackets with lovely bare skin underneath.

If the Milan shows are any indication, we have a LOT to look forward to (aesthetically at least) next summer.

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