Ferre shows a bold but feminine winter style

MILAN (AP) — The Ferre winter woman is bold and yet feminine.

She endorses the structured look so popular for this round of preview showings, with prominent shoulders and waist cinched in a wide obi belt. A revisitation of the famed Ferre structured shirt, with its prominent collar and wide sleeve, fits perfectly in the new look.

Sophisticated black is her preferred shade, softened by an occasional flirt with cream white and chocolate brown.

Her footwear is determined, almost nasty, with high-heeled booties sporting aggressive ankle straps.

"She rediscovers her femininity, without losing her taste for architectural design," designers Federico Piaggi and Stefano Citron, said backstage after Monday's show on the last day of Milan's winter Fashion Week.

The designing duo joined Ferre several seasons ago. The brand, famous for its structured styles, has been through hard times since its founder, architect-turned-designer Gianfranco Ferre, died unexpectedly in 2007.

At the moment the Ferre family is in talks with the Paris Group that bought the brand, to keep the Ferre headquarters in the famed glass palazzo in downtown Milan, which became synonymous with the label.

In the meantime, the show was moved to a space in a Milan museum often used for fashion events.