It’s always fun to watch a new designer change and evolve from season to season. The Spring 2012 collections in New York introduced me to the work of Rolando Santana, and I was so impressed, I borrowed one of his sleek jumpsuits to wear during last October’s Prêt-à-Porter collections in Paris. As a result, I was very curious to see what Rolando had in store for Fall 2012.

The show captured the glitz and glamour of the 70’s. That’s not exactly a new concept; but the music of my generation is undeniably upbeat and fun, and so was this collection. Much of what came down the runway was black, with dynamic shots of red and gold. And while Rolando usually designs clothes for a younger set, I saw several pieces I would wear. While taking notes on looks for herself, a 26-year-old member of my editorial team turned to me and said, “that black pantsuit was made for you.” I think she’s right!

The designer, Rolando Santana, takes a bow at the end of his show

It was also great to see Rolando attracting a bigger audience and gaining that much more momentum. I’m glad I’ve gotten to know him now, and I feel lucky to have seen his work from the beginning–soon, he’ll be too famous!

Photographs by Stéphane Israël