MILAN, Jan 17, 2003 /FWD/ --- According to Gabriele Strehle, and many other designers this season, the traditional fashion show has gone by the wayside. Strehle, who decided against a formal show and instead opted for a relaxed, evening presentation of Strenesse’s fall ’03 collection in the comfort of her sleek showroom in Via Morimondo, brought along a group of Italian celebrities to ring in the new looks in a subtle, personalized modo.

Despite the presence of Italian literary and artistic cognoscenti like writer Luciano De Crescenzo and actor Beppe Fiorello, first on the agenda was eating. Seated immediately to the creative director’s right during the quintessential “fashion dinner” was Vogue Homme honcho Richard Buckley and Strenesse’s men’s designer Pier Angelo D’Agostin who spends his off hours designing the Italian label Hlam.

Speaking between a sushi appetizer and a primo piatto of pasta, creative director Gabriele Strehle referenced the relaxed pieces hanging loosely on the walls behind her by saying “it’s a mix up of sporty influences, especially that of the maritime world. But most important is the new volume created by layering different pieces.”

Although that pumped up, layered look might be difficult to achieve without fashion stylists behind you, the basic, fashion-forward pieces for which Strenesse has become renowned still managed to shine through.

Italian graphic and object designer Matteo Thun, who is just now completing the architecture for a high-end spa hotel in the Italian dolomites, commented that Strenesse’s fashion works because “it subscribes to the ‘no design philosophy’ current in today’s modern product design world.” The designer of Milan’s Missoni and Fila Stores says that Strenesse is certainly not iconoclastic, but “it thankfully doesn’t follow any fashion rules.” .

Ivan Capelli, the Formula 1 pilot seated a table away, echoed similar statements: “I’ve known the brand for a brief period of time but it’s truly a great discovery.” Although a self-admitted fashion novice, Capelli said that the label holds appeal because “it’s sporty yet classic and represents a realistic style that I like.”

Strenesse men’s line is certainly a subtle incarnation of the passion infused in the line. Italian actor Alesssandro Gassman, son of the Italian cinema star Vittorio Gassman, summed the evening up by stating that “I live in Rome and don’t particularly know a whole lot about fashion. But I have recently discovered Strenesse and love it for its simplicity and beautiful fabrics. I don’t like people who spend too much time on fashion, but this is an exception.”