Jan 15, 2007, 11:45 GMT
Milan - Donatella Versace's men's 2007-08 autumn/winter collection has been inspired by the pope's personal secretary, Father Georg Ganswein, the Italian fashion house acknowledged Monday.
A blonde Father Georg look-alike model in a black suit and shirt finished with clerical collars made his debut on the Milan catwalk late on Sunday and had fashion experts hailing the new 'Father Georg style'.
Speaking to Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa on Monday, a Versace spokeswoman said the clothing had indeed been inspired by the pope's personal secretary, whose good looks have made him a 21st century sex symbol according to Italy's gossip magazines.
'If you think about it, few other places in the world are as influential as the Vatican,' the Versace spokeswoman said.
Versace's collection won unanimous praise, with Fashion Wire Daily calling it 'priestly chic'.
Speaking ahead of Sunday's fashion show, Versace said she wanted her men to show 'less muscles and more spirituality'.
'Versace's men are austere. They want to be elegant, but in a refined rather than violent way,' Versace told Sky Italia television.
Father Georg's boss, Pope Benedict XVI, has a well-known penchant for red Prada loafers and Gucci shades.
Your Talkback on this Story