Mary J. Blige fetes DSquared2 at Milan Fashion Week opening

US singer Mary J. Blige, center, performs as Canadian fashion designers Dean Caten, left and Dan Caten acknowledge the applause of the audience after presenting their DSquared2 men's Fall-Winter 2015-2016 collection, part of the Milan Fashion Week, unveiled in Milan, Italy, Friday, Jan. 16, 2015. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno) US singer Mary J. Blige, center, performs as Canadian fashion designers Dean Caten, left and Dan Caten acknowledge the applause of the audience after presenting their DSquared2 men's Fall-Winter 2015-2016 collection, part of the Milan Fashion Week, unveiled in Milan, Italy, Friday, Jan. 16, 2015. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

By Associated Press January 17, 2015 4 min read

MILAN (AP) – Designer twins Dean and Dan Caten kicked off the Milan Fashion Week Saturday with a 20th anniversary gala celebration featuring Mary J. Blige serenading the duo in a former airplane hangar-turned-art gallery.

The first day of the festivities also featured preview collections by Dolce & Gabbana, Jil Sander and Versace, who all stand ready to capitalize on a strong 2014 that saw Italian menswear revenues grow by 1.2 percent to 8.6 billion euros ($10 billion).

In coming days Frida Gianni will roll out her last menswear collection for Gucci, which she leaves after a decade, while Italian design newcomer Stella Jean, who claims singer Rihanna among her followers, will preview her first men’s collection.

Here are some highlights from the first day of the fashion extravaganza, which is expected to end with a performance by Snoop Dogg.

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