Narciso Rodriguez sticks to structured style

[February 15, 2012]  NEW YORK (AP) -- Narciso Rodriguez stuck to his signature, structured style at New York Fashion Week.

The designer debuted a fall collection Tuesday that was colorblocked and architectural at the Lincoln Center tents. Colorblocking, which refers to geometric chunks of bright color, has turned up on a number of runways at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week

He must be doing something right. He has dressed first lady Michelle Obama, and sitting in the front row was Golden Globe-winning actress Claire Danes, a few seats away from another Rodriguez fan, singer Gloria Estefan. She said the designer has dressed her for some of the most special moments in her life.

"I love the stitching," she said. "I love the construction, the materials he uses are great because they hold you in well. He just thinks of the woman when he's designing these clothes, and sometimes that's not always the case with other designers," she said.

Rodriguez sent separates and dresses down the runway, many models wearing black gloves that cut off between their wrists and elbows with stripes of white, orange or chartreuse. They wore boots with chunks of color, also green, white or orange.

The tops had asymmetrical layers and lines, while others were made with a print of large, scattered chevrons (a pattern of V-shaped horizontal stripes). Rodriguez largely used traditional fabrics, wools, crepes and silks. But there were a few interesting choices: ostrich boots and a beaver coat and jacket.

[Associated Press; By CARYN ROUSSEAU]

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