MB Fashion Week: Day 3: Christian Audigier

As if purchasing a billboard size poster of his portrait hanging on a building 2 blocks from Smashbox Studios was not outlandish enough, Christian Audigier's runway was covered in astro-turf most in an attempt to resemble a stroll in rockstar fantasy land perhaps. In a word...tacky. More descriptive would be if Slash and High School Musical were to have a child, that child would resemble this show. Models would walk out in over-the-top looks with neon green top-hats, huge American flags, or real English dogs on leashes. While the use of the red plaid was kind of fun and edgy, it was overdone in that every ensemble used the same plaid material. It is no wonder that LA Fashion Week does not receive the same media attention that the others do, this designer was actually permitted to show two collections this week. The only piece that was marketable for me was a black hoodie that was covered in sequins. Mostly, it was just plaid for the whole collection...moving on!

MB Fashion Week: Day 3: Crispin & Basilio- Fifth Row

In a slightly more personal venue at Smashbox Studios, Donny Barrios- the master mind behind Crispin & Basilio- presented his collection which he considered "innately Californian". I found it to be modern and fresh, while retaining a classic glamour but to be honest, it might even be too good for LA. Barrios really understands a traditional woman's body and a modern woman's needs as most most of us gals in this consumer conscious economy are looking for pieces that can transition from day to night with very little effort. Comfort is a must because really you are less likely to wear something that you know you are going to have to endure all day- even if it is cute- Pain and Beauty are no longer walking hand in hand like they used to- they are more like friends by association. Barrios materials were flattering and appear to be soft to the touch. I was not even bothered by the more simple color palette because the versatility of the separates- you can really mix and match! Barrios line has one very unique characteristic that you don't usually find in other LA designers- it can be worn by a variety of women. The fresh look is as age appropriate for the mature 22-year old student as a hip 35-year-old business woman, a fact that makes Crispin & Basilio a remarkably relevant brand for the times. Kudos Donny!

MB Fashion Week- Day 2: Maggie Barry

Most of the shows in Fashion Week have an identical format, models walking up and down the runway one at a time, showing off each part of the collection. Every now and again you will have two models walking down at once, or maybe there will be a performance at the beginning of the show (ie an opera singer for Julia Clancey or a dance piece to Kanye West for Christian Audigier), but for the most part, the clothing is the most exciting part of the show. But for the Maggie Barry show, costume type collections were accompanied by circus performers, expert hula hoopers, belly dancers, violin artists and a sultry-Enrique Iglesias-type flamenco dancer (do I have your attention yet). The show started, in true Maggie Barry fashion, with 2 female ringmasters- a little person and a fully decked out Dita-Von-Tese type- in matching attire to introduce the show. Not only did the talent perform, but they were the models alongside a few real models. The collections consisted of costume type outfits, some cheap, but some really beautifully constructed. A favorite for me was a yellow puffy skirt with an amazingly detailed white top and paired with little white ruffle socks and ivory shoes, very porcelain doll. My gush moment: seeing Jeffrey Sebelia- winner of Project Runway Season 3 and designer for Cosa Nostra, watching girlfriend Cassandra Church model my favorite piece from the show. Some of the ensembles left their classiness (and half of their material) at the door, however because of the nature of the circus theme, you are more forgiving of some"freak show" pieces walking down the runway! To say the least, it was a memorable moment for the week.

MB Fashion Week- Behind the Scenes of Julia Clancey's show

I can honestly say that my first experience working with Julia Clancey, a designer who showed at LA fashion week, was a unique experience... in a Devil Wears Prada sort of way. While it was not only my idea but my pleasure to help Julia pro bono for the day of the show, she had called me in to help her every day for 2 weeks without any sort of stipend for gas, time dedicated (sometimes upward of 10 hour days that I put in), etc. I was put in charge of lists, seating charts, transportation of clothing, playing chauffeur, while on more than one occasion she would be hanging out at the beach with her parents boogie boarding! It is not that I don't have some idea how difficult the industry can be and I am fully prepared to have to work my way up to success, but this was just a harsh display of passive aggression. As a creative designer who has done "tons of shows", Julia really should have known better. The up side: meeting my charismatic mentor George who was signed on to help me as well as some other great models/interns/designers/friends etc, working the show and viewing the amazing- St. Tropez-yacht- hopping collection before its debut on the runway, and of course any learning experience is a good learning experience. I am unhappy to report that because I am a stylist and not a PR agent, and our list was simultaneously worked on by 4 people days before the show, there were several unhappy press members who were misplaced for the show (as read in The Daily). However, the show went on, and most of the audience (as is usually the case) was unaware of the conflicts that happened back stage. As for me, I enjoyed the show for what it was and will cherish the memories I made while working MB Fashion Week 2009.

