Frock horror show

It was one of the great fashion parties of the year, to celebrate the work of Giorgio Armani. The designer is known for his elegance and style - but the choice of evening wear by some of the guests at the Royal Academy was rather strange.

Donatella Versace chose only the briefest of bandeau tops covered by see-through diamanté mesh.

Arsenal star Sol Campbell went to the other extreme, wearing a heavy weight "fur" collared full-length coat.

Meanwhile, the Duchess of York opted for a geometric black and white design which caught the eye, if nothing else.

Among the many other guests at the event last night - which launched a retrospective exhibition of Armani's work over 30 years - were Rosamund Pike, Ms Dynamite, Dame Helen Mirren, Lady Helen Taylor, Robert De Niro, Richard Gere, Kirsten Dunst and Minnie Driver.

Bond star Pike said: "Everyone seems to be debating whether this is fashion or art."

Arsenal footballer Ashley Cole, wearing a baseball cap and T-shirt, declared his passion for Armani clothes - but not the suits. "I think he does great jeans and T-shirts," he said. "For a younger person the Armani Jeans stuff is ideal."

After the private view, several hundred guests went to Lord Foster's new MoreLondon building next to the Greater London Assembly, where Ms Dynamite played a special after-party set to roars of approval.