PARIS, Jan 28, 2003/ FW/ --- With smoke boiling outside the windows of the Australian Embassy, his collection was presented octet by octet, to piano music of Chopin.

First up was an elegant black satin tux, worn with a white silk cordon floating from beneath the coat tails.

The same effect was also used later in black.

Though Schönberger's style could be described as dark in a Flemish sort of way, lingering as it did in gray and black, there was still no shortage of color.

An ice blue leather jacket was superbly cut, and a rose colored outfit featured a top in a netted pattern affixed with a one sided zipper.

There was also a rather interesting pair of leather pants with a strip of silver buttons falling down the side.

One black T-shirt sent a message in white lettering "War is over, if you want it".

While the outcome of that ambition is still uncertain, what is sure is that Dirk Shönberger presented a fine collection this season in Paris.

Dirk Schönberger

Dirk Schönberger

Dirk Schönberger