I had to say hi to the gentleman in the magical skirt and tie waiting to see the Bradley Bayou show at Smashbox on Wednesday night. His name is Merlin and he's not a wizard, he's a fashion designer from Honduras. He flew in specially, as he plans on showing at LA Fashion Week next season. So far, so bad, he says. "The fabrics have been terrible," he lamented.
Posted by Caroline Ryder
So there I was, standing with intrepid photographer Michael Powers after the pretty unimpressive Iron show (lots of asymmetrical jersey, lots of lipgloss), discussing how the L.A. fashion aesthetic can veer dangerously close to porn, and suddenly I saw two blondes who looked exactly like the models in the Iron show. But why were they causing such a commotion? "Oh my god, it's Mike Tyson!" I said, after recognizing his Maori-esqe facial tattoo. And suddenly the room came alive. Lights, camera, action! It was a genuine household name! At LA fashion week! Never mind that ugly tattoo and mouth full of gold teeth, he was once a champion! I asked him who his favorite fashion designer was and he looked at me blankly, but then he pulled this name out of his brain: "Gianni Versace." Then he and his two girlfriends were escorted into the show. I almost pitied the fool.
posted by Steffie
I'm trying not to be sullied by my check-in experience at Meghan Fabulous's show just now. Apparently, Meghan has no love for the LA Weekly. After confirming my seat last week, I arrived to find that somehow my name hadn't made it on to the list. After pulling what was close to a "do-you-know-who-I-am" bit, I was escorted in and told to take a seat...but NOT in the first two rows, ouch. I have been spoiled so far...
That said, I really enjoyed the show, and glad I bitched a bit to get in. From what I saw the theme was "sophisticated groupie" (think polished Courtney Love) though Meghan calls it "50s bombshell and "a bit of her high school days" (I'm guessing the cropped plaid shorts and sweatshirts?).
Gwen Stefani's harajuku girl ode kicked off the music and the sassy brunette model danced her way down the catwalk to "this my shit, this my shit." Next was Trent Reznor's "I want to fuck you like an animal." Most of the models bopped and danced as they catwalked it but Janice Dickinson, 70s supermodel took careful steps down the runway. She wouldn't want to dislocate a hip or anything...
I LOVED the satin baby doll dresses tied with big sashes (though one was really wrinkled)...
It was sexy, and leggy, what more could a girl ask for?
Posted by Linda Immediato
Sue Wong, the west coast Vera Wang, followed the siren trend at yesterday's show, the theme of which was "Enchantress," featuring flamenco style dresses, flapper beaded numbers (the most exciting of the bunch), and a few not-very-sexy Victorian lace dresses. (Wasn't that era known for sexual repression?) After a flashy entrance from what looked like a Vegas showgirl, the epic show was told in five parts: bohemian chic (these dresses were cool, Pucci-like); jazzy flappers (also cool); flamenco dancers; romantic Victorian ladies complete with parasols, and a finale of bridal gowns (yawn). To be honest this attempt at a more New York-y high fashion show was booooooring. I couldn't help but think wonder who Sue Wong designs for? Then I saw a gaggle of soap opera stars, oh and Tara Lipinski, the ice skater, do I really need to say anymore?
Posted by Linda Immediato
Ever wondered what it's like to be so famous that designers just want to give you free stuff all the time? Sure ya have...
Yes, it's a great injustice that those who can afford designer wear are the ones who don't usually have to pay for it, but life aint fair, especially when it comes to style and fashion: sexy shoes hurt like hell, gleaming dye jobs grow ugly roots, and makeup that actually lasts all day is a bitch to get off at night...
Anyway, we got to see how celeb chix live on Tuesday at Rock & Republic's in-studio "gifting suite" where hundreds and hundreds of jeans hung from racks and beckoned us like anxious orphans to take them home and love and mold (to our butt).
And when we say mold, we really do mean mold... R&R's demin is made from this new 4-way stretch Lycra that "responds to your curves for a custom-like fit."
We picked out some hot styles (most of which have matching R's on each back cheek pocket) and made our way to the dressing rooms where two super-skinny Access Hollywood hosts were modeling their picks, and trying to decide which they liked best with the help of R&R's (male) celebrity stylist/fit expert.
Of course, there was only one mirror which meant we had to share our size 9 booty (not quite "licious") bod with the zeros... Stilll, the jeans were actually so flattering, we felt no shame (insert arm wave, finger snap and the lil vixen on our shoulder sayin': "You go girl" right about here).
While they wrapped up our chosen pair (medium rise dark denims with red stitching) we decided to hang out for a while. After all, there was a great soundtrack courtesy of DJ Hapa (coinicidentally, the dude who taught us wax skillz at the Scratch DJ Academy), snacks and coffee drinks from the new Anti-Starbucks, It's A Grind and more pampering and freebies to be had...
Tami and Britt, two cool stylists from Prive Salon, gave us a sample of the do's they'll be creating for the models at the R&R runway show: big, wavy bed-head hair. (See a full report on the show tomorrow), and Ona Spa rubbed our hands with some sweet smelly stuff that kept our fingers fragrant the whole night. Mmmmm....
