MILAN, Sep 28, 2005 /FW/ --- Perhaps, most of the fashionista set know Belstaff best for the movie ‘The Aviator’ starring Leonardo DiCaprio wherein the ‘Aviator by Belstaff’ collection was used as costumes for the film for authenticity.

You see, Belstaff was actually established in 1924 by Harry Grosberg in the United Kingdom, and during the 1930s and 1940s it was already making clothing to protect aviators in extreme weather conditions.

Eighty years later, the company has grown from its original roots of functional clothing into a full fashion house while keeping its history and basic offerings.

Last Tuesday, Belstaff, under the creative direction of Franco Malenotti showed its Spring / Summer 2006 collection that built on its reputation as the choice of champion bikers.

With Gemma Ward opening the show with a chocolate brown pencil skirt paired with a slim fitting jacket cinched at the waist and leather leg warmers, it almost look like a scene from ‘Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow’ except of course that it was actually a fashion show the Piazza Castello with Gershwin's Summertime playing on the background.

What followed was a men and women’s collection of khaki, olive green and cobalt blue, a mix between an African safari and military uniforms of the early 1900s.

Shorts for the ladies rolled at the hem and bush jackets or aviator jackets for men for a complete utilitarian look, but still very stylish and chic.

Franco Malenotti also showed that he could work with colors, sending gold, blue and red on the runway as he turned the bomber jacket into a fashion statement and the WAC uniform into office wear.

Interestingly enough, it was the trench coat in old rose and the all white flight deck suit that were very memorable and would surely get Belstaff a lot of devotees in March.