Gucci, Alberta Ferretti and Philippe Plein ring in the changes at MFW

Milan might be an age-old byword for fashionable luxury, but the city proved she could innovate with the best of them on Wednesday. The opening Fashion Week shows saw superstars Gucci, Alberta Ferretti and Philippe Plein pulling out the big guns to unveil their vision for Spring/Summer 2016.

Let's start with Gucci, where all eyes were on designer Alessandro Michele's second collection for the Italian house. The vast collection covered colossal ground -- both literally, in the sense that it was in part inspired by the idea of a journey, and figuratively, in the sense that most of the season's key trends were amalgamated into the detail-orientated show.

Maps formed the basis for large, silky motifs splashed across dresses and skirts, while Eastern influences could be seen in the oriental prints that featured heavily on dresses, suits and bomber jackets in scarlet reds, golden yellows and emerald greens. There were witty trompe l'oeil collars, ribbons and skirts which were imposed onto sheer fabrics in bold, glittery sequins to cartoonish and slightly surreal effect. There were also lots of accessories, quirky in their nerdiness, which leant the show an ambience of geek chic.

Philippe Plein's collection was a rumination on the role of technology in our lives, featuring a series of robots that hand models their accessories as they slid down the runway on a conveyor belt. The pieces featured a poppy, futuristic aesthetic that championed studs and leather. There were slinky dresses that shimmered like molten metal, ripped jeans and chunky biker jackets, paired with black disco Chelsea boots or goth-like platform sandals.

The look was much more serene at Alberta Ferretti, where desert hues underpinned a collection that brought to mind blazing suns and rolling dunes. A sunset motif was embroidered onto a tan suede shirt paired with shorts for youthful and free-spirited aesthetic, while flowing silks in soft taupe and beige hues recalled the wind stirring up a sandstorm. Elaborate gold jewelry added an exotic, gypsy-like element to the look, bolstered by the presence of patchwork maxi dresses and bell sleeves.