PARIS, Oct 14, 2002/ FW/ --- To paraphrase Charles Dickens, 'it is the best of times, it is the worst of times, to be an emerging designer in Paris.'

The city nurtures young talent. Yet it could also be very intimidating because the young talent has to compete with established houses and designers.

So when an emerging designer holds his or her own against established houses like Valentino and Chanel (both houses showed stellar collections, by the way), the designer know that he or she is on the way up.

Such is the case with Dice Kayek, on her show last Tuesday.

Showing after formidable talents like Valentino and Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel, the young designer mixed Saville Row tailoring with downtown looks and chicness.

Dice Kayek created chiffon blouses mixed with jeans or tight pants and knee length dresses that emphasized the waist and shoulders.

She also sent jewel-neck tops embellished with Swarovski crystals pulled down on one side to show off the shoulder on the runway.

Pull-overs and sporty jackets were mixed with billowy skirts either in chiffon or another luxurious fabric.

It was a very focused and tight collection, and very commercially viable.

Dice Kayek

Dice Kayek

Dice Kayek