Cerruti 1881: Smartly Cut & Neat, Cleverly Active
By Michelle Taylor
Photos by Giovanni Pucci

MILAN, Jan 18, 2004/ FW/--- Adrian Smith, the 30 something designer at the helm of Cerruti presented his autumn winter 2004/05 men’s collection last Monday in Milan, smartly cut and neat, yet cleverly active.

The new classic Cerruti 1881 man dresses in tailored suits, but keeps key elements like the turtleneck sweater which is often chosen over the traditional shirt, a worn leather coat, the perfect pair of jeans and motorcyclist pants as part of his wardrobe.

Austerely elegant, yet stylish in his choices.

Streamline silhouette males in slim pants that finish at the ankle, often tucked into boots equestrian style are functionally dressed.

Outer pockets on coats are easily accessible, knitwear is large and often mini bags are attached to the belt or buttoned behind long trench coats.

Sportive and active wear, like the quilted leather jacket and padding on knees and shoulders are all part of the homogeneous Cerruti look for next winter in a palette that is predominantly dark and made up of greys, black and chocolate, yet there are welcomed flashes of bold red in shirts and patterns for an element of fun.

Decorative warrior shields are buckled over arms and shins, perhaps in an attempt to help protect them against the day-to-day harsh and often cruel metropolis.

Evenings are black-tie and luxurious with fur scarves and lining on winter coats. Tuxedos are cumberbunned but worn with a day after casualness, ties are undone and jackets relaxed.

Part of the Cerruti 1881 success this season is that Smith is able to fuse the classical with the casual, making traditional and sartorial more palatable than ever.

Cerruti 1881

Cerruti 1881

Cerruti 1881

Cerruti 1881