MILAN, Sep 30, 2001/ --- Krizia showed both their main line and the newer Krizia Top collection in Milan today.

In the liner notes, the collections were described as "an homage to art, fairy tales and adventure, to help us, for a moment, evade reality."

The show, in evading reality, fell on the bizarre side: The opening pieces -- a shift dress, wide chiffon pants and blouse -- had blown-up images of a tiger face on them and were worn with red patent-leather wide-heeled sandals and decorative flowers.

Then they moved to gold: Models came down the runway in straight mini dresses strewn with gold scale-like discs.

These were teamed with gold sandals, wide gold wrist cuffs and gold aviator sunglasses. The whole look was more fantastical than practical.

Breasts demanded attention and were covered with a variety of accessories: rigid black and red plastic bras, large aviator sunglasses, leather straps, even a leather breast plate with an engraved rose design.

Krizia Top’s looks, in contrast, were feminine and natural: Short skirts in silk mousseline and knit silk bourette came in shades of musk, lichen, sand and granite and were worn with soft folding blouses in similar hues. try.

Trouser suits were light and cut for comfort and movement.

Drawstrings hung from everything; pants in chiffon were slit at the side from ankle to thigh and had drawstrings at the ankle; chiffon dresses and tops had drawstring fastenings, some with wooden toggles.

Accessories were also all natural: Rings, belts and necklaces were in dark, heavy woods; high wedge sandals came in espresso leather with wooden heels.

Even though Krizia Top was more coherent and practical than the main line, the audience, at this point, became twitchy, as both collections were way too long, and a mite too repetitive.

Krizia

Krizia

Krizia

Krizia

Krizia