Narciso Rodriguez, who was born in New Jersey to Cuban-American parents, draws on his Latino roots to infuse his designs with a unique sense of color and vivacity. His bold combination of shapes and colors mixed with luxurious fabrics create a contemporary femininity that is more strong silhouettes and clean lines than girly frills and dated pastels.
After graduating from Parsons School of Design, Rodriguez was offered a job assisting Donna Karan at Anne Klein. He then moved on and continued designing women’s wear at Calvin Klein. After receiving backing from Aeffe he was ready to present his first ready-to-wear show in 1997. It was a huge hit immediately, but he was launched to the next level when Carolyn Bessette insisted Rodriguez make the dress for her wedding to John F. Kennedy Jr.
In 2003, Rodriguez became the only designer to ever receive back-to-back CFDA Awards for outstanding achievement in fashion. He also holds a Vogue/ VH1 Fashion Rocks award for best designer. In 2005, Time magazine named him one of the 25 most powerful Hispanics in America.
In addition to his own line, Rodriguez also is also the head designer for Loewe, a Spanish couture label owned by Louis Vuitton Moet Hennisey (LVMH). Celebrities than don his styles are Sarah Jessica Parker, Rachel Weisz, Scarlett Johannson, Jennifer Lopez, Oprah Winfrey and Amanda Bynes.
