A kids' world

United Colours of Benetton predicts winter will be "hot", but global warming is not the factor. The warmth lies in the soft and comfortable fabrics; a frothy triumph of knit effects. The mood is that of a mountain chalet for the city, the colours are from the forest and the fireplace while lines are soft and embracing, without clinging.

A wealth of ideas and creativity, the collection for children faces up to a new winter season with convincing liveliness, making grown-ups regret the fact that their childhood is over. The variety of themes stems from very different sources which imagination and technical and design skills translate into standard yet highly original items of clothing from a child's wardrobe.

Girl

Just say Paris Chic and there's witty urban glamour with plaid capes in a pink shade, Bermuda shorts in velvet with white and red sprig patterns worn with pullovers with wide stripes and whimsical gilded details. University Club ambitions even for those still in primary school: it all hinges on tartan kilts, dark blue jeans and a great deal of bright colour for sweaters worn under corduroy blazers. Le Cirque des Fleurs is literally a flowery carousel for decorations, appliqués and pot pourri colours: ponchos and capes like flower heads and rouches like petals. A disco craze looms on the horizon in the Preppy Rock ideas where black, combined with pink and powder blue, plays with stripes, studs, miniskirts, leggings and rock queen embellishments. More flowers, this time in a romantic version, are worthy of the name Liberty, with all-over 19th-century bouquet prints in pastel shades on everything, from shirts to sheepskins, embroidered jeans to openwork cardigans. The ethnic references come close to the top of the world: Warm Nepal does not miss a detail and works on embroidery like precious multicoloured mandalas, with wide skirts in rouched velvet and soft, fringed knitwear in warm colours. European snow sparkles for Snowy Holidays: glimmering sheepskins and down-filled pieces, with silver and gold sequins on the tricot in buttery, coarse yarn in a Nordic style.

Boy

Portland sails among cabin boy stripes, captain's blazers, lone sailor pullovers and prints dedicated to the world ports in a sea of chic. The model Bristol University student is only missing glasses yet has all the rest: the plaid wool duffel coat, the knitwear with diamond pattern, the Prince of Wales check trousers, the polo shirts and graduation velvet jacket. For boys of character, who dream of motorbikes yet ride bicycles, Metal Biker hints at races and circuits: padded blouson, slim jeans, denim biker jacket, embroidered shirts and laminated and studded decorations in soft shades due to the dust of the road. The warmer Nordic Way items are in the cold colours of water and ice; polar temperatures demand down-filled coats, handmade jacquard pullovers, velvet trousers and thick wool berets with a pom-pom. Ready to play are Downtown Streets and Colour Camp, two themes that make casual their leitmotif: rugged garments with military and camouflage references, checked shirts and striped polos, trousers in denim and velvet and layering that is only apparently random.

• These collections are available at United Colours of Benetton, The Plaza, Sliema.