The Scognamiglio blouse Madonna chose for her video

Since she sported a sheer black ruched blouse from his autumn/winter 2008 range in her ‘Give It 2 Me’ video, the cutting edge designer has been causing a definite buzz in fashion circles with his feminine, yet unconventional pieces.

And Scognamiglio, born in Pompeii, near Naples in 1975, is more than ready for the limelight. He’s been in fashion for over a decade having opened his first atelier when he was just 23 and unveiled his first collection in 2001.

Scognamiglio cuts a fine line between avant-garde experimentalism and traditional tailoring. It’s an enduring and exciting contradiction for strong women, like his muses, who include Italian actress Valeria Golino and French actress Charlotte Gainsbourg.

This was evident in his spring/summer 2009 ready-to-wear collections, which largely lived up to the hype. Showcasing fitted cropped jackets juxtaposed with plastic see-through trousers, the designer carried an ethereal birds of paradise theme throughout, noted in the puffy sleeves, shoulder-pads, ruffles and naturally, feathers.

Scognamiglio is also said to hide specific details within his designs, which only adds to the ambiguity. This season, for example, though his dresses may have appeared simple, the inside often nurtured more complex details, such as whalebone sticks forming the structure.

So what next for the rising star? Well, the Italian designer whose heart lives in Paris won’t be doing anything by halves after presenting his ‘strongest and most important collection so far’ for autumn/winter 2009. Look forward to warm splashes of gold and camel, exquisite 18-carat gold threaded wool and silk and the contradictory (of course) hemlines, which are either very short or very long. Next season’s strong woman had better have money too, from the looks of it. We wonder which pieces Madonna will choose…

You can purchase Scognamiglio’s creations at LuisaViaRoma.com or take a look at his website.