An owl perched in a giant frame served as the backdrop to Kean Etro’s show for this season's collection, and had a bird’s-eye view on his topsy-turvy fashion concept. The cryptic show notes talked about the notion of upside down, and that’s how images from the show were projected. Were the clothes as kooky ? Far from it : the designer unfurled a wearable, countryside-cum-horsey collection for an offbeat guy who trudges around in faded paisley or camouflage coats, quilted nylon or leather jackets, washed tartan jodhpurs and cozy mélange cardigans. Checkered leg warmers Velcroed over pinstriped pants added a whimsical touch of dandy, but the miniature birds clawed on to top hats or in the hair were downright kinda silly. But don't let the fixins fool you. Take away these occasional kooky hats, the glittery brooch, and the leggings (or are they spats ?) and you've got yourself a relatively traditional collection from this most exuberant of labels. You've got your chocolate quilted hunting jacket; a perfect cinnamon-brown fur-collared leather bomber; and some classic navy wool suits (side vents, slant pockets, of course). And if you're hankering for a purple suede trench -well, you've got that too. Never one to leave us color deprived, Kean Etro once again set out on a mission to bring some life into a winter wardrobe. Making an attempting at minimizing the blacks, grays, and other dismal hues that plague most of us once the temperature begins to drop. Despite the collection’s highly saturated and highly inanimate added extras, the Etro man still lingers about… just here this season with more of a quirky sense of humor.
