DALLAS, Apr 17, 2007/ FW/ --- Known for his structured silhouettes with military influences, British-born Neil Barrett trained under Miuccia Prada before launching his eponymous label in 1998.

Inventive and imaginative, Barrett’s mastery of tailoring techniques made his menswear and womenswear line sought by celebrities like Brad Pitt and Kirsten Dunst and easily made Barrett one of the strongest designers to have emerged from the highly competitive Milan fashion scene.

Always sartorial, Barrett’s creations are never trendy. Instead, they become classics the moment they hit the runway. Since he debuted in Milan during the city’s Fall 2002 season, the British designer had stayed true to his design philosophy of creating hip, easy-to-wear clothes that are timeless.

Season after season, retail buyers flock to Neil Barrett’s runway shows and showroom because his creations easily translate from the catwalk to the sales floor. Always mindful of details and constantly creating that ‘perfect fit’ for every item, Barrett’s precision and meticulousness became well known.

Already well-known in Europe, where he already has a big following, Neil Barrett debuted last September in New York, during the Fall 2006 season, presenting both his menswear and womenswear collections. It was love at first sight for the American fashionista.

Last February, Barrett made an encore, unveiling his Fall 2007 womenswear collection at Bryant Park, his sartorial style very apparent, and his perfectionism visible even on a very fast paced catwalk show. v Dress suits that reach just on the knee, shift dresses that hint of the figure, coats with rounded shoulders that are mannish, slouchy pants and drop down waist dresses – Neil Barrett proposed a wardrobe that would fit well in the American lifestyle, whether it is in New York, Los Angeles, Dallas or Chicago, including the very conservative Bible Belt in the Midwest and the deep South.

There is a certain formality to it, but the outlook is hip. It is a perfect balance between conservatism and modernity. Usually, conservative equates to dowdy and modern equates to brash when it comes to the very traditional Bible belt denizens.

Of course, Neil Barrett is already pre-sold to the metropolitan areas of both coasts and every city in-between in the U.S. Still, to totally capture the American market, a designer has to appeal to the fashion-forward cities and the more conventional towns. And Neil Barrett does, with his sartorial approach to dressing.

For the British-born designer, this might just be the beginning of his foray in the U.S. market. Don’t be surprised if in a few years, he becomes a household word on this side of the Atlantic.

Neil Barrett

Neil Barrett

Neil Barrett

Neil Barrett