Who remembers the wonderful movie, Robin and Marian, with Sean Connery and Audrey Hepburn (in one of her last roles)? This romantic epic took a bittersweet look at the two in their later years. After King Richard's death in the Holy Land, Robin Hood and his trusty companion Little John finally returned home to England. Despite his two-decade absence, Robin became immediately determined to find his long-lost love, Maid Marian. He discovered her in a convent, where she retired after waiting years for him to return from the Crusades. Now comfortably settled there as the Mother Superior, she did not fully welcome Robin's return. But she had not quite forgotten her feelings for him, either. Then of course there was that little score between Robin and the Sheriff of Nottingham to be settled.

This is the logical fantasy conclusion to one of my favorite childhood stories. And fashion has never forgotten the “Sherwood Forest” look, either, with woodland colors like greens, browns and taupe perennial favorites. Grommeted, front lace sweaters, tunics with side lacings in leather, flat boots over pants, shoulder bags, small hats with feathers---we have seen all of this every decade. And of course the hooded cape, that staple of Marian’s, is a couture favorite.

Nature and Couture are eternally entwined. For summer 2005, couturiers often have embroidered semi-precious stones in fabrics and often the result is an ethereal wood nymph, the goddess Diana, or even our Maid Marian. Summer might find some of you stepping out of the forest, refreshed and wondering why Marian sat around waiting for Robin all those years. Give in to summer pleasures, wherever they might await you.