Fashion News & Trends: Form and functionality have never been as vital to a fashion designer's work as it is to the clothing designed by Miguel Caballero. Actually, the functionality part is most important to Caballero's clients, because if tested, it could turn out be a matter of life or death for them. This is not about missing out on the dernier cri and being cited by the fashion police for wearing the "was" suit to the "it" event.

Miguel Caballero designs highly fashionable bulletproof clothing for people who are apprehensive about being harmed while out and about publicly. His followers include politicians, dignitaries, and celebrities from around the world. President Barack Obama, Prince Felipe of Spain, and actor Steven Seagal are just three of the many satisfied customers who want that extra layer of protection to further ensure their personal safety.

The Kevlar-lined clothing is made from lightweight bulletproof fabrics and features removable ballistic panels that are offered in low, medium, and high levels of protection. The clothing is custom-fitted and the ballistic panels come with a five-year warranty. An owner of this special clothing cannot resell or transfer it to a third party under any circumstance. Owners also are urged not to allow another person wear their personalized body armor.

The materials used in the clothing are designed to absorb the energy of projectiles. However, there are limitations. It can stop bullets shot with a maximum velocity of 1,430 feet per second. The attire will not prevent penetration from military and armor-piecing ammo. Additionally, it is not designed to stop the penetration of sharp objects, such as knives, picks, or spikes.

All of Caballero's clothing is rated by the National Institute of Justice, which is an agency of the U.S. Department of Justice, to determine its protection level. There are four product lines available. The Miguel Caballero Black Collection offers an array of European-styled clothing, featuring various outerwear options that range from casual jackets to formal overcoats. There also is a tuxedo shirt and a polo t-shirt with removable ballistic panels as well as interior vests.

The MC Gold Collection is made up of casual bulletproof attire for both men and women. However, the majority of the clothing is for men, as only a short jacket and a quilted vest are pictured in the online catalog for women. The Gold Collection offers a wider selection of jackets, coats, vests, and t-shirts. The other two product lines are geared toward security professionals and for military and police usage.

The designing entrepreneur, Miguel Caballero, started his namesake clothing company, in 1992, in Bogata, Columbia. The specialty-designing house has appeared in major publications over the years and on various television shows. Caballero's clothing has been featured in the New York Times and BusinessWeek and has been seen on CNN, BBC, the History Channel and the Discovery Channel.

Bear in mind that while peace of mind may be priceless, it does not come cheaply. A part of the Black Collection, the polo t-shirt with removable ballistic panels starts at $4,000. Depending on the level of protection desired, the price may go up to $7,000. But, of course, that's chump change when compared to the value of your life. For more information, visit MiguelCaballeroUSA.com.

For JustLuxe James Rothaar