Top 10 Milan menswear shows

Every season we look to Prada for something special and boy, did they deliver. Wall-to-wall astroturf, regimental rows of blue polystyrene cube seats, a canape picnic of blue sandwiches - and that's just the venue. The Prada man had been to the golf courses of Palm Spring via Memphis - retro cartoon prints of surfers, jazz bands and of course golfers made for fun shirt prints. The more razzle dazzle players wore rhinestone embellished shirts and jackets and carried Prada golf bags complete with clubs. The triple colour pastel golf shoes were also note worthy. The whole collection was without doubt a hole-in-one Photograph: Helen Seamons; PR

Christopher Bailey's Burberry Prorsum collection was back to its best. Sure, the hallmark trenches and parkas were still present but they had been trimmed with raffia and crocheted collars in contrast colours. The colour palette was rich without being loud, stripe knits sat alongside wooden appliqué sun ray tops and tribal ikat prints - all giving the collection a summer solstice festival feeling. Outfits were topped with now signature baker boy bobble caps but this time made from raffia and the shoes were cork soled. The overall effect was homespun, handcrafted and very desirable Photograph: PR

Accessories maketh the man. Well, that's a good a reason as any to buy a new iPad cover or indeed an iPad to go in it. At Jil Sander they were referred to as 'Urban Scout wear' and were worn strapped around the body with a drawstring fastening at the back. Our eye was caught by the flasks, reminding us of retro swimming tubes for the safe keeping of locker keys and loose change. If old-school is more your thing then how about a Tods leather bound note book? Ruled in Tods signature orange and fastened with a combination stripe elastic of your choosing Photograph: Helen Seamons

'Printwear' Giorgio Armani called it - and Milan followed suit, with print stepping up to be the second biggest trend of the week. Menswear changes so rarely that an injection of bold bright pattern can really shake it up. At Versace the house went back to its roots and unveiled a riot of block colour culminating in a vivid tropical baroque. At Piombo, plants and the colour palette of the natural world provided the inspiration for the clashing prints Photograph: Helen Seamons

You will, of course, be well aware that 2012 sees London host the Olympics. It would seem that when it's a fashion capital hosting the games, designers really get behind the sports trend. Show notes read like day one of the competition; fencing at Moncler Gamme Bleu, golf at Prada, track and field at Missioni (Converse are collaborating on knitted running shoes) and Nicole Farhi (above) focusing on the traditional English disciplines from eventing to Chariots of Fire-style athletics. We are in no doubt that 'sports' is a key trend for SS12 Photograph: Helen Seamons

It was all about the silk scarf at D&G. The duo reinvented it as shirts, blazers, shorts and T-shirt prints. Pairing them with battered denim and washed out khaki's and linens made it fresh and modern and bursting with summer spirit Photograph: Helen Seamons

Who's your muse? Well you better get one lined up sharpish for SS12. Marc Jacobs named friend Wes Anderson and his 2007 movie, The Darjeeling Limited as the inspiration behind his collection. At Alexander McQueen (far right), Sarah Burton turned to British rock stars of the sixties and at Gucci (centre), Frida Giannini imagined the comings and goings of a Savile Row Gentlemen's club during the 60s and 70s. Mod checks were seen at both McQueen and Gucci while gold accents and louche charm were common themes throughout this trio Photograph: PR

Our favourite invitation of the week came from Pringle of Scotland - it featured a black and white archive image slashed to reveal a bright traditional argyle pixelated and distorted to create a new modern print. Design Director, Alistair Carr said his intention was to "strike a balance between respecting and reinterpreting the heritage" Photograph: PR

Textured knitwear was a huge, if unlikely summer trend in Milan. At Jil Sander the yarns were crocheted into colour melanges likened to a static TV screen. At Bottega Veneta (above) they were shown in cardigans and high boat neck raglan sleeve cuts. Marni featured a mustard and black heavy marl and lighter-weight plain colour waffle knits. The home of Italian knit, Missoni, ran with the trend applying their knits to a tracksuit based on the one Ottavio Missoni created for the Italian team, for which he also competed as an athlete, at the 1948 Olympics. The knit trend may look heavy for the summer months but the colour mixes lifted the mood and with these collections arriving in store as early as January 2012 it's not as daft as it sounds Photograph: Helen Seamons

There was new figure taking a bow alongside Vivienne Westwood at Sunday's MAN collection. Vivienne's husband and longtime collaborator, Andreas Kronthaler, took to the catwalk with her for the first time despite having worked as her design partner for many years. A statement issued to the assembled press noted "He heads the MAN team and I'm very glad to share with him our creative work in fashion". The flamboyant couple dedicated the collection to the forthcoming Olympic Games and the participating athletes Photograph: Helen Seamons