NEW YORK, Sep 9, 2005 / FW/ --- As Esteban Cortazar turns 21 this year, fashion’s child prodigy is evolving nicely from his semi-tropical Miami look to European aesthetics.

A development that he started with his Fall 2005 collection is now seen in his Spring 2006 collection beginning with his opening look with an all white suit with a fitted jacket until the closing look worn by Tiu in white shimmer georgette floor length dress with Swarovski crystal embroidery.

With this collection, Cortazar is also trying to find the signature look that will define his career as a fashion designer.

As a fashion child prodigy, we all loved his cute and playful silhouettes; all of us awed by a kid who just turned 17 make a full collection. But, even child prodigies grow up, so this year as Cortazar turns truly legal, he himself had realized that he has to go forward with his design aesthetics, and he chose to look towards the other side of the Atlantic.

Retaining the Latino-Miami look that made him famous, Cortazar also tried his hands in beading, embroidery and draping.

True, he still needs a lot of seasoning to perfect this look and his craft. Still, we have to accept that Cortazar never had formal design training and all he had worked with is his raw talent for design.

And with this collection, Cortazar proved once again that he is mature for his age because he did not even allow fashion pundits to say that he needs to evolve for this company and his label to grow.

He started that movement himself as it is obvious that his muse is also growing up!

Esteban Cortazar

Esteban Cortazar

Esteban Cortazar

Esteban Cortazar