Women's
The Eyes of Robert Rodriguez
Known for the exceptional tailoring and finishing he brings to his contemporary line, Robert Rodriguez has become an editorial and celebrity favorite. A graduate of the Fashion Institute of Technology, where he received the prestigious Critics Award for Best Designer of the Year, Rodriguez went on to create his eponymous collection. We caught up with the Angeleno at Neiman Marcus’ Fashion Rules party in Dallas, where Rodriguez showcased his Spring collection.
NM: Could you tell me about the Spring collection you are presenting today?
RR: Spring is really Seventies glam. I was inspired by the Seventies movie, The Eyes of Laura Mars, with Faye Dunaway. In the movie she plays a fashion photographer, and there are all these great, soft-focus fashion shoots and models. So the collection is flowy, breezy, and soft with a slight Moroccan influence. There are wide-leg pants and lots of white with gold accents and a pop of color that I call ocean, which is a vivid cerulean blue, and bright orange against a mostly neutral palette of camel, white, and black.
Robert Rodriguez
NM: You have mentioned that you were inspired by Dior. How has that influence found its way into your contemporary collections?
RR: I actually worked for Dior in New York. That’s where I developed the appreciation of quality and couture that I incorporate into my own work. I like to add couture touches to my collections – the tailoring, finishing, treatments, and embellishments in my collections are all couture driven. You can see the handwork.
NM: How did you decide to do a contemporary line?
RR: I love to bring this idea of quality to contemporary. I went into contemporary at a time when the market was changing and young girls were dressing up more, were more fashion savvy, and wanted more fashion. And that’s what I try to do.
NM: Where are you based?
RR: I lived for 25 years in New York but I’ve spent the last 11 in Los Angeles. I love New York, but the weather is so much better in LA. I have a showroom in New York, but I was lucky and basically took over Richard Tyler’s crew, so I have great pattern makers and designers.
NM: Do you have any projects for the future?
RR: It’s all still in talks, but we would like to do shoes, handbags, broaden accessories.
NM: Could you explain who the Robert Rodriguez woman is?
RR: She’s a fashionista for sure. She’s young and strong, fit, not afraid to be herself, and sophisticated. She’s really the cool girl who wants to wear what’s next and is always looking for the next thing. So every season is a new collection that makes a new statement—it’s always fresh. My pieces can go uptown or downtown. I’ve seen them blinged up and I’ve seen them casual. It’s all about style and adding something personal.
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Robert Rodriguez
