Armani hitches hems, Gucci floors them in Milan  

Giorgio Armani took hemlines higher for his less formal Emporio Armani collection on Wednesday, while Gucci swept evening dresses right to the floor in jeweled black and Grecian column white.

Armani, who kept dresses just above the knee for his main Giorgio Armani line on Monday, made them shorter and cheekier for Emporio Armani, but kept to the bubble skirt shape nipped in to the hem that he had used before.

He also kept feet firmly on the ground in flat pumps, after saying on Monday that you did not need high heels to be sexy.

Models strolled down the catwalk in pairs, wearing complementary outfits so that chiffon stoles slung over shoulders were twinned, black spots on white and white spots on black.

Charcoal gray with a fine horizontal chalk stripe was used in one outfit for a skirt, and parallel for a shirt.

The shorter lengths and swing-back coats kept the mood lighter, while tights with mock gray and black knee socks added to the sense of fun.