NEW YORK, Feb 17, 2003/ FW/ --- Esteban Cortazar's second show for New York Fashion Week at the MAO Space was awaited by the fashion press with a mixture of curiosity and a little bit of judiciousness.

Last season, on his debut collection, fashion's Boy Wonder had a lover affair with the press.

Everyone loves a winner, and a fashion child prodigy was seen as a rising star.

But now, the honeymoon is over. And just like Jesse Ventura, former wrestler-turned-Governor of Minnesota who was voted into office because he is not a politician, after 6 months in office, the political pundits were judging him by the same standards given to veteran politicians, the anathema of Jesse Ventura.

Though Cortazar and Ventura are as dissimilar as can be, both had to face their reviewers and work hard to get their A ratings.

It is true that Cortazar's rise to fame is due to his celebrity status in Miami and his backers who are celebrities and fashion insiders.

It is also true that last season, though he presented a respectable collection, a lot of the fashion pundits, including FW agreed that although Cortazar obviously has talent, he lacks seasoning.

For Fall 2003, Cortazar showed he has mettle, and that he is growing up, at that cusp between boy and man.

Sending Carmen Kass, Naomi Campbell and Ohmayrah in navel-showing sexy clothes on the runway, Cortazar proved he can do 'adult clothes,' a big improvement from his collection last season which looked like someone gave him scissors and he just started cutting fabric away.

This time, there is more sophistication in his tight fitting mini-skirts and off-white Tibetian lamb coat.

But Cortazar also has a penchant for repeating a theme. After seeing several outfits with a big hole on the side, and a bandeau covering the model's breast, it becomes boring.

But then again, some designers who are much older than Cortazar had also made that mistake.

One thing is sure about the Boy Wonder though - his popularity and success has not gotten into his head. He is still a boy from Miami, erstwhile talented and has a lot of very influential friends.

This season, Esteban Cortazar showed that during the last six months, he has been doing his fashion homework.

He has arrived at that cusp of adulthood. And if his growth continues, then he will be just like Jesse Ventura who has endured in the political arena because of his fresh ideas and outlook.

Esteban Cortazar might be fashion's new superstar after all, courtesy of Gen Y.

Esteban Cortazar

Esteban Cortazar