Alessandro Dell'Acqua: Scrawny Poet Chic (Fashion Wire Daily)

Milan - With the Milan mens collections practically bereft of any clothes one might remotely consider wearing to work, and most designers creating sabbatical chic, it was refreshing to witness the latest collection from Alessandro DellAcqua whose aesthetic message appeared to be, why not take the time off work to write poetry.

In an innovative spring 2009 collection, DellAcqua went for the sensitive touch, sending out his models in loose mesh cashmere sweaters, ever so faintly stained to suggest a poet laboring over an epic work of verse.

And, after a critically acclaimed reading, our 21st century Wordsworth headed out for a drink in beautifully tattered jeans, darned and stitched together lovingly, worn under one button jackets cut to finished above the hip. Made in faded gold jacquards or cotton micro herring bone, they were the coolest jackets weve seen so far in Milan.

Not that these clothes were in any way dated, on the contrary they were a fresh take on hip after-hours wear, and beautiful ways of playing with fabrics by ageing yet ennobling the material.

Unveiled in an obscure art gallery, agreeably shaded in a Milan where moisture levels have soared in the steamy heat, the collection rightly earned hearty applause from the audience. The show also augurs well for DellAcquas latest project; he was appointed the creative director of the famed cashmere brand Malo this spring. The Neapolitan designer is to unveil his first ideas for Malo with a womens ready-to-wear collection in September.

His womens fashion has always been highly influenced by his youthful habit of watching the golden period of Italian cinema and its screen goddesses Sophia Loren, Monica Vitti and Anna Magnani.

Looks like the inspiration for his latest mens wear was a trip to see Shelleys grave in Rome and catching up on the latest Pete Doherty video.