Iro - Fall/Winter 2010-2011

The Iro girl, alternating between boyish and sexy, crossing urban influences with rock-n-roll, continues to flirt with the fashion feel of the moment - not the kind of fashion distilled on the catwalks, but that of the streets of the world's hip cities, where daring, wearability and casual all come together.

The Iro girl that inspires (founders) Laurent and Arik Bitton may very well be a leggy nymphet in loose-fitting micro shorts and other fragile mini-skirts; but she also shows a touch of something more roots, more masculine by adding a visually strong piece, creating a more hybrid look (cooler than 100% girly).

Forget first-degree, simplistic messages about minuscule volumes rhyming with alluring tops. At Iro, there is a willingness to magnify girls à la (model) Eniko Mihalik - the label's muse this season - by offering unexpected yet complimentary pieces, capable of composing a model's ideal backstage wardrobe.

A slightly ripped bodysuit pairs up well with cigarette jeans (worn short on the ankle), whereas the numerous loose, cozy, cotton tops are unmatchable in giving a tomboy look to feminine pieces. As for the loose-fitting shorts (either in army or casual), they offer an interesting alternative to the season's mini skirts.

All this being said, it is Iro's headliner product - the biker jacket - that pulls our focus first before the rest of the collection. Season after season, this piece succeeds in renewing itself without losing any of its bankable originality.

For the new season, (excluding the shearling version dictated by the trends of the moment), it is the completely faded version of the leather biker jacket that is getting attention. Always looking for techniques capable of improving their star product, the Bitton brothers decided to submit their leather to a process normally reserved for prewashing denim.

This latest approach may seem unusual at first glance, but the result is impressive, giving the jacket the look of a piece that has served loyally and fashionably for over 10 years.

Also noteworthy are the perfectly cut masculine jackets that, in a time when classical pieces are making a comeback, are sufficiently becoming and timeless to accompany a fashionista in her long-term quest for style.

In the end, we may not necessarily fall for the ripped denims (they have had their time), but we are eagerly waiting for the arrival of the knitted capes - perfect to warm up our little fall dresses - and the faded leather neo biker jackets.