Narciso Rodriguez (1961-Present)
Introduction/Biography
(mbfashionweek)
“I think a woman in a sexy black dress is amazing or the way black can outline or come together with white to create a very graphic figure is interesting. To see how it shapes a woman's body. To my eye it always looks very cool.”
- Narciso Rodriguez
Narciso Rodriguez, a son of Cuban-American family was born in 1961 in New Jersey. He grew up in a Cuban society and in a lower class of New Jersey. Growing up Narciso Rodriguez wanted a career in fashion design but his parent was not supportive. Even though fashion design was not something his parent hoped for, Narciso Rodriguez still attended the famous Parson’s School of Design in New York. After graduating, he began his career at Anne Klein as a designer. Not long after that he began working for Calvin Klein and designs the coat collection and fur line. He then became the design director for many companies such as Tse and Cerruti. At Tse, Narciso introduced his ready to wear collection for both men and women in New York. While at Cerruti in Paris, he presented to bias-cut sheath wedding dress worn by John Kennedy, Jr.’s wife, Carolyn Bessette, on her wedding. It was at Cerruti in Paris where Narciso Rodriguez has gained worldwide recognition.
In his early year, Narciso was inspired by life on the street. Many of his designs are clean, tailored, and feminine. While designing Narciso Rodriguez thinks about the form of modern women. “For Rodriguez, the modern requirement of fashion design is the creation of wearable, functional collections that communicate precision and strength, yet with a subtle femininity” (Palomo-Lovinski 158). Narciso Rodriguez found a new way to express feminine in his designs. By creating architectural geometry figure, he uses the ideas of lines, shapes, colors and forms. The same way an architect would approach a building design, he borrowed the same idea for his garments.
Designs
Critical Analysis
Unlike many designers, Narciso Rodriguez sees the history of fashion as no longer relevant. Narciso Rodriguez was known as a modernist and minimalist designer, Rodriguez and a few other designers has defined “the new women of the era by creating clothing that did not rely on historical references” (Palomo-Lovinski 138). Instead, he based his designs on a minimalistic framework but played with many details using positive space, negative space, and graphic details. With this new idea, Narciso wants to bring a new modernist perspective into the 21st century. Rodriguez reflects the zeitgeist or the spirit of the time by being one of the modernist designers and based his design on the influences of the 20th century. “Modernism embraced technology and reflected a desire to eliminate extraneous decoration or ornament, and reorder the world under a universal system of rational thought” (Palomo-Lovinski 138).
Narciso Rodriguez was greatly influenced by Cristobal Balenciaga, Andre Courreges, and Claire McCardell. Similar to Cristobal Balenciaga, in Rodriguez’s designs he wishes to reduce the decoration on garment to make his designs more modern and easy to wear. Andre Courreges based his design on the future; he uses geometric shapes, sharp lines and no ornament. In Rodriguez Fall 2006 collection, he applied the architectural geometry to suggest futuristic precision inspired by Andre Courreges designs in the 1960s. Claire McCardell continues to “reduce the amount of decoration on her clothing, partly because of wartime fabric restrictions, but more importantly as a way to make the clothing more wearable” (Palomo-Lovinski 159). Rodriguez has learned this important lesson from Claire McCardell, and based his designs on simplicity and wearable.
Narciso Rodriguez is an icon because his designs are very clean and simple and it is something any women can feel great in. “Narciso Rodriguez creates collection that helps women look their best and function in their everyday lives. This seems like a simple idea, but it is an ever-present challenge, because simplicity is often the hardest to achieve. The result is a loyal following of women, helping to establish Rodriguez as an important and influential name in fashion” (Palomo-Lovinski 158).
Narciso Rodriguez was greatly influenced by Cristobal Balenciaga, Andre Courreges, and Claire McCardell. Similar to Cristobal Balenciaga, in Rodriguez’s designs he wishes to reduce the decoration on garment to make his designs more modern and easy to wear. Andre Courreges based his design on the future; he uses geometric shapes, sharp lines and no ornament. In Rodriguez Fall 2006 collection, he applied the architectural geometry to suggest futuristic precision inspired by Andre Courreges designs in the 1960s. Claire McCardell continues to “reduce the amount of decoration on her clothing, partly because of wartime fabric restrictions, but more importantly as a way to make the clothing more wearable” (Palomo-Lovinski 159). Rodriguez has learned this important lesson from Claire McCardell, and based his designs on simplicity and wearable.
Narciso Rodriguez is an icon because his designs are very clean and simple and it is something any women can feel great in. “Narciso Rodriguez creates collection that helps women look their best and function in their everyday lives. This seems like a simple idea, but it is an ever-present challenge, because simplicity is often the hardest to achieve. The result is a loyal following of women, helping to establish Rodriguez as an important and influential name in fashion” (Palomo-Lovinski 158).
Analysis of Future Trends
(Stylesight)
“Rodriguez uses color, shape and form to allow for multiple body types” (Palomo-Lovinski 159). With his ideas, Rodriguez influences a significant trend that will continue into the future and inspires many younger generation. Rodriguez inspired a significant amount of designers including Michael Kors, Antonio Berardi, and Prabal Gurung. In Michael Kors collection designs, he uses bold colors to shape a women’s figure. Michael Kors ideas were similar to Rodriguez ideas of wearable clothing simplicity. Antonio Berardi’s Spring 2010 collection was also inspired by Rodriguez use of bold colors and graphic shapes. “Gurung Fall 2010 collection combines a favorite color palette of Rodriguez with a sensible approach to fashion that is feminine, but also exudes power and strength” (Palomo-Lovinski 159).
Talking about the future, Narciso Rodriguez did create lasting influences that will continue into the future. Many of his design are clean and modern that even any women can wear 50 years from now.
Many of my garments do represent styles created or inspired by Narciso Rodriguez. I have many garments that are simple and clean. I can see many of my garments have geometric shapes and bold colors that could be inspired by Rodriguez. Also, they aren’t very decorative and it is something I feel very comfortable in.
Talking about the future, Narciso Rodriguez did create lasting influences that will continue into the future. Many of his design are clean and modern that even any women can wear 50 years from now.
Many of my garments do represent styles created or inspired by Narciso Rodriguez. I have many garments that are simple and clean. I can see many of my garments have geometric shapes and bold colors that could be inspired by Rodriguez. Also, they aren’t very decorative and it is something I feel very comfortable in.
Work Cited
"Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week." : NARCISO RODRIGUEZ. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 Dec. 2012. <http://www.mbfashionweek.com/designers/narciso_rodriguez/>.
"Narciso Rodriguez." - Fashion Designer. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 Dec. 2012. <http://www.fashionmodeldirectory.com/designers/narciso-rodriguez/>.
Palomo-Lovinski, Nöel. "Narciso Rodriguez." The World's Most Influential Fashion Designers: Hidden Connections and Lasting Legacies of Fashion's Iconic Creators. New York, NY: Barron's, 2010. 158-59. Print.
"Narciso Rodriguez." - Fashion Designer. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 Dec. 2012. <http://www.fashionmodeldirectory.com/designers/narciso-rodriguez/>.
Palomo-Lovinski, Nöel. "Narciso Rodriguez." The World's Most Influential Fashion Designers: Hidden Connections and Lasting Legacies of Fashion's Iconic Creators. New York, NY: Barron's, 2010. 158-59. Print.