Italian designers Dolce & Gabbana tried out an unusually demure tweed-and-tartan look for womenswear on Thursday, but could not resist giving each outfit a twist in silver shoes or poodle-fur style jackets.

The checks were a more sombre, grown-up version of the red and black tartans seen at the designers' more informal D&G line on Monday, in muted greys, blacks and mulberry. Ample skirts were down to mid-calf and trousers were straight.

The designers used jumbo cord for some outfits in chestnut and caramel for a conservative, country air. The designers, once best known for their sexy, leopard print looks, even used Grace Kelly-style silk scarves tied at the neck, or gracing a handbag strap.

Flat caps and skinny rib jumpers added to the no-nonsense mood. Light touches came in silver sparkle high-heeled shoes, worn with an iron grey three-piece trouser suit, or a long waistcoat of poodle-fur fabric over a muted check mid-calf dress.

A brown patchwork 1970s style leather jacket sat jauntily over a brown tweed long skirt and a business blue shirt. Dolce & Gabbana played with fabrics that looked like seal pup fur in a soft grey full-skirted dress, or dabbled in lace, which Prada featured in her show on Tuesday.

The finale came in dresses with frothing, layered net skirts that looked like Marie Antoinette petticoats, with swathes of tweed, or cream knit, or grey raindrop print silk sewn onto them to give an impression of glamour straight off the cutting floor.

Reuters