DALLAS, Mar 21, 2005/ FW/ --- If Alberta Ferretti chose the turbulent 1960s as an inspiration for her eponymous line, she chose another tumultuous era as a muse for her youthful line Philosophy, tackling the U.S. settling of the west, a movement that change the face of North America forever.

Showing Native American inspired silhouettes complete with fringes and fur in the beginning, Alberta Ferretti set the tone of the collection.

Following it with looks based on the costumes of the pioneering women of the West, Alberta Ferretti captured the courageous spirit of the 19th century American woman.

Traveling coats, short-cropped jackets with fur trim, cowboy hats and tiny scarves, this could have been a remake of Jodie Foster’s “Mavericks,” a story about a woman in the Wild West.

Alligator skin boots, Native American inspired belts, and oversized belt buckles, its Wyatt Earp played by a woman.

Yet in all these toughness, Alberta Ferretti also put in a very soft side in the empire waist chiffon dresses, bustier bodice cocktail clothes with a lace hemline, ruffles on blouses and bias cut skirts.

It was a world of contradictions, and it was Ferretti’s superb interpretation of the era that made everything work, including the cowboy hats adorned with a lone star. Hmm… can it be Texas or just the insignia of the Sheriff?

Philosophy

Philosophy

Philosophy

Philosophy