PARIS, January 29, 2006 - French designer Romain Kremer turned to ancient Rome for inspiration for his eye-catching collection shown on Saturday afternoon. Do men really wear aquamarine toga-capes, transparent pants and centurion style ruffled skirts? They do in Kremerland.

Ingenious the pieces were, right down to a top that resembled a feathered Emperor's tunic, or the marble print jogging suits. For dramatic contrast, I suppose, one model was sent down the runway stripped to a pair of shimmering boxer shorts. That sight caused one German editor to drop his monocle.

You know you're in Paris when a designer can afford the luxury of indulging in artistic whims with little regard for the commercial viability of the result.

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