BEAUTY

If this Narciso perfume bottle could talk....

Okay, so you’re thinking that Rodriguez named me after himself because this project is all about him. Yes, I’m a nod to his name—but also to his grandfather and father, after whom he is named. I’ll let him explain: “Growing up, this name was a burden. We were this Latino family who moved into a suburb where there were only kids with blond hair

and green eyes. It was really tough to go to school with a name like mine because no one could pronounce it. I had always wanted to be called ‘Thomas.’ It wasn’t until I started coming to New York to attend Parsons [the New School for Design] and people

in clubs would ask me what my name was before I changed it to Narciso. That’s when I thought ‘Hmm, maybe this is a good thing!’” Can you imagine wear

ing a scent called Thomas? (Oops! His husband’s name is Thomas Tolan, so never

say never.) ■