Paco Rabanne by Rosemary Rodriguez: Clear Cut Shapes and Barely There Dresses
By Mari Davis
Photos by Javier Mateo

PARIS, Mar 6, 2004/ FW/ --- Rosemary Rodriguez did something different this season. She decided to put mystery and mystic to the Paco Rabanne woman. And the result – sophisticated looks that are electric, precious and sensual.

With George Michael’s “Careless Whisper” on the soundtrack, models paraded on the runway in A-line silhouettes in varying shades of gray, silver and blue.

Black was paired with the House’s signature colors of oxidized metals, particularly gold with a touch of bronze and copper.

The chain mails became nettings as light as a spider web, the gold were put into lamé fabric, and the plastics and precious metals were mixed with Swarovski crystals to be the centerpiece of a gray flapper dress and harem-inspired pant suit sets.

Rosemary Rodriguez also sent cashmeres of all weights, furs and silk satins on the runway, vying with each other to deflect, capture and block the trench coats, which are sometimes trimmed with black sequins for drama.

It is graphic elegance. And like George Michael’s song, it’s a “careless whisper” of things to come for the House as Rosemary Rodriguez continues to infuse her personality to the collections and still keep the spirit of Paco Rabanne’s innovative and forward-thinking designs.

It’s almost a breakaway collection. But it is hard to tell, because as the models walk and their fur coats and trenches move, you get a glimpse inside and learn that they are barely dressed underneath.

So, your concentration is interrupted and you begin to admire once again the beautiful play of lights and shadows on the clothes themselves.

Rosemary Rodriguez who had always surpassed the expectations of Paco Rabanne’s audience just went up several notches this season in their eyes.

And with this collection, the young designer also gave a hint on where the brand is going, which is sophistication while keeping its forward-thinking reputation.

Paco Rabanne by Rosemary Rodriguez

Paco Rabanne by Rosemary Rodriguez

Paco Rabanne by Rosemary Rodriguez

Paco Rabanne by Rosemary Rodriguez