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Inset: Matthew Williamson at the Factory Girl London premiere. Photo source: Caroline Bonarde Ucci at the Wikipedia Commons

“Rome, 11^th March 2010. Bulgari has appointed British fashion designer Matthew Williamson to design a capsule collection of handbags for Spring/Summer 2011.

The capsule collection will be the first collaboration between Bulgari and a fashion designer, and will be presented during Milan Fashion week in September 2010.”

Will Matthew be to Bulgari what Marc is to Louis Vuitton, I wonder?

Matthew Williamson became a fashion household name in 1997 (showing for Spring-Summer 1998) with his infamous debut collection, “Electric Angels.” Presented during London Fashion Week, had supers (Kate Moss, Helena Christensen, and Linda Evangelista)  modeling a collection of brightly colored shifts in stark color combinations,

At the finale of his first show, Matthew takes a bow with Kate Moss. Screencap from http://www.matthewwilliamson.com/pinboard.php

Kate Moss wearing a hot pink and aqua silky slip dress and turquoise cardigan. Screencap from http://www.matthewwilliamson.com/pinboard.php

sheer shifts that have made a comeback today,

Linda Evangelista with geisha-style blush and liner. The sheer top of the shift dress has an embroidered peacock feather. Screencap from http://www.matthewwilliamson.com/pinboard.php

and even a cobweb dress.

Screencap from http://www.matthewwilliamson.com/pinboard.php

Modeled by no less than Helena Christensen. Screencap from http://www.matthewwilliamson.com/pinboard.php

He succeeded Christian Lacroix as the Creative Director for the House of Emilio Pucci in 2006 (Fall 2006 Collection), his penchant for brights and his knack for prints a good match for the brand. He  ended his stint in Spring 2009 with a modern take on the label’s signature op-art patterns.

Photo from http://www.style.com/fashionshows/review/S2009RTW-PUCCI

Today, he is focusing on his eponymous label, having presented his Fall 2010 collection at the recently culminated London Fashion Week.

http://www.matthewwilliamson.com/collections.php

What’s curious is how a designer who, as Hadley Freeman of Style.com described in his review of Matthew’s recent collection, “will always be best known, probably to his grudging chagrin, for making bright young things for bright young things,” will mesh his design style with that of a brand as steeped in tradition as Bulgari.

Read more about Bulgari’s tradition of craftsmanship >>

According to Bulgari‘s CEO, Francesco Trapani, “We chose Matthew Williamson for the great sense of color and design he brings to his work, which resonates with our brand’s rich history.” In much the same way that he went back to the label’s roots when he did his first collection for Emilio Pucci, perhaps a new spin on the signature handbags is in store–brightly colored and beaded evening pochettes, maybe; the double lion of the Leoni collection or even the Doppio Tondo used as graphic elements instead of predictable hardware? One can only guess.

If the bags are slated for release in Spring-Summer 2011, then it might be safe to expect a set that’s light and bright. My only question is, out of Bulgari‘s 279 stores worldwide, will the collection happen to land in Manila?

Find Bulgari in Style Bible’s Shop Directory >>

Isha.

Tags: Bulgari, Helena Christensen, Kate Moss, Linda Evangelista, Matthew Williamson