MILAN, Jan 17, 2003 / --- One wouldn't necessarily think of the well-bred Italian creative director Silvia Fendi partying hard under kaleidoscope lights with the glittering, larger than life Ziggy Stardust, but in this show about "motion and '70s futurism," the rock marriage was a happy one.

Rockers seem to be popping up a lot this season in Milan, but where others have merely dabbled, Fendi's take on the memorable '70s icon had a deep glam soul which firmly anchored the show.

The pack of zoned-out Stardusters, with their gaunt faces and dark glazed-over eyes, would have felt right at home at a "Spiders from Mars" concert, but Fendi rocketed them out of their past star system and into the future.

"We've already done a profound exploration of the past," explained the designer before the show, "now is the time to look forward, shake things up, maybe even go to the space age."

The voyage to the future built slowly, starting with tailored suits and separates in vague colors, which got vamped up with washed leather trenches, layered mohair sweaters and dark red pony skin vests.

But with their feet grounded in ergonomically morphed oxfords, the space invaders' trip shot off mid-way through the show in slick jackets sprinkled in glitter, suit separates sparkling with metallic threads and iridescent shimmers spread across translucent sweaters and shirts.

It was modern and sleek, full of glamour without reaching too far into the stratosphere of weird.

Fendi's idea of the future must be a scary one, environmentally speaking.

How else to explain the models in black, iridescent leather who looked liked they'd taken a swim in an Exxon-Valdez oil spill?

But the designer has an answer for future pollution calamities: just press your striped Persian lamb jacket between plastic and trim it with chocolate leather like she did.

That choice is infinitely better than the Ziplock plastic baggie shirts in transparent green.

Fendi Menswear

Fendi Menswear

Fendi Menswear

Fendi Menswear

Fendi Menswear