As the Milan menswear shows draw to a close, the main event seems not to have been Prada's return-to-the-‘90s show, or indeed the lack of black male models, as reported in the New York Times. No, what has stolen the limelight is a good old fashioned (excuse the pun) catfight. In a spat already being referred to as Trousergate, Giorgio Armani has accused fellow Milan big name brand Dolce & Gabbana of copying his quilted trousers from autumn/winter 2008 and putting them on the Dolce & Gabbana runway for autumn/winter 2009. "Now they copy, later they will learn," he was reported as saying. Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana hit back, saying, "For sure we have much to learn - but certainly not from him. Armani has never been a source of inspiration for us and we stopped seeing his shows years ago. We made our fortune by creating a Dolce & Gabbana style which is strongly tied to Sicily and its traditions... a style which is globally recognised." In a classically flamboyant fashion reference, they went on, "As Picasso used to say - copying from others is inevitable but copying from oneself leads to sterility." Armani has yet to respond to these latest remarks. No word yet, either, as to where Victoria Beckham - whose campaign for Emporio Armani underwear was revealed last week, and who regularly wears Dolce & Gabbana's clothes - will place her allegiance.
