Versace gives Clinton dress tips

Hillary Clinton should wear skirts, Ms Versace says

US presidential candidate Hillary Clinton should swap her trousers for skirts, fashion designer Donatella Versace has said.

"I can understand [trousers] are comfortable but she's a woman and she is allowed to show that," Ms Versace told German weekly newspaper Die Zeit.

Ms Versace said Ms Clinton should wear skirts reaching to the knee.

"She should treat femininity as an opportunity and not try to emulate masculinity in politics," she said.

Ms Clinton is running for nomination as the Democrats' presidential candidate in the 2008 elections.

"She's a strong woman, and strong women wear black," Ms Versace said of the former First Lady.

"I admire her for her determination, which will hopefully take her to the White House."

Ms Versace says femininity is key

In the interview, Ms Versace said she believed she had given a sense of style to US pop star Christina Aguilera, who took part in one of the designer's campaigns in 2003.

"At the beginning of her career she didn't really have style," Ms Versace said. "I took it upon myself to totally change her appearance.

"Now she looks great, like a diva from the '50s. She's mastered her image."