looks like russian-inspired rock-n-roll was at the soul of this collection….(style.com)

milan - so is this a trick to save time when designing? not critiquing, just wondering…”russia” was frida giannini‘s theme for both the gucci menswear collection which showed in january and the fall 2008 womenswear collection which just showed in milan this week. sleek and sexy describes both collections – and for the womens show, i’d add solid as well. knee-high boots are my current obsession (i’m wearing a pair with leather tassles in the back as i write this…) so it was quiet nice to see them promoted as part of the first look in the collection. layers, which usually turn me off, were a consistent theme throughout her show and were done well. from tote bags, to sun glasses, to belts – there were loads of luxurious accessories to lust after as well. i don’t usually take note of giannini’s collections – or haven’t in the past. today signifies a new day….

my favorite looks from balenciaga’s fall 2008 collection above. (style.com)

milan – yes my dear readers! perhaps i am feeling extremely effusive today. but i can’t help it! the collections i am looking at so far, really do earn rave reviews. even sarah mower, who wrote a glowing review of their fall 2008 collection had wonderful things to say about the collection. i love the strong structure of the pieces and how strong the clothes look – yes still very feminine. just darling!

the duo behind 6267: rimondi and aquilano. i have to say i’ve been checking out photos of them since they burst on the scene. it looks like throughout the years, their personal style has transformed, becoming slicker and more sophisticated with each successful season….

above are my favorite pieces from their latest collection. log on to style.com to see the rest of the photos and a review of the pieces.

milan – so if you are a regular reader of the blay report, you know that 6267 designed by tommaso aquilano and roberto rimondi is a label we have an eye on. the debuted their fall ’08 collection earlier this week. i definitely loved it. i thought the focus of the collection was strong, the look was consistent, and above all the craftsmanship and quality of the garments were superb. those looks could walk off the runway and into my closet any day…style.com was more reserved in their review. sarah mower who reviewed the collection said, “These guys undoubtedly have talent, but, like so many other young designers, they need to articulate what they want to say in a voice of their own.”

well, on second thought, victoria’s secret does have a full on clothing catalog, so perhaps this isn’t so strange? (besos to style.com for pics!)

milan – well i’ll be double damned! la perla, the super luxurious, high-end lingerie line, makes clothing. not the kind to take of, but the kind to wear. outside! even more? it shows during milan ready to wear fashion week, which is going on now. i had no idea. did you? nicole phelps of style.com declared that the label is a “work in progress.” but i want to know why work even started in the first place. should a line known and loved for it’s lacy underwear get into the ready to wear business (fragrances, and leather whips could have been an alternative!?)? also, if they do, what exactly should be their focus? looks like the design team struggled with these same questions. either way, here are my favorite pics from the show…..what do you think?

say what you will, but coming up with a collection like this in less than a month is nothing short of a miracle (or really, really good reality t.v!) (hugs to style.com for pics!)

milan - so this is how the couture cookies crumble at ferre? the house of gianfranco ferre, who passed away unexpectedly last year, will NOT be hiring a new creative director to replace lars nilsson. according to michela piva, the company’s ceo, they will follow the lead of the house of valentino, where seperate design teams work on the mens and womens lines. i guess this means that ferre’s stefano citron and federico piaggi, who designed the labels’ fall/winter collection without nilsson did a good enough job for the model to continue. according to piva, they only had roughly two weeks to complete designs for the collection since apparently when nilsson left, he took all is work with him. gangsta.

milan – high five to womens wear daily for it’s consistently stellar coverage. but i’ve got to say i love nothing more than the stories they do in anticipation of fashion week across the globe. their picture story below on designers prepping for milan fashion week is really no different. just had to share the photos with you. i’m not going to include much in the way of captions because these pictures speak a thousand words…..

veronica etro of etro studdying the line up. (how gangsta is it that her last name is etro? what a fab family business!)

cavalli truly is in a league of his own! loves the cigar.

dan and dean caten, the boys of dsquared check out a model in one of their looks.

cristina ortiz of salvatore ferragamo.

mr. dell’aqua makes adjustments.

anna molinari at blumarine.

milan – as london fashion week winds down, milan’s is just beginning. milan ready to wear starts on the 18th and ends on the 24th. this time around i won’t be your private little embedded reporter, but please believe that by next year i will be live with blog and video interviews for your voyeuristic pleasure. in the meantime feast your eyes on this fabulous photo of mr. armani puts the “finishing touches” on a garment. the image was captured by womens wear daily. i truly love that publication. vai milano!