Sep 7, 2001/FWD/ --- Designing together comes easily for Rebecca Danenberg and Anthony Castro. But the duo has a bit of trouble when it comes to agreeing on a definition of their Spring 2002 collection.

"It's the naughty trophy wife - very Americana," Danenberg says. "It has a bit of a rock 'n' roll feel - a little hippie," Castro adds, eliciting a "No, not hippie," from his design partner. After a little back and forth the two come up with this: "Neo hippie - because it's very slick," as Danenberg puts it. "We always did more '60s and '70s," she points out, "because it's more sexy." As for the '80's revival of late, Castro only has this to say: "The '80s are really, really, really over."

With four days to go before showing their collection as part of the GenArt Spring 2002 show on September 8, Danenberg and Castro are putting the finishing touches to this collection that takes a tongue-in-cheek approach to the trophy wife concept. The duo, who also design their own fabrics, have used photographs taken by Danenberg's father as a print for their girlish yet sexy dresses and blouses reminiscent of Sharon Stone in Basic Instinct. Other items include embroidered coats that have "a little Jimmy Hendrix going on," according to Danenberg, and narrow cut pinstriped pants paired with sleeveless blouses in lush ivory.

"There's nothing new because everything has been done," says Castro, 23, who started out as Danenberg's design assistant. "It's all about putting a fresh twist on the classics."

"It's neoclassic," Danenberg, 35, throws in. "We're not really trendy, we're individual and our customer is ahead of the magazines."

When it comes to designing, the crucial question the two ask themselves is: Would a girl wear this? If so, does she have to have a specific item? The customer they have in mind, the soft-spoken Castro explains, is a "strong girl and independent." The quintessential Danenberg Castro woman is the girlish yet rough-around-the-edges.

"If I were a woman, I'd wear our clothes, too," Castro says, to which Danenberg laughingly replies, "Yes, you'd be a fierce bitch."

Danenberg faced hard times last year when she was forced to file for Chapter 11 after expanding her popular solo line, Rebecca Danenberg, too quickly. But she's none the worse for the wear. "It really didn't affect me - my Japanese clients have always been loyal to me. I just needed someone to manufacture the clothes," she says. "I'd like to move forward and look ahead instead of back." Danenberg has teamed up with Castro this year after a brief hiatus in Los Angeles (their clothes are produced by Makilhon Inc.). There are no ego clashes, the two insist, and Danenberg points out that that "working as a team is more modern. And I think to be open minded is important for an artist - to ask what people think so as to not be in a vacuum."

"When you're enthralled in the business, you don't think about what the next step is because you're busy creating," Danenberg says. "I'm just making sure that people like the stuff and that it sells. But," she adds with a sly smile, "we'd be glad if we're the next Calvin [Klein]."

With models walking in and out of the showroom, items that need to be adjusted and final looks to be determined, Danenberg has a hard time describing the state she's in. "I'm numb. I'm ambivalent - though that's a natural fashion feeling, I guess," she says with a smile. "But hey," she quickly remembers, "We have hot models."