Milan Menswear Top Ten: In pictures

Straight in at number one: printed trousers. This was the runaway trend of Milan Fashion Week. Barely a collection passed without a pair of statement strides sashaying down the catwalk. Thanks to the breadth of styles this trend has real high-street-filter-down appeal. From left to right: a delicate bamboo shoot and a bolder sprig, both on silk at Ermenegildo Zegna and Gucci; bold diamonds at Vivienne Westwood, exotic fruit and catcus from Marc Jacobs and a faded postcard print from Dolce and Gabbana. This look is a keeper. Photograph: PR

Alexander McQueen showed an intimate presentation at Sala Reale, the King's waiting room at Neo-Classical Milan Central Station. A room so grand it houses two huge chandeliers. Such grandeur was mirrored by this exquisite collection. Male vanity was the theme, referencing the novels Dorian Gray and Death in Venice. A dragonfly motif ran throughout, embroidered in gold thread on a tuxedo's lapel, enlarged on a silk evening coat, bomber and blazer. The tailoring collaboration with Huntsman continued and segues nicely in to McQueen opening their own a menswear store on Savile Row this autumn, where a bespoke tailoring line is expected to be offered. Photograph: PR

A non-mover for another season: stripes. Never really "out", but stripes are very much "in" for SS13. Gucci showed wide deckchair stripes on bags. There were transparent, pec-flashing stripes at Emporio Armani and at Dolce and Gabbana (above) the duo dressed their models – a Sicilian street casting of 75 men and boys aged from 11 to 42 – in a mix of bold stripe with local prints, the kind you see on souvenir plates, finishing with a super light version of their signature dinner suit. It was refreshing to see "real" men wearing high fashion. with such pride and swagger. Photograph: PR

Sometimes fashion week can push you to your limits... It's 35C, you've been squashed on to a bench in a room devoid of air conditioning, your temper is fraying and you don't smell as good as you did. You need a mood enhancer, enter stage left a troupe of tap dancing sailors… Trust Thom Browne to raise a smile in trying conditions. His Moncler Gamme Bleu collection took on a sailing theme: the sou'wester and wind cheaters were accompanied by a jazz hands horn pipe rendition. Very jolly, except perhaps for the poor models who sweated under the waterproof layers and lights on their podium. Photograph: H Seamons/Guardian

It's a new entry for Milan's next trend – metallic. Metallic for males is tricky territory. Rockstar on the catwalk can look try-hard in reality. However, it was prevalent in many shows – Versace, Roberto Cavalli, Alexander McQueen (beautiful Klimt-esque embroidery) and at Burberry Prorsum (above) Christopher Bailey showed metallic macs, shirts, accessories and a colourful bomber jacket finale. The versions in high-shine silks, with a touch of Ryan Gosling looked easier to wear than the leather incarnations. Either way the bomber jacket as an "it" piece continues for another season. We say, "Shine on!"
Photograph: PR

After a triumphant London Collections the bad taste "socks and sandals" trend picked up pace in Milan. Donatella Versace's fashion gladiators wore their underpants and wallet harnesses with logo'd socks and a basketball boot/sandal hybrid. This trend's status was sealed when Prada, home of ugly chic, showed a buckle up version of the pool-slider sandal with contrasting socks. Reader, you have been warned. Photograph: H Seamons/Guardian

Jil Sander returned to the helm of her emponyomous label after a seven-year hiatus with a low-key collection. The key shape for shorts for next summer is the board short and it was out in force here, ditto colour blocking – but this was colour blocking with a Sander twist, tonally darker than the primary brights seen on other runways. The most eye-catching pieces were the knitted T-shirts and shirts inspired by artists Blinky Palermo and Robert Mangold. It was a welcome if quiet return for the designer. Photograph: PR

"Classicism as twisted as it is controlled… the effect is slightly off kilter." That about sums up Marni, slightly off kilter in a good way, of course. Think contrast shirt sleeves on a cardigan body, repeat patterns of dots, shirt-jackets and sportswear for the fashion punter – sweatshirts and bermuda shorts. Add to that a T-shirt collaboration with Dutch artist Rop van Mierlo "Wild Animals" featuring blotchy painted images of a tiger, parrot and donkey. Only at Marni. Photograph: PR

Show stopping shoes caught our eye in Milan. Marc Jacobs's plastic brogue caused a frenzy on twitter; at Jimmy Choo the "Foxley" tassel cut a flamboyant dash – part of a capsule eveningwear collection that hits store in November. Alberto Moretti's "Capsule" shoe scattered in happy vitamins to "nourish happiness" and Alexander McQueen's blinged up silk slip-ons are sure to be on Kanye's shopping list for fall. Photograph: PR/Guardian

After AW12's opulent collection, Miuccia Prada stripped everything back to a minimalist tunic tee and kick-flare silhouette. In a sombre school-uniform hued palette of bottle green, maroon, navy, white and the occasional pop of school-shirt blue and bright green. The pace of the presentation and the pure-white set lent a feeling of a fashion lab of elite clones to proceedings. The women's looks (of which there were several) only differed from the men's by the inclusion of sports-style headbands, furthering the clone effect. This was palette-cleansing fashion. If you are looking for summer outerwear, the coats were beautifully cut and unfussy. Photograph: H Seamons/Guardian