“It is a great honor to have been chosen by Mercedes-Benz as their Presents designer,” said Rodriguez, who is returning to the tents of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week for a second season. “We are both dedicated to innovation in design and the highest level of quality.” Rodriguez joins a distinguished list of past winners including Monique Lhuillier, Badgley Mischka, Yigal Azrouël, Red Carter and CHADO Ralph Rucci.
“Narciso Rodriquez is a perfect choice to be the Mercedes-Benz Presents designer as his clothes are designed and executed with the same precision, structure and attention to detail as a Mercedes-Benz,” said Fern Mallis, SVP of IMG Fashion.
Mercedes-Benz made its selection for this season’s “Presents” designer based on Rodriguez’s classic yet modern collections that reflect a sleek and structured approach. “The spring 2010 Collection was greatly influenced by the sculpture of Barbara Hepworth,” added Rodriguez. “The three dimensional and graphic shapes that are her work became a constant source of inspiration while I sketched and created the coming season.”First Lady Michelle Obama, a style icon, garnered a great deal of attention, good and bad, about the black and red embroidered silk and satin dress that she wore that evening. Rodriguez tweaked the dress which came from his Spring/Summer 2009 runway collection by removing the sheer strips, altering the low-cut neckline and extending the short hem. The sheer straps were replaced with solid black fabric and a cardigan and the latter two with black side panels and a scoop neck. –yvette caslin
