There were no unnecessary frills at Narciso Rodriguez, whose black and white collection relied on the strength of his precise cut, layered silhouettes and subtle beading. Grecian-inspired bias jersey dresses and tops looked refined and sexy, as did his ultra-thin mohair sweaters worn over gauze tops and sleek cotton trousers. Rodriguez artfully played with a variety of transparencies and forms to create an ethereal effect: Dresses were worn over each other, and beaded cashmere gowns were paired with bias slips. But there was also an edgier side to Rodriguez s show: Leather trenches, a dress decorated with staples and a few candy-colored tops confirmed that Rodriguez can successfully address his customers needs for sophisticated dressing, while indulging their tough-girl chic cravings.
