Fashion Collection girl 01

The setting alone was well worth trudging through the sticky rain of Milan - a Theatre of the Absurd backdrop of plastic walls and neon double F logos, and a transparent catwalk through which wound a twisting tube of several hundred yards, gradually changing colors during the show thanks to coursing liquid. It seemed an apt metaphor for a resolutely experimental house, famed as much in recent years for the innovation of its ideas as for the eccentricity of the results. And the twisting tube mimicked the swirling circles that were the distinctive image of this spring summer 2008 collection.

One had to admire the uniqueness of many of the outfits on display, from transparent plastic capes to sequined jungle king bride frocks to fabulous Montezuma Art Deco belts. Yet the admiration was mixed with the thought, where on earth could a gal actually wear the phantasmagorical clothes, like the mesh tops with tiny tufts of black mink, more suited for a space station cocktail than a tony urban society event.

Fashion Collection girl

But while the guts of the collection were very fine and highly flattering clothes - the jodhpurs made the models look, if anything, too thin, meaning they will be very flattering for "normal women" - the beginning and finale were both more problematic.

Odd, and not terribly alluring floral prints whose petals seemed more like IED explosions failed to flatter. Plus whatever gave Giannini the idea of pairing some huge grand ball gowns with suede faux Lonsdale belts - a seriously dumb stylistic move - mystified us.

That said, one revealing fact about a designer's skill and commercial appeal is whether they wear their own season's clothes when they take their finale bow. Surprisingly few do it better than Frida Giannini, who looked, hang it all, better than most of the models when she took her bow like the poshest of punkettes, wearing the best items in her own collection.