Red Carpet Contender

Luxury power players, like Chanel, Gucci, and Versace, dominate celebrity red-carpet dressing. But newcomer Vicente Villarin, founded by 27-year-old designer Joanne Cordero Reyes, is poised to challenge the establishment with its incredibly focused line of sumptuous, paparazzi-friendly pieces.

A child prodigy, Reyes started making garments for her mother's bridal shop clientele at age 11. During her junior year stint at Parsons the New School for Design in Paris, she worked with eccentric couturier Ji Haye, and upon graduation from the school's New York campus, she immediately began designing for J. Mendel. Next, Reyes moved on to an engagement with red-carpet darling Monique Lhuillier. In 2007, Reyes debuted her uber-feminine Vicente Villarin collection for s/s '08, which included charming silk cocktails dresses and layered, lightweight chiffon frocks with random perforations.

Rich fabrications marked Reyes' a/w '08–'09 collection. There were blousons with sable fur inserts, sleeveless tops with twisted chiffon fabrics, high-waisted skirts in tencil, and cinched-waist cocktail dresses. Considering Reyes' impressive dress-making pedigree and undeniable construction skills, it's no surprise that the demand for Vicente Villarin is growing. The line's representatives have been busy fielding calls from celebrity stylists and special order requests, and an early fan, Christina Ricci, plans to wear a Vicente Villarin dress soon.

—Robert Cordero