MILAN, Oct 1, 2001/ FW/ – This was definitely not a collection for the working gals.

Romantic, eccentric and ever so ethnic, the Spring/Summer 2002 Marni collection was all about enjoying your free time as prettily as possible.

The Marni woman we saw Monday in Milan looks a little like a very well-maintained Indian squaw, who steps out in mattress-stripe pants, floral shirt dresses, deconstructed cotton coats and flirty little ruffled minis.

When she needs a little warmth in the evening she dons vests in spotted sheared mink and colorful pony skin.

When she needs to carry her personal effects, she chooses oversize, over-the-shoulder messenger bags and adorns them with funky pins, costume jewelry brooches, little ribbons and rivets, the same things she attaches to the oversize belts slung low around her hips.

Designer Consuela Castiglioni always takes her bow with a sunny smile. She’s one of life’s lucky creatures - beautiful, talented and clearly at ease with herself.

And it shows in the optimism and humor of her fashion. Though maybe a little too much.

This season, the Marni collection was a little too divorced from reality.

At times, the clothes looked suitable only for a well-married lady with little to do but organize picnics and trips to her Mediterranean seaside home.

They were very pretty, but too escapist.

And one couldn’t help thinking that the best clothes by Marni one could admire Monday were on the front-row editors and stylists busily taking notes and not on the models on the catwalk.

Marni

Marni

Marni

Marni

Marni