MILAN, Sep 24, 2007/ FW/ --- To be a fashion house in this century you need to be able to not only describe your collection in terms of inspiration and design but also new fabrics.

Fabrics and technicalities are becoming ever more important to the consumer and as designers are realizing this they are beginning to experiment more. Burberry this season presented a women’s collection with a few male models as eye candy and mood setters. Dressed in stylish Burberry Spring Summer attire the male models wore shoes that looked more like booties for scuba diving.

Oh, the material possibilities with water sports! From wetsuits and lycra to water resistant fabrics material. The standard stereotypes of how these technical fabrics should be used, was tested. Christopher Bailey proposed looks that was part Highland Warrior, part ocean and sea adventurer. With colors ranging from blends of creams and blacks to brilliant bright pinks and turquoises, the collection moved from desert to sea and city to nature.

Shift dresses in creams were cinched in at the waist with black belts embellished with Viking style silver medallions. Knits came in thin sand colored dreadlocks as bangles and chunky jewelry helped add warrior shine and sparkle. Black strappy heels were paired with ankle length socks a nice change from this seasons repetitive knee length ones.

Oceania entered the show in monochromatic trenches and dresses in brilliant colors. The trenches Lycraesque material brought resemblance to wetsuits. Dresses in light silk chiffons with flowing ruffles floated down the runway like jellyfish swimming through the water.

The show was beautiful and the pieces innovative with obvious detail to materials. From the waters that brought the Viking ships to the Highlanders them selves the range of inspiration was vast. Thick embellishments and organized messes of flowing fabrics, Burberry created a pleasingly dichotic collection that brought together the peaceful and the fierce.

Burberry Prorsum

Burberry Prorsum

Burberry Prorsum

Burberry Prorsum