Fashion Week Dispatch: FIDM's Emerging Artists (L.A.)

Though FIDM's Emerging Artists show lacked star power (OK, a buffed and brash Jaime Pressly did traipse the catwalk in friend Jenny Pyle's skimpy, paint-splattered bathing-suit looks), it was heavy on adept designs worthy of up-and-comers. The majority of looks were professional and diverse, from the pretty, Oscar de la Renta-like full skirt with graphic cutout detail by Emily Francisco, to Dena Burton's bold faux-fur, cowl-neck poncho recalling a sophisticated Julie Christie in "Dr. Zhivago." If nothing else, the show was a fine barometer of L.A.'s potential talent pool -- now if only they could find financial angels like P. Diddy (who's investing in Zac Posen).