Sportswear and safari looks dominate men's shows in Milan

(AFP PHOTO / OLIVIER MORIN)

Olympic Games inspiration comes, safari chic stays, judging from Milanese designers' spring/summer 2012 collections.

Sportswear references were almost omnipresent on the Italian runways, with labels including Calvin Klein and Dirk Bikkembergs presenting looks fit for the athletes of next year's Olympic Games in London - without a doubt one of the main themes this men's fashion week. Other houses such as Moschino opted for a more subtle allusion to the trend, such as sporty bomber jackets.

Another leading motif was safari chic, which has already been popular in past seasons, often appearing in combination with another big trend for next spring: sandy neutrals. Only sporadically were there bright color accents, often in color block, which has dominated women's spring wardrobes this spring. Apart from these rather obvious hues for the spring/summer season, a number of designers surprisingly opted for colors more closely associated with fall, such as aubergine.

Bold graphic prints, on shirts as well as on pants (just like in the women's collections for fall), were also popular, as were check patterns that popped up everywhere from Prada to Gucci as part of the ongoing 1990s trend. If they weren't printed (or pajamas as seen at Alexander McQueen, for instance), pants often came rolled-up or cropped. In general, proportions were shorter this season, with jackets often ending just above the hip.

Finally, a trend toward feminine accessories could be observed, with big luxury shoppers remaining popular and loose printed scarves being added to soften business looks.