January 13, 1999
Web posted at: 8:59 p.m. EST (0159 GMT)

From Style Correspondent Elsa Klensch

MILAN, Italy (CNN) -- With its spring/summer '99 collection, Milan's Les Copains launches into a snappy, youthful look it calls "trend." The outfits have a fresh, funky appeal.

The jacket, a Les Copains staple, is as soft as a shawl. Dresses, skirts and sexy pants are layered in shimmering, breezy fabrics, and some are treated with a mother-of-pearl effect to add shine.

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Les Copains' Mario Bandiera says it's a collection dedicated to a strong woman with a delicate soul.

"It's very feminine," he says. "It truly emphasizes a woman's body without over being vulgar or over-the-top.

"The transparent fabrics are layered so as not to be too sheer or see-through. Everything is fluid and drape-y. I would say comfortable yet still very sexy."

Baniera says the jacket is still important but is no longer a power statement.

"A woman doesn't have to show her importance by wearing a jacket," he says. "She shows her importance through the confidence she projects and the personality she exudes.

"Her clothing should reflect her personality, not be something that competes with what a man is wearing."

Bandiera believes color is one way of showing a woman's personality. The Les Copains palette is serene, but with some graphic touches.

"We have some cream, some tourmaline-blue and a beautiful color we call angel-skin pink," he says. "There's also gray and of course, black and white. It's this mix of black and white that creates an optical quality."

He says accessories include a "clean and sexy" shoe.

"So it's just the shiny leather shoes and then the hair and makeup. The hair is short, with nearly a Grecian quality, and the makeup is gleaming. It has a natural beauty that helps bring out a woman's inner beauty."