We could get used to this kinda life, that's for sure, especially during frantic Fashion Week. We seriously didn't want to leave this day of diva-dom, which just begs for a Stones song reference (something we've never been able to resist): "It's only Rock & Republic, but we like it."
Posted by Lina Lecaro
Tuesday Night's main event was such a producer's nightmare I almost* wanted to volunteer to help. Due to a major communication breakdown, the headsetted flacks had opened the doors to the masses before seating had been assigned. Thus, ambitious nobodies could assert their right to sit front and center among the mostly C and D listers until they were shipped back to Siberia. Interestingly, the fascist fashion hierarchy is apparently so iron-clad that most of the folks who knew they were nobodies humbly filed into the back rows. Yours truly, of course, sat front row near Angela Bassett and Diana Ross' daughter, Chudney, who was being photographed every five seconds.
Being right up front was a good thing, because there was a lot to see. The above pic is a relatively modest ensemble from a collection that reveled in bare breasts and butt cheeks. There was one pair of shorts that literally consisted of pockets hanging off a denim thong. "If only girls would actually wear that," said Andrew Gallery, a denim designer and video director who was like a walking issue of Us magazine. "That's Brandon Phillips, he's famous for being a billionaire...and that's the girl who won the first America's Next Top Model, with Peter Brady. They're going out, and they have some new trainwreck reality show."
Here's Andrew with a girl who is neither Paris Hilton nor Kimberly Stewart, but Alex Petrou. I wouldn't call Antik's clothes high fashion - they're high-end denim, encrusted with crystals and intricately embroidered and distressed - but they know how to put on a show. The girls stomped down the runway, wild manes of hair cascading down their backs, and the guys, some of whom had been adorned with beautiful feather mohawks, just seemed happy to be there. The vague cowboys and Indians theme was especially apparent in pieces like these red leather stars and stripes chaps (buttless, as if you didn't know that). For the grand finale, a tribe of painted savages rolled out a mechanical bull, which a young hottie in the teeniest of tops then rode like an expert. "Paid. In. Full." pronounded Andrew. Backstage, the model revealed that she acquired her skills at Union Cattle Company on Hermosa. Field trip, anyone?
Posted by Steffie
Danny Masterson and Bijou Philips chill at the Ashley Paige after party in the VIP lounge.
Bonnie McKee and Kate Perry, rival singers make nice. I tell Kate she looks like Zoe Deschanel. "My ex-boyfriend is dating her, I guess he has a 'type' it's kind of a sore subject," she explains.
I score a VIP bracelet from these guys...
Posted by Linda Immediato
Check out tomorrow's LA WEEKLY for a full run down on the Ashley Paige show, in the meantime, here are some sneak preview pictures... The inspiration: Easy Rider and 70s rock chick:
The manifestation: The make-up was done by DuWop Cosmetics,
a blush and eyeshadow duo were created especially for the look of Ashley Paige's show, described as "rebellious surfer girl goes camping in Topanga..."
I chatted with Laura De Luisa and Cristina Bartolucci (owners of DuWop cosmetics) backstage, and asked them where the named DuWop comes from. "you want the official or the unofficial answer?" asked Laura. "Unofficial first," I begged. "I don't know if you can say this, but du means two in Italian and, well, we're both Italian," Laura said a bit sheepishly. "Oh, I can say wop, my last name is Immediato, as Italian as they come." And we three wops had a chuckle...
The models line up for run-through:
Ashley Paige flashes her bling bling grill:
The models strutted to AC/DC, remixed Zeppelin, and from the toe-tapping crowd, a whole lotta love:
Posted by Linda Immediato
Teased locks were adorned with seashells and starfish, netting peaked from below skirts and behind bustiers, and haunting music propelled the mermaid-like models down the runway at Deborah Lindquist's show yesterday at Smashbox Studios.
A fashion week pattern is emerging, we've seen enchantresses, sirens, and mermaids, it seems Spring 2006 is all about shipwrecking men with beauty.
Is it me or do the models keep getting younger and younger...?
This little mermaid brought plenty of attitude to her catwalk.
Posted by Linda Immediato
Silvia (L) and Suzana (from Romania and Croatia, respectively) were sharing a smoke outside the Buffalo dressing room. According to Silvia, L.A. Fashion Week is much more relaxed than New York's. "It's more commercial here," she said, adding that in New York, models get paid in clothes. "I'd rather get paid in money."
The theme of Buffalo's show was "Dressed to Kill," but the Bond girl hair and makeup seemed a bit at odds with the beachy denim, flowy chiffon tanks, festive tiered skirts, and beribboned ankle boots.
Actress Bree Turner, whose friends styled the show, holds up one of Buffalo's fat goodie bags. Bree will appear this spring in "Just My Luck," alongside Lindsay Lohan. The local girl also starred in the cancelled TV series Good Girls Don't, which has become an unexpected hit in England. "Evidently we're huge on the BBC," she said. "In L.A. I'm just a nobody."
posted by Steffie
