The Florentine master of flourish and flounce, Roberto Cavalli, re-launched the micro-mini at Milan Fashion Week, earlier this afternoon.

Ruffled, lacey and re-ribboned, the tiny skirts fluttered over the derrière like little powder-puffs, some so brief that the merest gust of wind would have rendered the models indecent.

The skirts, styled in the manner of mini-crinolines, were teamed with equally-retro bustiers either in plastic, imprinted with the floral motifs and pastoral scenes typical of 18th century 'Faience’ porcelain, or in silk, featuring swirling patterns of stripe and spot in emerald and lemon.