As we leave London and head over to Milan for the next Fashion Week extravaganza something looks a little different on the catwalks.

The collection is vibrant, the audience enthralled and the models striking. The difference is that Milan has opened with a plus-size collection and those models are working the catwalk with curves usually unseen at the fashion shows.

Without a whif of size zero the plus-size collection by Elena Miro breathed a breath of fresh air into Milan.

The theme of the collection was a garden party with models wearing floaty silk dresses, floral prints and a few more structured pieces such as short-jackets and bustiers.

Milan Fashion Week is the third stop on the international designer catwalk shows for Spring/Summer 2009 and is for many the highlight of the fashion calendar with collections from Giorgio Armani, Dolce & Gabbana, Prada, Gucci, Roberto Cavalli, Missoni, MaxMara, Fendi and Versace.