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Narciso Rodriguez
ON HIS WEB SITE, Narciso Rodriguez
wrote the following about himself: ‘As a child, I was
fascinated by cutting, painting, drawing and construction. I think
that is where my love of minimal architecture started and it is
[said] architecture that continues to inspire me today.’ His
approach to designing a garment is ‘much the same way an architect
approaches designing a building, with seaming for structure to create
interesting fit lines and shape, [and by designing] primarily in
black and white as I find it to be the boldest graphic way to present
a sharp clean silhouette.’
Mr Rodriguez's star has steadily risen to new
heights of critical acclaim with each new season, not only because
he has an insanely devoted clientèle and friends in the fashion
media to spread the word on their editorial pages, but most importantly,
he has created a whole new vocabulary from which one can view his
designs. His signature æsthetic is one that calls for jackets
and coats that are meticulously and sparely constructed pieces that
are shaped and sewn with a keen sense of detail and for fall 2004,
a new awareness of softness in beauty.
I was very much taken with his body-hugging coats,
pencil skirts, and jackets (most resembling those of the luxurious
motor-cross variety), which, in turn, was accentuated by both slender
contrast piping and panel blocks of colour in strategically placed
areas. For evening, he introduced new looks (for him) that had the
audience visibly swooning.
By adding cascading lace ruffles and defining
ribbon detailing to his gowns and cocktail dresses, he demonstrated
that he is not tied to the spare, minimalist look. Stand-out pieces
here include all the satin skirt gowns (in such pretty colours,
even) that came late in the presentation and his beautiful ice-blue
satin dress.
Pamella Roland
PAMELLA DEVOS,
the head designer and creative director of the Pamella Roland
line, envisioned for fall, a look of ‘modern luxe … that
allows women to dress like individuals and to combine looks in their
own unique way.’ The woman she dresses, she explained, ’is
confident and independent … but not afraid to show her romantic,
feminine side. She is an elegant fashion sophisticate with a taste
for luxury.’
Luckily for her customers, Ms DeVos, who's the
sole designer of the line now that Ron Leal has moved on to pursue
other opportunities, set her clothes at prices that are attainable
and is, in a real sense, designing for women like her.
Her beautifully cut daytime suits, coats and structured
jackets are made for the office and other professional endeavours,
but she jazz them up a tad by adding colourful pink linings and
other embellishments such as fur trims and other design accents.
CONTINUED
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ABOVE: Narciso
Rodriguez. BELOW: Pamella Roland.
    
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