The new skincare and makeup line, which replaces the brand's existing, more traditional range, is slick and modern. Conceived in serene white and silver, with the house name in a vertical strip, its packaging looks more Colette than Nina Ricci.

"In the '90s there existed two types of beauty brands -- the classic product from the French couture house, and then the technological product from the star makeup artist," explains company spokeswoman Nathalie Boyer.

Nina Ricci decided to find a common ground, combining the look and feel of makeup artist lines with the prestige of an established house.

Skincare products include a cleansing mousse and flash beauty enhancer.

The makeup range, with a base of 185 colors, features fluid powders and eyeliners. An innovative mascara brush drew particular interest at the product launch.

Pret-a-Porter de Peau will be manufactured by Barcelona-based Puig Beauty & Fashion Group, which bought Nina Ricci in 1999. Puig is also planning to form a joint venture partnership with Prada to create fragrance and beauty products under the Italian house's name.

The new Nina Ricci line will hit stores in three waves, starting in September.

The first will include launches in France and other major European countries, as well as in Japan and Hong Kong. The second wave, in January 2003, will take place in the Middle East.

Finally, in September 2003, the line will reach the U.S., where Nina Ricci's perfumes, including the iconic L'Air du Temps, are already selling quite well.

Breaking into the U.S. market is still seen as a sizeable challenge though, and the house wants to establish the line elsewhere first.

Pret-a-Porter de Peau's advertising campaign will debut in the September editions of magazines appropriate for the first wave launch countries.

Shot by British photographer Sarah Mango, the ads star U.K. model Rachel Kirby, whose resume already includes a Philosophy di Alberta Ferretti campaign.