Robert Rodriguez: Contemporary Clothes With Evening's Edge
Robert Rodriguez created a buzz after his contemporary designer line debuted last year at Fashion Coterie in New York, securing a spot on the racks of influential stores such as Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman, Ron Herman–Fred Segal Melrose and Lisa Kline. Rodriguez increased production for his Fall 2005 collection, offering three times the number of styles as the previous season in response to the demand.
The collection’s clean silhouettes with sparkly surface interest give nod to Rodriguez’s background as a designer for Christian Dior eveningwear and as design director for Laundry by Shelli Segal.
“I have incorporated the type of embellishment that I did for evening into daywear,” Rodriguez said. “There are no rules. You can wear a beaded top with a pair of jeans and a T-shirt.”
Sales representative Carrie Lawrence said shortly after the delivery of the Spring 2005 items, stores were already calling to reorder the designer’s sunny jersey tops with beaded detailing. In addition, Bergdorf Goodman ordered a group of 15 styles designed exclusively for the store.
Rodriguez is speechless yet happily surprised about the sudden success and gives much credit to his business partner, Nicola Guarna, who originally approached Rodriguez with the idea of launching his own line.
The Fall 2005 line, inspired by equestrian and Victorian styles, uses menswear fabrications such as wool, tweed, herringbone and felt in black, gray, brown and berry. Rodriguez focused more on fabrics and shapes this season as opposed to heavy embellishment. He added cropped jackets and sweaters to add texture to the collection.
Wholesale price points for Fall 2005 range from $75 for a T-shirt sprinkled with beading to $350 for jackets.
Though the designer is originally from New York, he said Los Angeles has provided more fruitful ground for finding his muse.
“I am much more inspired in Los Angeles because women are more eclectic in what they are wearing,” he said. “I love shopping the vintage stores or sitting at a cafeacute; and watching women pass by to see the way they mix their tops and bottoms.”
For more information, contact the 10 Elevenshowroom, located in suite 1011 of The New Mart, at (213) 627-1641.
—Rhea Cortado
