MILAN, Jan 16, 2006/ FW/ --- ‘I may never be somebody, but no one will be quite like me…’ in giant white letters were projected on a black background inside the venue for Gianfranco Ferré’s Menswear Fall 2006 preview. It was puzzling, even enigmatic specially when the designer came out first with a female model followed by a group of young men all dress in black suits.

And just when you were beginning to think that the show would be a reinterpretation of Hollywood’s ‘Men In Black,’ a lone model struts out with ‘Men’s Couture’ spelled out in his T-shirt.

What followed was signature Gianfranco Ferré – masterful tailoring full of details that were even glitzy at times. From a knee-length double-breasted fur coat to knitted men’s sweaters with fur peeping out of the collar to collarless leather jackets with oversized pockets.

Reading his press notes, everything started to make sense. Gianfranco Ferré wrote, ‘I’m convinced that in today’s world we must use style as a means of self-expression, a tool through which we tell who we are and how we live.’

And ‘style’ is what he gave the Gianfranco Ferré gent for Fall 2006. Double-breasted suit jackets, one-button tuxedos and white tuxedo shirts with sunburst and origami-inspired ruffles spelled elegance to the nth degree.

Trousers were loose fitting whether as tuxedo pants or distressed denim. Standouts include the leather pants embellished with patchwork. Pullovers and turtlenecks featured original prints.

Still, the true fashion statement was the beige leather bomber jacket cut into squares with fur lining paired with patchwork/distressed denim.

Again, in his press notes, Ferré wrote, ‘In my own way I sought to redefine classic formulas by imbuing the clothes with a true sense of originality, feel for the times, placing the accent on superlative materials and construction.’

So, as the designer took his bow, with the same female model in tow, followed once again by a group of young, this time dressed in black t-shirts, the quotation projected on the wall made sense.

“It was about a man totally intent on being his own person with self-assurance and awareness. A man who can easily say: ‘I may never be somebody, but no one will be quite like me…’”

Gianfranco Ferré

Gianfranco Ferré

Gianfranco Ferré

Gianfranco Ferré