PARIS, Apr 2, 2005/ FW/ --- For his third ready-to-wear presentation in Paris, rising Venezuelan designer, Oscar Carvallo wove a spell of mysticism to the delight of the international press and buyers.

This collection is imbued with the spirit of the designer’s native religion, Santera – a mixture of Catholicism, spiritualism and African and Native-American cults.

It has a warm range of natural materials such as poplin, cottons, fox, astrakhan, denim, goat and lambskins.

The first thing that really stands out in this profound collection is Carvallo’s work with crochet. He has reworked them into animal like scales. This theme is found in his black skirt ensemble. The skirt is completed done in this crochet while the top is form hugging and embellished with this special crocheting at the shoulders.

The knits also incorporated into colourful and very structured ensembles that are not confining. The green ensemble has a very unrestricting look.

Carvallo also worked his magic into an exciting fringed skirt. The fringes as well as large buttons are seen throughout the collection.

There is a great deal of layering going in this collection. However, it is done in a way in most pieces such as dresses and skirts that it nearly goes by unrecognised as layering. This is important because with its light and airy fabrics, it creates just the right dash of natural movement that does betray the natural female silhouette.

Like Carvallo’s previous collections, this one is rich in well defined silhouettes, structure, colours and purpose.

Another great aspect to this collection is that the ensembles can be broken up and worn separately with a pair of jeans. Appropriately enough, Rodrigues did exciting jeans the kiss the body in just the right places.