Texture and technique were two of the strongest trends at the fall, 2008 shows in Milan and Bottega Veneta designer Tomas Maier exploited both with the cashmere coat that opened his show.

Decoding Milan Fashion

In a week that didn't hold many surprises — and with lots of talk of a sky-rocketing Euro and an impending recession — the best fall, 2008 collections focused on Italy's strengths: tailoring, craftsmanship, and unusual fabrics. By Kate Betts

Enter
Get the Latest Photos from Time.com
Get TIME photos and pictures of the week delivered directly to your inbox.