MILAN, Mar 6, 2003/ FWD/ --- Metallica booming out of the sound box at Bally this evening in Milan was a nice little treat. Not just because everyone could use a good, foot-tapping howl now and again, but also because the reverberations shook through a collection that had just the right amount of toughness to give this Swiss company an edge.

The fall/winter 2003 collection presented Tuesday was the first design run for Melissa Maish, the women's designer who replaced creative director Scott Fellows. Maish, who previously worked on the accessories team at Bally, slid into Fellows shoes rather effortlessly this evening.

Her best move was keeping everything clean and simple; along the exact same polished lines that Fellows had drawn so well around his captivating advertising imagery and pared-down product for the luxury goods company.

The aforementioned Metallica influenced the tough girls in leather padding, skin tight jump suits and witchy motorcycle boots, but one might be wondering if the hard edge sworn in by biker babes and rock lovers is really what's going to register with Bally's already confused customer.

Luckily, these gals weren't part of a beer-guzzling Hells Angels band, but rather the racy prep school variety who show up for class hopping off of their boyfriend's bike in a cinched leather jacket, brief pleat skirt and over-the-knee tights to cover their giraffe legs. No kind of foul-mouth misfit would wear wool boy shorts with leather trim, or cropped nylon pants with a princess heel, but Bally's chic baddie did. She also came out in kneepads and elbow gear -- subtle though, not overdone -- for late nights on her ride's back seat.

The Bally shoe for the season is a stacked heel, with bubble toe and brass buckle. It's neat and user friendly as are the flat riding boots with asymmetrical curved edges and leather ankle straps, which could be upgraded to the biker babe variety (flashy black vinyl) if desired. The shoes were nice, but the bags, Maish's forte, were better. They were lady-like handbags or carry alls, some with great suede blocking, that cinched-up chicly at the top.

So in short, the looks had real merit. They were cool enough to keep Bally's fashion profile high, but could be broken down to provide enough wearable clothes to fill the shelves of their boutiques and not freak out any long, lost customers who might happen to swing by that sophisticated store they used to like.