NEW YORK, Feb 19, 2002/ FWD/ --- Narciso Rodriguez's fall 2002 collection proved that you can indeed take the boy out of New Jersey AND take the New Jersey out of the boy.

The show was a hot ticket, filled with sharp, sleek and beautiful clothes.

Karolina Kurkova opened the Cristobal Balenciaga-inspired show with a boxy, black wool coat and mid-calf chalk cotton trousers, setting the tone for the mostly black and bone colored collection.

What followed were variations of long and narrow wool barathea dresses with cotton sateen insets made to look like bodices - tight yes, but not restricting.

While Rodriguez stuck to solids, the New Jersey-born designer gave his bone jackets and skirt combinations perfectly aligned ivory outlines, emphasizing the precise tailoring he's known for.

Another flattering look let a tight tunic peek from under a short sheared mink jacket worn over wide pants.

Boxy yet modern long coats were tied with a belt in the same color, though the most eye catching was a black number with a white belt.

While somber, the clothes had an understated sensuality: a sleeveless, asymmetrically cut creation looked like a one-shoulder dress from the back; halter tops came with a sheer, different colored fabric peeking from the low décolletage.

Open back silk crepe dresses had beaded straps crossing in the back - an idea that Rodriguez reprised in a silk wrap shirt featuring a beaded band that separated the shirt from a sheer inset.

Going into evening, Rodriguez sent out gold-chain embroidered pencil skirts and dresses and some soft and sexy halter gowns with little lapel-like ruffles in the back and falling very low in the hips. (Oscar nominees, call his showroom now).

To complement Rodriguez's designs, makeup artist Dick Page gave the models ochre lips and used a tiny bit of the same color on the eyes, mixed with a shiny gloss.

The faces were kept matte with a bit of rose on the cheeks.

Hair stylist Eugene Souleiman decided on an up 'do, pulling the hair tightly at the sides with a low, almost circular side part and tying it into "Sumo-inspired knot."

One strand was left out to give the look a soft movement.

Rodriguez' shoes are already a must have among the fashion set - this is a man who put Loewe back on the map, after all - and the round-toed, shallow-cut heels he showed this season will surely become uptown sidewalk and red carpet staples.

Narciso Roriguez Fashion