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Following the passing of its gentlemanly founder last year, the House of Gianfranco Ferre seems to be intent on sexing up its image after abruptly parting ways with new designer Lars Nilsson a few months ago.

Just take a gander at this image from Ferre’s brand new Fall/Winter ‘08-‘09 ad campaign shot by Steven Meisel, which features this well-suited gent frolicking with frequently topless babes. Probably not the sort of thing the buttoned-up, unfailingly elegant Mr. Ferre would have greenlighted himself before he went to the great couture house in the sky, but we like it fine.

Meanwhile, the Ferre men’s presentation (staged in lieu of a real runway show) in Milan the other day was something of a mixed bag, but the shades were pretty slick at least.