DALLAS, Sep 21, 2005/ FW/ --- Voted by Time Magazine as one of the 100 Most Influential Hispanics in the U.S., Narciso Rodriguez welded his authority in fashion with a minimalist Spring / Summer 2006 collection with simple silhouettes that belie their intricate construction.

Keeping within the trends of ‘back to sanity in fashion’ and the neutral color palettes that has dominated the New York season, Narciso Rodriguez chose not use embellishments and very few accessories allowing the sartorial elegance shine through.

Black and white pantsuit sets with demi-Nehru jackets, loose-fitting Capri-length pants paired with mini-sleeves tunics and square-neck ankle-length frocks that are breezy and perfect for the warm summer months.

It was cut to perfection and though Rodriguez did not break new grounds in fashion this season, he broke grounds with his eponymous label by introducing a capsule menswear collection.

The claim that the Cuban-American designer is expanding his market base is very true. Going from strength to strength every season, it is actually the logical path that he should take.

After all, menswear is fertile ground especially in New York where menswear designers seem to be a vanishing breed.

Except for John Varvatos who had decided to show his menswear collection once again in New York and newcomer Tomer who debuted under the tents this season, most of the hard hitting designers for men like Ralph Lauren and Calvin Klein had moved to Milan.

So, Rodriguez’s foray to menswear is a very welcome move!

Narciso Rodriguez

Narciso Rodriguez

Narciso Rodriguez

Narciso Rodriguez