MILAN, Feb 20, 2006/ FW/ --- Seeing a Giorgio Armani show without the requisite pantsuit sets was a total surprise. For Fall 2006, the famed Italian couturier proposes pencil skirts, cocktail dresses rolled at the hem, and svelte gowns with hemlines that reaches just above the ankle.

But don’t worry; Armani did not forget the working girl at all. The dress suits, while entirely very feminine can take a woman from lunch to the boardroom, or in some cases, the ubiquitous cube farms that can be found in most corporate offices today.

True, the Giorgio Armani lady is going to be very feminine this coming fall. Somehow, the ‘feminist’ in all Armani fans will hide next season. Because except for the snug fitting suit jackets with soft shoulders, the touch of masculinity that has been the attitude de rigueur of past Giorgio Armani collection had been thrown out the window.

But before you say, ‘Oh!’ look again! The Italian design maestro replaced it with ruche pencil skirts that sometimes feature kick pleats, short-cropped jackets without collars with ruffles on the placket.

The collection is a little bit sexier than usual, with deep V in the pleated blouses worn under the jacket. Even the outer coats were girly in a very sophisticated way with the waistline defined and hoods that when spread out turn into big collars covering the shoulders.

And though Armani had threatened to vanish gowns from his prêt-a-porter collections because of his haute couture line Privé, they also made their appearance on the runway, echoing the detailing and care for Privé that was shown last January in Paris.

Giorgio Armani

Giorgio Armani

Giorgio Armani

Giorgio Armani