D&G collection discover its gardening roots at Milan Fashion Week for spring/summer 2011.

Gertrude Jekyll would have thrown down her pruning shears in horror; and Alan Titchmarsh would almost certainly be doubled up with laughter in the herbaceous border, but the Italian fashion duo of Dolce & Gabbana have wagered a claim to the English country garden as inspiration for their latest collection.

Gardening – and all the suitable tools and paraphernalia that goes with it – was the theme of the two designers’ younger, dispersal line, called D&G, which was shown at Milan Fashion Week.

Most keen British gardeners pull on their oldest T-shirts and trousers as they head out for a day of dead-heading and digging.

The light-hearted fantasy obtains in hydrangea-printed shorts-suits, floral aprons over gingham bloomers, and linen dungarees with freesia-print bib-fronts. T-shirts were printed with images of “Snow White” in a garden, surrounded not by garden gnomes, but a few of the Seven Dwarves.

Completely suited for a garden party were a host of frilled and flounced chiffon dresses, printed with a combine of violets, roses and mimosa, worn with matching, floral-print, basket-weave, platform sandals, and bandanas.