It’s still hot and the Italians don’t seem to go in for air conditioning – cue serious sweat marks and the fashion pack looking increasingly tense at the onset of perspiration. The pace is gathering, with more fragrance launches than the beauty floor at Selfridges, and more A-list parties than Oscar season.

Trends on the catwalk

Roberto Cavalli – James Blunt was on the front row (you’re so beautiful, euch) and Cavalli’s has been the show with the biggest female quota (menswear Roberto, menswear). Still the trousers were to die for, and there was a parade of boys in trunks. He doesn’t do things by halves.

Vivienne Westwood – The most amusing show of the season so far. Featuring a bulldog, gold teeth, mullet hair extensions and some serious tattoos, this was gypsy chic a la Westwood. And the guests were asked to sign a petition campaigning for the release of Native American activist Leonard Peltier. It wouldn’t be Westwood without a political message.

Men’s Fashion Week in Milan

Nicola Copping seeks out the latest trends and gossip from the greatest menswear show on earth

Multimedia

• Pictures: Gucci, Prada and McQueen

• Pictures: Armani, Cavalli and Westwood

• Pictures: Dolce & Gabbana

Multimedia

• Pictures: Versace

• Pictures: Jil Sander

Emporio Armani – The highest celeb quota for a show thus far – Prince Caspian of Narnia and Josh Hartnett. The latter looked awkward as his, ahem, revealing advert for Armani’s new fragrance was played.

Alexander McQueen – Stunning silhouettes, this is a man who know what he’s doing. Awe-inspiring and otherworldly.

Prada – Never expect conventionality from the world’s most revered label. Slashed shoulder knits, cropped jumpers and elongated polo shirts falling past the thighs, twinned with very sober tailored trousers. Oh and rubber coats. Yes, rubber.

Gucci – The first suit to emerge was turquoise. You get the picture – this collection was something Elvis might have worn at the Beverly Hills hotel. Think Club Tropicana. And all the drinks were free.

Trends off the catwalk

THE GOOD

Seersucker suits – nice and stripy but not a sign of them next season, so flaunt them while you can.

Collars up – yes it’s a bit spivvy, but everyone’s turning up their blazer collars. It takes the edge off.

THE BAD

The Japanese school boy – beige shorts and navy knee high socks.

THE UGLY

Huge, inflatable, and miraculously not fake, bosoms at the Uomo Vogue party. At least we had somewhere to prop our drinks.

People and Parties

Uomo Vogue – the party of the week. Read this roll call of A –list celebs and weep:

John Malkovich, Tilda Swinton, Rupert Everett, Naomi Campbell, Claudia Schiffer, Donatella Versace, Stefano Pilati of YSL in a pair of slippers, Roberto Cavalli, Anna Piaggi, Anna Wintour, Jefferson Hack.

The gossip

Naomi Campbell was arm in arm with Allegra Versace (daughter of Donatella, neice of the late Gianni) all night. The Italian contingent were distraught – and cries were heard (ambulance, anybody?) – at the penalty shoot out between Italy and Spain. It may be a fashion party, but there’s still time for the footie, darling. The outfits were suitably impressive – Anna Piaggi pipped Tilda Swinton to the post for best dressed, with her towering fascinator made of small cardboard boxes.