Clothing designer Edoardo Rocha opened his boutique at Sollano #84 last night.

Being 100% engineer, I’d rather visit a hardware store. But Edoardo is a good friend, which is enough to get me to come look at a collection of fashions instead of a bunch of socket wrenches.

My idea of proper clothing is jeans and a tee shirt. Nevertheless I find myself taken with the color and style of his designs and with the sophistication and elegance of his boutique.

Given that Edoardo is newly transplanted from Mexico City, the large turnout is most gratifying. Guests lose no time digging into the collection, enthusiastically trying things on.

Edoardo helps a patron with a hat, adroitly following the salesman’s dictum: “Get the product into the customer’s hands.” Or in this case, onto their bodies.

The collection includes designs for men. My friend Michael Gibney models a shirt you won’t find at Wal-Mart.

The collection faces competition from clothing worn by the guests. This is a creative, artistic crowd. Near as I can tell, Edoardo’s designs are up to the challenge.

I wish I could comment knowledgeably about the clothing I saw, but let’s face it—I’m hopeless. This is not to say I am without a powerful interest in Edoardo’s boutique. Laura tells everyone that she WILL be shopping here.

Well, OK.