Gary Oldman, Adrien Brody, Willem Dafoe, Tim Roth and Jamie Bell were among a number of A-list actors who swapped their profession for something completely different, but similarly glamorous – modelling – as they paraded for Miuccia Prada’s autumn/winter 2012 collection at Milan Men’ Fashion Week.

They rubbed shoulders with professional models who walked down the catwalk in trench coats, grey suits, shoes with galoshes-style rubber attachments and shirts from which sprouted up-to-the-chin polo necks. It was a tailoring show about man power and about elegance and powerful dressing.

Sub-zero accessories adorned the models at Dame Vivienne Westwood’s fashion show. They wore fake beards, slicked back hair and ostentatious handlebar moustaches which were liberally strewn with the icy accoutrements, not only to emphasise that these are clothes designed to cut a dash in next winter, but to pay homage to the veteran BBC naturalist David Attenborough’s latest series.

Meanwhile, Gucci featured a collection heavy on lotus-eater floral prints, velvet evening wear and dandy-ish military regimental touches and Etro showed off many dandy pieces.