MILAN, Jul 4, 2007/ FW/ – This season, men are chameleons of style inspiring trends with roots from past and present. Lawrence of Arabia, the muse for Belstaff’s spring summer 08 collection, was much the chameleon himself.

Lawrence was a British soldier known for how he adopted customs and traditions of the Arabs he was fighting with. Belstaff has taken this inspiration and used the elements of modern day London, Arabia and Lawrence’s style and easy assimilation of new cultures.

Colors of sand breezed down the runway next to the cities grays and blacks. Arabian influences in the high collar cuts of jackets and belted in waist were blended with city suits and the air of confidence. Natural fabrics with elegant weaves took on a light flowing hand were often large yet even when tight moved with a sense of ease.

Colors were simple and elegant, a mastermind of art themselves. A delicate balance of creams, sands and whites that helped visualize the Arabian inspired hero. On the same outfit of monotone blends, 40’s inspired details like a waistcoat and a large gold watch chain help create a mélange of styles that modernize the designs.

Fabrics as always for Belstaff are only of the highest quality and best technical research. Cottons come in a specialty wax coated 4 oz blend perfect for summer trips to the sea. Other fabrics like laser-cut linen and a blend of viscose and nettle are reworked to meet the Belstaff standard. Jackets come in high-tech Tactel and nylon as “futuristic inserts serve to prove that only continual innovation can preserve tradition.”

The collection was a blend of stories told well through the mix of styles, colors and fabrics. And as a pleasant surprise to Belstaff fans, and also a demonstration of the company’s generosity of spirit, Belstaff designers collaborated with George Clooney for several pieces that were shown on the runway.

A percentage of the sales from these pieces co-designed with George Clooney will benefit the ‘Not On Our Watch’ foundation, a not-for profit humanitarian organization. Proceeds from the sales of this capsule collection will serve to raise funds for Darfur.

Belstaff

Belstaff

Belstaff

Belstaff