NEW YORK, Mar 23, 2003/ FW/ --- Paris, the most romantic city in the world. So, it is not surprising that when Paris and Los Angeles-based designer Lloyd Klein decided to put romance in the forefront, he chose it as the setting for his best collection yet.

It was a modern-day Romeo & Juliet - two lovers separated by wealth. They meet each other during autumn at the fauborgs of Montmartre.

She's wealthy, a descendant of an aristocratic family. He is an artist - struggling and poor.

Lloyd Klein's challenge - how do you interpret a Shakespeare's classic on a 15-minute runway show?

He started with the fabric - noble fibers, winter cottons, flat velours and ancestral embroidery - to project the romantic atmosphere.

He added devore chiffon, florettes, mink blends and satins de soie to convey the love being shared.

Lloyd Klein then worked on the colors to reflect the mood and memory. Sober tones were used to underline the secrecy and forbidden love. And there were flashes of red and aqua to create anticipation and promise. Muted undertones of primary colors were engaged to show the lovers optimism.

And it was time to decide for the looks. Lloyd Klein who is well-known for his draping technique chose soft architectural silhouettes for the evening and precision tailored suiting for jackets and coats for those cool autumn nights.

Fall comes, and the anticipation was unbearable for the woman. There was a war going on and her lover was sent to the front. Will he meet her at the usual time and place?

That's how the first scene of the play was played, or rather, the runway show started.

The lights dim, the music start and the first model in empire green velvet robe, adjusted with ruby trianon, embroidered sleeves over marignon backless cotton vest and matching micro mini walks in.

It was sexy extravagance mixed with tailored sobriety. Because that is who she is. An optimist, yet takes part in dangerous liaisons.

She's feminine and passionate, and takes risk. In fact, she is the perfect Lloyd Klein woman. She is a part of the establishment with a hidden rebellious streak that makes her very exciting.

To build up suspense, Lloyd Klein decided that the lover will not make it to the meeting.

To show it, the designer went for somber colors. And this marked the second set of the collection.

Officer cotton marignan jacket over matching backless vest and 'petit page' ruby velvet de soie pantalon was the woman's clothes of choice.

She is back in her world of luxury, where looking good is a must. No one knew that inside she was worried about her lover, except for the dark browns and black she was wearing.

It was very feminine daywear that could easily move into the nighttime. It was understated luxury.

Once again, she portrayed the Lloyd Klein woman - she knew luxury but never ostentatious. Her clothes might have simple lines. The secret lay on the details.

But Lloyd Klein has not peaked yet during the second part of the show. His coup de grace was during the third part when the lovers finally meet.

The artist was safe and finally home from the war. Another meeting was scheduled.

To show hope, Lloyd Klein dressed his models in mint cashmere and blue worsted jackets.

And when the lovers finally met, and the seduction started, the lady chose onyx for her color, and had to decide on whether to wear a jersey micro dress, a georgette cocktail dress, or a mohair knit dress with devore sculpted chiffon florettes.

This is Lloyd Klein's best collection yet. And whether it was prescience or just a coincidence that the world will be thrown into turmoil a month after New York Fashion Week, it was good to see an uplifting story where love won in the end.

Because right now, love is what the world needs and Lloyd Klein hit it right with this collection.