Plus-sized designer fashion will finally make its retail debut thanks to an iconic New York department store.

While the fashion industry continues to debate the plus-sized issue, Saks Fifth Avenue has thankfully taken matters into its own hands with the announcement that its ultra-chic high-end floor will soon feature the larger sizes in what is seen as a major coup for shoppers, designers and the wider fashion sector.

The Autumn/ Winter collections for 2010 will be the first seasonal release to showcase garments that up until last season were only available in UK size 14 (US size 10), with the range expected to extend to UK size 18 (US size 14) and possibly higher in some styles. The legendary retail store is famed for its celebrated and featured designers the world over, with the upshot of the announcement being that leading fashion houses such as Akris, Armani, Chanel, Dolce & Gabbana, Carolina Herrera, Escada, Oscar de la Renta, Max Mara, Valentino, Michael Kors, Yves Saint Laurent, Donna Karan, St. John, Alexander McQueen, Fendi and Roberto Cavalli could all soon be sending out plus-sized versions of their famous lines.

However, the initial release of the larger sizes will probably have the drawback that most styles will be one-offs or trial releases to test the market, meaning only a select few will be able to get their hands on the designer plus-sized items in the early days. If the trial is a success, the Saks will roll out the range across the US, with its UK counterpart’s hopefully following suit.

Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana showed their predominately black collection at Milan Fashion Week on Sunday afternoon, marking their 25^th year working together. The most famous design duo in Italy returned to their heritage of clothes for sensual women, lifting the black collection with rose and leopard prints.

The Dolce & Gabbana collection was a romantic tribute to the ideal of femininity, which was emphasized with a soundtrack of music featuring “Come What May” from film Moulin Rouge!. The title of the show was “ Sartorialita, Sicilianita, Sensualita”, which refers to the two designers’ abiding inspirations from Sicily, their signature tailoring, as well as the concept “underwear-as-outerwear”, which they pioneered.

A short black and white film started the show, featuring the duo drawing, making and fitting in their studio. It ended with their whole team gathered in front of the camera while the designers took a bow.

Although the Dolce & Gabbana collection was mostly black with splashes of rose and leopard prints, as well as jewel-bright satin, the clothes had a softer, lighter feel that updated the silhouette for women (and girls) compared to their vision in 1985, when they launched their debut. Backstage before the show, Gabbana noted that the clothes were gentle and had no linings. He also highlighted that the new woman can wear a suit and accessorize it with an iPod and headphones, as they did with one of their 75 models.

The finale of the collection reinforced the Sicilian twist of sensual tailoring. It featured variations of a black jacket worn over black satin and lace.