PARIS, Jan 26, 2005/ FW/ --- With his Spring-Summer 2005 collection, Belgian designer, Gerald Watelet, confirmed his place among the rising European couturiers to watch for in the near future. His collection of 38 silhouettes rings with modern elegance and glamour.

He began the presentation with two similar dress ensembles in black wool crepe. The dresses have pure lines that ultimately incarnate the overall spirit of the collection. The second of the black dresses from the ensembles has buttons cascading down from the right shoulder blade, thus creating something very appealing to see as a woman is in motion.

Wonderful are the words which best describe his blouses in white satin muslin and in pistachio. His vest in black lamb’s leather is impeccably cut. His ensemble composed of a white top, black crepe skirt and jacket in black and white “pied de poule” wool is one of the best of the season!

Some critics have complained that Watelet’s style may be too classical?

I challenge that notion and unilaterally declare this collection to be of a modern glamour that is perfect for today’s busy businesswoman or for the elegant socialite with a rather charged schedule. In this collection, Watelet takes us from day to night and from the garden parties of the summer to the dinner tables of European aristocracy. Let us just say that the man knows his clientele.

His dress in Moroccan crepe with large polka dots made me instantly image a beautiful Julia Roberts on the polo fields of one of her greatest films.

When a breath of fresh air is needed, all a girl has to do is slide into either Watelet’s multicolored, striped dress in crepe or into his printed georgette dress in green, rose and white. If that is not enough, she can then wear his black and red printed muslin dress, worn with a brocaded black crepe jacket. It literally transports one away!

The Belgian couturier scored a top hit with his beautiful red lace and draped crepe dress. It has a quiet presence, yet it has a powerful elegance to it. It is only rivaled in this collection by the majesty of Watelet’s silhouette composed of a long organdy skirt in white and an organza top in brocaded petals. It is divine as it moves effortlessly through space and time creating poetry and magic as it moves… perfect for America!