Safari style comes to the city again, writes Rachel Wells.

When photographer Franco Rubartelli snapped his then girlfriend, German supermodel Verushka, in a lace-up Yves Saint Laurent safari jacket for Vogue in 1968, little did he know he had captured the beginning of one of fashion's most enduring trends.

Although it is difficult to recall a time when safari-inspired jackets, suits, shorts, skirts and dresses didn't exist in a woman's wardrobe, it wasn't all that long ago that safari looks were only for people heading into the jungle.

Yves Saint Laurent was the first to dress women in khaki fatigues - a look some say symbolised the Vietnam War - at the spring collections in 1968.

Until then, no one had considered that the kind of clothing designed for the jungle or savannah, in some far-flung country, could be worn on a city street. It is hardly surprising then - that in a year that has celebrated the legendary designer, following his death in June - that we are again turning to the jungle for our inspiration.

Dozens of designers, here and overseas, have paid homage to Saint Laurent's iconic safari looks in spring/summer collections.

Frida Giannini was among those who referenced safari chic at her show for Gucci in Milan in September. One reporter described Giannini's models as "chic guerillas hacking their way through the jungle with dinky backpacks in a very feminine version of military dress".

The designer showed a beige-coloured, belted safari jacket, with oversized combat pockets and matching mini skirt, shrunken safari jackets teamed with tailored trousers and fedoras, and ultra-short shorts in brown and khaki.

At home, the safari-inspired shirt dress has emerged as one of the strongest looks of the season. Saba, Perri Cutten and Sportscraft are among local labels that have whipped up tailored-shirt dresses in khaki, beige, animal-prints and jungle patterns, reminiscent of the type of thing one might wear in the heat of the Sahara.

Tailored safari looks - think rolled-up cotton khaki shorts, fitted cotton shirts and sheath dresses in animal and ethnic prints, silk combat trousers and khaki shorts - have also turned up in local collections by Bracewell, Lisa Ho and Nicholson.

It's been 40 years since Verushka catapulted safari looks to the top of the must-have list. But we shouldn't be surprised. The classic, tailored safari looks that skim rather than cling or cocoon the figure are wearable at any age and for almost any occasion - from the corporate office to a city bar.

Safari chic has always been saleable and, now more than ever, designers like a sure bet.

1 Verushka wears an Yves Saint Laurent lace-up safari jacket in Vogue, 1968.

Picture: Franco Rubartelli.

2 Dalmation print dress, $349, from Nicholson.

3 Emery mushroom shirt dress, $279, from Saba.

4 Vest, $349, shorts, $279, and tee, $249, from Lisa Ho.

5 Seychelles dress, $349, from Perri Cutten.

STOCKISTS

Lisa Ho (02) 8303 7888, Nicholson 9425 1000

Perri Cutten 1800 359 650

Saba 1800 441 739.