Stranded in Milan - NYTimes.com MILAN - When the women's shows are running in Milan, the city feels a little inhospitable. The traffic is terrible, nobody can get anywhere as fast as they would like to, and the shopping excursions feel like a Happy Meal without the toy. O.K., now it's Saturday, and the city feels eerily, blissfully empty as the Milanese escape for a summer weekend. And the weather is ideal - sunny and not too hot. Part of me loves the half-deserted streets and the unhurried restaurant pace (I went to Bebel's with a friend on Friday, and maybe four tables were occupied.), but part of me feels a little left behind on a beautiful Italian weekend. Looking at men's wear probably does not help. Oh, don't take me seriously. There have been some decent-enough shows. Jil Sander made reference in her show notes to the accidental tourist. She wasn't kidding. In his plain-Joe poplin shirt and big, blossomy shorts with brogues and black socks, her man looked stranded - well, in Milan. Ms. Sander also showed some great suits in a white-washed cotton-and-linen blend, neon-piped separates and rather brutish-looking, raw-edged leather jackets. Like Ms. Sander, Neil Barrett made a statement with shorts. His were trimmer, very boyish and reflected an American street vibe. Other inspirations were the mid-century designs of Charles and Ray Eames, evident in curvilinear patterns and natural colors and textures. Before her show on Saturday night, Donatella Versace said she had more than a dozen models walking exclusively for the house this season. That's one way to say something new because, let's face it, a new variation on a military jacket isn't going to cut it. Much more interesting were printed jeans based on paint splatters, done in tangy colors. A sports theme ran through part of the collection, with colorful strips of athletic tape bonded on clothes (this got a little tedious) and relaxed-looking suits. Far more appealing was an abstract print based on a Bert Stern image of Marilyn Monroe, and a bunch of black snakeskin and studded leather pieces that nicely revived the Versace macho man, down to his gold Medusa chains and waxed chest. By the way, there was a streaker at Dolce & Gabbana. I didn't see him myself, but apparently he exposed himself as the designers were finishing their bow. If you look closely - oh, don't bother.