March 21, 2005

Fashion Week Dispatch: Louis Verdad (L.A.)

Although Louis Verdad claimed Frida Kahlo as a muse for his fall collection shown on Sunday (a rousing finale to Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week), the designer didn’t stray too far from his signature ’40s silhouette and menswear-inspired suiting. Kahlo’s vividly colored aesthetic was evident in a satiny, turquoise, tunic-like top and a rich, burgundy dress with sheer ruffled layers (not to mention the models’ bold, defined makeup), but they were balanced by wool pants and tweed jackets in light charcoals and chocolates. Rachel Griffiths, Anna Wintour, Garcelle Beauvais and L.A.’s fash pack crowded the front row to support one of the city’s designing darlings. And by the time the last model sashayed down the runway, even the usually poker-faced Wintour couldn’t help but grin.

March 21, 2005 at 08:39 PM in FASHION WEEK: LOS ANGELES | Permalink | Comments (1)

Fashion Week Dispatch: Michelle Mason (L.A.)

There was still one day of shows left, but Michelle Mason unofficially claimed closing night festivities to fashion week Saturday night with a bash after her runway presentation. Vince Vaughn, Roselyn Sanchez and Paris Hilton (who, as always, appeared surgically attached to her cell phone), as well as L.A. fashion week pioneers IMG's Fern Mallis and Smashbox's Factor brothers, all showed up at the BevHilton, where sponsor Gran Centenario poured endless cocktails and guests left with a beautiful geometric-print scarf made exclusively for Mason by the hotel. Earlier in the day, the designer sent out a collection for her bridge line, Mason, that was so refined show-goers wondered if it was for her signature label. Highlights included a deep violet handkerchief dress worthy of any starlet, and a bright blue tie-neck blouse under a gray suit with knickers.

March 21, 2005 at 08:38 PM in FASHION WEEK: LOS ANGELES | Permalink | Comments (0)

Fashion Week Dispatch: Jenni Kayne (L.A.)

Kayne's fall collection belied her young years (she's in her early 20s) and delivered the most celeb wattage at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at Smashbox Studios yet. With Ione Skye, Carolyn Murphy and Jewel in the front row Friday night, models sashayed down the runway in Kayne's contrast of Victorian-style velvet blazers and military jackets paired with '20s-era, boudoir-ish silk skirts and cropped, loose pants. The most daring aspect of the collection was the palette of navy and black (a combination usually considered a fashion no-no), chocolate, cream and purple. Bead-encrusted flowing skirts, tops and a floor-length dress are sure to sparkle on the red carpet.

March 21, 2005 at 12:05 AM in FASHION WEEK: LOS ANGELES | Permalink | Comments (0)

Fashion Week Dispatch: Grey Ant (L.A.)

Grant Jarecki knows how to put on a show. First, he had drag-queen impersonators (Cher, Divine, Michael Jackson) in the front row. Then he broke up his show into three segments with a skit homage to teen horror flicks, Solid Gold dancers and ghetto hoochies from an '80s-era rap video gyrating in guests' faces. And the clothes were actually as fun and wearable, especially the high-waisted light and dark jeans (more authentically vintage than the famous Chloes of a few seasons back), '80s-style sweatshirt minidresses and groovy, roller-boogie leggings with swirls of metallic fabric. Get out the skates!

March 21, 2005 at 12:04 AM in FASHION WEEK: LOS ANGELES | Permalink | Comments (1)

March 19, 2005

Fashion Week Dispatch: Carlos Rosario (L.A.)

There's a new fashion force in L.A. and his name is Carlos Rosario. Who else could boast having Vogue ed-in-chief Anna Wintour (who's in town for Sunday's Rodeo Drive Walk of Style event) in the front row of his very first showing at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week? Rosario gave fashion purveyors something to talk about Friday afternoon, with sharply-tailored suits, some with exposed darts, others with English riding coat-like tails. There were lots of asymmetric wool sweater dresses, slinky silk gowns straight out of “The Matrix,” and a few smart sheaths, one beaded in a pattern of women's faces, and another simple, cream-colored silk dress with red spirals and folded cap sleeves, perfect for a premiere. Stay tuned for more ...

March 19, 2005 at 12:05 AM in FASHION WEEK: LOS ANGELES | Permalink | Comments (7)

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).

March 19, 2005 at 12:03 AM in FASHION WEEK: LOS ANGELES | Permalink | Comments (0)

Fashion Week Dispatch: Juan Carlos Obando (L.A.)

It was at times derivative of Tom Ford-era Gucci and the Proenza Schouler boys, but Juan Carlos Obando delivered some of the slickest, sexiest legging-style pants made out of stretch silk, some of which featured ties around the ankles. Other winners were the empire-waist, belted swing coats in cream, chocolate and hunter green canvas, and a silky, ruched, long-sleeved halter blouse with piping detail. Very sssexy.

March 19, 2005 at 12:02 AM in FASHION WEEK: LOS ANGELES | Permalink | Comments (1)

Fashion Week Dispatch: Magda Berliner (L.A.)

Berliner stuck to what she does best: reworking and mixing vintage lace -- Victorian, doily, eyelet, etc. -- with disparate materials such as chain maille and deer hide to create haunting, though delicate, dresses. Standouts included a long vest made from what appeared to be a South American blanket and a cream-colored leather jacket over a slip of a beaded, Deco-like dress.

March 19, 2005 at 12:01 AM in FASHION WEEK: LOS ANGELES | Permalink | Comments (0)

March 18, 2005

Fashion Week Dispatch: Pegah Anvarian (L.A.)

Buzzworthy designer Pegah Anvarian injected a good dose of sexy to the first day of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at Smashbox Studios Wednesday night. L.A.’s fashionable crowd were treated to a barrage of her reliably slinky looks for fall, like cashmere-jersey draped dresses, this time with Rami Kashou-esque braided flourishes. But they also saw sharply cut, tailored pieces, including a sleeveless houndstooth trench-style coat and cuffed menswear-inspired tweed pants. Anvarian said she was inspired by New York in wintertime, and it showed in her palette of soft plum, gray, cream and classic black. Starlets — like Claire Forlani, who was in the front row — will love the mini Grecian-style dresses that Natalie Portman made so current at the Oscars. Stay tuned for more ...

March 18, 2005 at 12:03 AM in FASHION WEEK: LOS ANGELES | Permalink | Comments (0)

March 16, 2005

Fashion Week Dispatch: Pret a PSP (L.A.)

Sony’s entry into L.A. fashion week, Monday's "Pret a PSP" show for the much-anticipated PlayStation Portable, drew a motley crew of guests and a very honest Michael Vartan: "Apparently if you come to these events and you're lucky enough to be on television, you get a PlayStation Portable for free." Okay, so he wasn’t there to see PSP accessories like Marc Jacobs’ leather clutches or Diane von Furstenberg’s leopard-print bags. But he and other goers -- including Courteney Cox, Jessica Alba, the Duff sisters and Paul Rudd -- got something else for free that they weren’t expecting. Bijou Phillips, modeling for the night, experienced an unfortunate wardrobe malfunction, revealing boobage to all. Follow that with supermodel Alek Wek's ugly tumble, and you’ve got one heck (or wreck?) of a show. Hopefully the Mercedes-Benz at Smashbox shows will be just as entertaining. Stay tuned for more ...

March 16, 2005 at 12:03 AM in FASHION WEEK: LOS ANGELES | Permalink | Comments (0)