Rifat Ozbek Cheered Back Into Fashion at Pollini
Mon February 23, 2004 05:39 PM ET
By Jane Barrett
MILAN (Reuters) - Turkish designer Rifat Ozbek stormed back into the fashion world after a three-year break on Monday and brought the house down with a luscious collection of sleek coats and colorful jackets for Pollini.
Ozbek, who once made waves with an all-white collection, raided the paint box for the lushest colors dyers can dye and paraded geometrical wrap coats in Chinese lacquer red or a slim jacket that looked like it was knitted from clotted cream.
Top editors and buyers jumped to their feet when Ozbek took his bow and gushed hyberbole such as "amazing," "fantastic," "incredible" as they left one of Milan fashion week's most hotly-awaited shows.
Pollini is best known for its top quality shoes but kicked footwear into the background with all the models parading the same brown or cream knee-high boots with rows of circular studs at the top and a small heel in bright orange, red or blue.
All eyes were left to feast on a thick red Chinese-collared coat embroidered with blue silk clouds and geometrical swirls, clipped together with simple Oriental silk hook-and-eyes -- perfect for Milan as it thaws out from a late season snow.
With coats like this, Pollini's woman won't want to be inside much but when the top layer peeled off, Ozbek made sure winter 2004/5 will be cheery by decorating staples like little black skirts with rainbow stripes around the hem.
And don't even think of stepping out without one of his rainbow-fringed scarves and a pair of bright red or aquamarine gloves pulled high to the elbows.
Taken from:
Reuters