Narciso Rodriguez is known less for engineering trends than crafting beautifully finished pieces, but that's not to say that he is in any way behind the times. His work may be polished, but it's thoroughly modern - after all, he was the pioneer of the now-ubiquitous second-skin scuba sheath. For his latest showing, Rodriguez emphasized cut and draping, lending his mastery to silk wrap blouses, pale jacquard slips, and sharp-shouldered leather jackets. The tightly edited collection may have been a bit more conservative than previous exhibitions, but pre-fall is traditionally geared to sell safely, most often at the cost of creative inspiration. In any case, there will always be a demand for the precision and quality for which Rodriguez is famous.