Milan fashion week: 50 years young

A red panelled cocktail dress from Italian designer Fabiani in 1961. The model is pictured posing precariously in front of the Pirelli building, which was designed by Gio Ponti Photograph: Mark Kauffman/Getty

Twiggy and Patti Boyd pose wearing ankle-length coats for Italian Vogue circa 1972 Photograph: Justin de Villeneuve/Getty

Renaissance man Giorgio Armani poses with a model in 1979 Photograph: David Lees/Getty

Masculine models enjoying the sunshine in Armani from 1982 Photograph: Vittoriano Rastelli/Corbis

Gianni Versace makes sure his model can't escape in this backstage picture from 1986. Note the scary eighties shoulder padding Photograph: David Lees/Getty

Bedazzled: supermodel Helena Christensen wears what appears to be a jewelled chastity vest from Versace (1991) Photograph: Julio Donoso/Corbis

Giorgio Armani selects his models backstage at Milan fashion week in September 1991 Photograph: George Steinmetz/Corbis

How many supermodels can you spot? Gianni Versace feels the love of the world's most beautiful women (from 1991) Photograph: Vittoriano Rastelli/Corbis

Kate Moss rocks the androgenous look in Gucci from 2000 Photograph: Reuters

Rock chick chic and twin bobs: Moschino models from 2003 Photograph: Patrick Hertzog/AFP

We know what you're thinking - they can't be real books can they? But then look at her face ... Strange headgear from Antonio Berardi in 2004 Photograph: Pierre Verdy/AFP

"We like big butts and we cannot lie!" A shapely dress from Dolce and Gabanna in 2006 Photograph: Max Rossi/Reuters

One big dress from D&G 2007 Photograph: Stefano Rellandini/Reuters