MB Fashion Week: Day 1: Whitley Kros- Front Row

"I went to Morocco..with Allen Ginsberg in my satchel and Bob Dylan in my ears. Met Alessandro and embarked on a romantic adventure.. Safari in Africa and sunsets in Greece."
This was the self proclaimed phrase on the cover of Whitley Kros' pamphlet for her show, sounds like it would be a positively organic and cultured collection right? Well, that is not what I got from the show, but it was no doubt a romantic adventure back into childhood. I got pajama party with Mary Kate Olsen's crew- literally parts brought me back to Lisa Frank, spray cheese, silk pj bottoms, off the wall prints, and amusing oversized work boots that she painted a baby blue! The colors were classic, the pieces were fun, playful and girly. The highlight of the show for me, oddly enough, was a simple white silk jumper with a plunging neckline that I couldn't help but notice was crafted exquisitely.
Bag Bonus- And the schwag bag was good, a white tank with a multi colored unicorn that I have already worn a few times, PETA inspired eye shadow, and Good Hair Day fat head volumizer (which I was actually running low on).

MB Fashion Week- Day 1: Suh- Tahn- Third Row

Bellies are in this season for the LA line Suh-Tahn, a collaboration from creative minds Shannon Natif and entrepreneur Dimitri Tcharfas And they are paired with a grease-ball hair-do for the hipsters of LA who may feel their clothing is so accidentally chic, they couldn't be bothered with general hygiene. The Spring/ Summer 2009 collection presents an interesting new spin on the "greaser" with boys in simple white t-shirts and pseduo-skinny jeans rolled up almost to pedal-pusher length, a unique idea for menswear to say the least. The bathing suits which, let's just say, would not do anyone with any form of gut any justice, are paired with a simple blazer, a sophisticated touch that I actually enjoyed. All in all, for fashion week, I wasn't terribly impressed with this particular collection, although several pieces were well made, most of the moments of interest in any one look were purely created by how simple pieces were styled together.

MB Fashion Week: Day 1: Kevan Hall- Front Row

Kevan Hall's show was the perfect start to MB Fashion Week for me. His portrayal of timeless Hollywood glamour mixed with modern color palettes was flawless and fresh. The show, titled "Stage Door" depicted the modern women in classic silhouettes, with the first few models in tailored suits and dresses in black and white and later working into alluring fluid gowns in a technicolor palette for the rest of the show. Hall began with Parisian-esque classic styles, both polished and elegant, the je ne sais quoi that we love from an Audrey Hepburn time period. I was surprised to learn that the flowing gowns are more Kevan's style because the tailoring of the more structured pieces was just beautiful. Even a black dress is uniquely constructed to make it a work of art. The mix of an azure blue with sage gave an airy feeling to one of the gowns especially when used on a floor length flowing material adorned with jewels, presenting a glamourous look that is not over the top. Another one strap dress resembled rays of light shining down across the runway, so yummy with the use of a buttery, golden yellow that we haven't seen in a silk yet. One of my favorites of the collection- a knee length dress with interwoven pleats on the top and a pleat along the bottom, in a light blue iridescent color that catches the light perfectly. I hadn't seen anything like it, and yet it still embodied a classic look that is age appropriate for Hall's clients. My least favorite- although difficult to choose in such a magnificent showing- is a navy blue gown with multi-colored crystals along the front and back of the gown- this was the only piece that seemed dated- possibly because of the use of navy- plus the crystals do not seem to work with the silky material of the gown. All in all, an amazing showing.
Bag Bonus- Kevan Hall gave out amazing totes in a very tribal print, complete with smashbox blush, lip liner, water and hair products to the elite of the audience, and I received one too! :)