Every season we hear about how the NY collections are just showing casual separates and that the only good ready- to- wear to be had is at the Italian shows. Well, who can afford that trip what with the dollar being so weak and airfares climbing every second? Now you only have to go uptown. Michele Negri, a former model, and his wife Patrizia Beltrami started the Michele Negri line in 1988 with the opening of their first boutique on via Roma in Florence and this, their first U.S. shop, brings all the fantastic elegance to your doorstep. A great blend of old world with the new (children Gian Luigi and Alessandra have made the collection right for their generation too), for men, there are su mesura suits and a series of two- button and one- button collar shirts, ties, kerchiefs, even belts, all made in Florence. For women there is everything from the "pretty woman" dress in brown polka dots to a stunning twill safari dress (the best we've ever seen with its wide collar) to the option of custom tailouring. Our favourite however, are the series of girlish cocktail dresses, all produced in Naples. The kind of frock with just enough frill and ruffle, so stylish it practically guarantees you'd be snapped for the society pages, and just unidentifiable enough that jet set you is wearing the dress instead of the dress wearing you.

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