Armani drops his trousers and decides to flounce around in skirts

GIORGIO ARMANI kicked off the week of womenswear preview showings for the autumn-winter 2006-2007 in Milan, Italy, with a sexy, feminine collection which confirmed that the maestro of the androgynous look is walking a new fashion path.

“Women want to be sexy, so ... I will make them sexy,” Armani said after a much-applauded show in the theatre of his ultra-modern Milan headquarters yesterday.

The new Armani silhouette is petite and fitted with below-the-knee, hip-caressing skirts in soft fabrics, paired with dainty jackets cut close to the bodice. There wasn’t a pair of trousers in the entire collection.