MILAN, Jan 15, 2006/ FW/ --- In what arguably is the best show of the day, Donatella Versace’s reinterpretation of the classic Versace silhouette turned out to be a ‘strong, simple and heroic concept of masculine beauty.’

Sometimes called the House of Medusa, Versace had been staging its own revival since last season under the creative helm of Donatella.

And for its menswear collection for Fall 2006 / Winter 2007, Donatella chose blue as the main color palette – from carbon paper blue to ‘microchip blue’ known to Silicon Valley denizens as IBM blue.

Blue, as Versace’s press notes said, ‘is the hue of the third millennium,’ might be more prophetic than what it seems. The computer desktop powered by Microsoft Windows is blue, and of course, the biggest ‘blue of them all,’ IBM is once again at the forefront of innovation.

Like IBM who lost market share in the advent of the Internet but gradually reclaimed it with innovations and reinventing itself, Versace’s choice of the color blue as it continues its quest in revitalizing the House of Medusa is a good omen, especially after seeing the house’s latest menswear collection.

Masterful tailoring and perfect proportions, well defined and structured shapes but without recourse to padding; slim trousers paired with jackets with squared shoulders – it’s the Versace male demi-god of the 1980s reincarnate.

But, he is not a clone; yes… he is a chip off the old block with noticeable improvements, which Donatella defined as the “Y” line of the Versace male, reclaiming his masculine DNA.

The silhouettes follow the lines of the body, flattering but not exaggerated. Created with using the same fabrics but with different weights, it was a statement of subtle opulence where luxury is defined by details like angular lines, diagonal cuts and original prints.

The Versace male is the classic gentleman, but very contemporary and modern – at ease wearing suits and trench coats but will change to sweaters and bomber jackets in a heartbeat.

He is active and dynamic, like his sibling who was born during the 1980s. If his brother triumphed during that decade, the current Versace man plans to build a dynasty worthy of the third millennium.

Versace

Versace

Versace

Versace