MILAN, Jan 16, 2007/ FW/ --- In a season where militarism and futurism are turning out to be major trends, Antonio Marras bucked the trend with a return to basics, focusing on education while his muse is the country schoolteacher.

That the show started with school children and the first model doodling on his shirt already brought smiles to the face of the audience, what followed just charmed everyone with Marras’ reinterpretation of the early 1900s formal suits in solid earth tones or plaids.

Boxy shoulders on both single and double-breasted suits that are worn with a bow tie while knitted vests and cardigans were embellished with piping on the edges. The look borders on bucolic; at times, there is a U.S. Northwest woodman’s appeal, though Marras’ inspiration comes from his native Sardinia.

But, before you write off this collection as meant for the country gent, look again. The slim fitting leather jacket and the short-cropped suit jacket tapered at the waist will be a nice addition to a city guy’s wardrobe.

The updated cut of the trousers also made it very contemporary and urbane. Pair it with the white long sleeved shirt embellished with geometric figures on both sides of the placket, the educator can easily be a holder of a professorial chair in UCLA!