Sexy clothes for the city

Thank goodness for Sex And The City. After a dull day on the celebrity front at the New York shows, television's most famous fashion addicts, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kim Cattrall, braved sub-zero temperatures to give the paparazzi just what the were looking for on the front row at Narciso Rodriguez's show.

But this was one collection worth watching on its own merits. Rodriguez has gathered a firm following on both sides of the Atlantic for his sexy pared-down clothes that are the epitome of refined luxury - and his show for next winter certainly did not disappoint.

The 41-year-old Hispanic designer, who made his name dressing the late Carolyn Bessette for her wedding to John F Kennedy Junior in 1996, stuck to a stark colour palette of mainly black and white. OK, it may have said pink, lavender, midnight and silver on the press handout, but even Sarah and Kim would have been hard pushed to spot the subtle colour nuances under the catwalk lights.

Slicing out delicate contrast shapes on his lean skirt suits and even leaner shift dresses, Rodriguez gave his latest designs an almost architectural sophistication, albeit one spiced up with suede or leather over-the-knee spike heel boots that are sure to be a must-have when they hit the shops next season.

Rodriguez persuaded Estonian supermodel Carmen Cass to make her first catwalk appearance of the season, luring her back from Los Angeles where she has been trying to forge a career in acting. But seeing her in Rodriguez's white floor-length matt silk jersey dress, it would almost seem a pity to lose her to the bright lights of Hollywood just yet.