By Laura Medina
Los Angeles Fashion Week Fever, the Fall 2013 Edition, must be gradually catching on.
After the demise of IMG's LA Fashion Week, a few have taken on the mantle and formed their own runway shows and fetes which are sprouting up like mushrooms.
This scribe handpicked the best of the crop for you so you can sit back and relax.
Out Magazine and Macy's ignited LA Fashion Week's Opening Party and runway show in the heart of the "Big, Blue Whale's" lobby, the Pacific Design Center, smacked dabbed in the middle of Melrose Avenue in West Hollywood.
Los Angeles' fashion luminaries as such Mikey Koffman, the impresario behind LA Fashion Weekend at the historical Sunset & Gower, and various celebrities from film, music, and the media: Lorielle New (actress); the girl group, Blush; Jai Rodriguez, Bruce Vilanch, comedy writer & "Hollywood Squares" alumni; and Paris Hilton.
The amazing thing about having Macy's as one of the backers for their fashion show with Out Magazine, is that whatever outfit you see and like, there is a pop-up shop carrying those clothes, ready for purchase.
Talk about direct to buyer.
Fred Segal hosted a tennis table match with professional players to celebrate Raf Simons for Fred Perry.
Yes, that Raf Simons who used to design for Jil Sander and now designs for Christian Dior. His collaboration for Fred Perry...yes, that Fred Perry tennis/polo shirt...is his seventh collection for Fred Perry. It's called "the Laurel Wreath" Collection. He incorporate a place dart at the bust for a better fit (also makes it a better fit for girlfriends to steal since it fits the female torso so well) and interchangeable collars that you can unbotton and botton with single or double collars. How's that for popping your collar?!
He also pump new blood into the collection with a hot leopard spot prints, oversized hounds-tooth and floral prints, and pattern blocking.
To remind people how Fred Perry shirt came to be, Fred Segal hosted an exciting and fun table tennis match with LA's top tennis table professionals so folks can watch the tennis shirts in full action, the full stretch and comfort for three hours of play. Even Ron Robinson, the namesake himself, joined in. Think of this as an old-fashion interactive fashion video...old fashion but a down-home classic.
"The Bachelor" Christopher Harrison teamed up with Brit/LA designer, Christopher Wicks to launch line of slim fit (this is the key word for menswear instead of "tailored"), relaxed jackets and slacks, pattered woven shirts and layering polos for "DaVinci of California by Chris Harrison." Basically, it's Mr. Wicks' expertise and technical skills inspired by Mr. Harrison's style taste.
Another Kris had joined them for the launch...Kris Kardashian.
The high point of the social wave of LA Fashion Week was Eva Mendes for Vogue Eyewear, the hottest, the most desirable, and the most exclusive LA Fashion Week ticket in town..;and it wasn't even associated with LA Fashion Week.
Comfortably ensconced up in the Trousdale Estates of Beverly Hills, this party toasted Eve Mendes as the spokesperson for Vogue Eyewear. It was candy-colored and candy-coated fete decorated with the line's current eyeglasses and shades where people played nighttime croquette.
Behind the scenes at Style Week LA.
Amidst the sexy chaos and the dizzy networking and camera-hogging, people tend to forget it is about the clothes, the craftsmanship, and the intricate artisanship that goes into making trend-busting clothes then changes the course of fashion.
The serious, hard-core fashionistas, the culturati, the stylistas, and the serious photographers had been gathering at St.Vibiana, one of LA's oldest Catholic church that has re-risen from the ashes as a stately marble of an arts and performance venue, fitting for a pretty serious and somber vibe currently running in this recent LA Fashion Week.
Michael Cinco's flair for the theatrical brought the house down as the finale of Style Week LA.
Whether he was influenced by ABC's "Once Upon A Time" or the two latest Cinderella movies, this 21st-century twist on medieval had Los Angelenos' jaw dropping.
The normally boisterous Angelenos were hushing down interrupters as jet-beaded, black laced ballgowns regally marched down the catwalk. "Aaahhhs" and "ooohhhs" were the only sounds heard when Cinco's ombre-red and black hooded evening gown with the ruffle tiers marched down the catwalk. This is what the Grammys were talking about...one can do shock value without flashing the skin. Mr. Cinco's hooded ombre ruffle gown looked inspired by Tarsem Singh, the ground-breaking music video director and the director of "The Cell." Shoot, even fashionistas say this collection is Alexander McQueen-sque but it is a good influence.
The judicious usage of old-fashion flesh-toned beige pantyhose nylon to give the illusion of exposed peek-a-boos and cut-outs and overlays set the classy suggestiveness. This subtle sensuality was what Edwardian (yes, it's the "Downton Abbey" influence again) was aiming for without advanced knits.
Haute Couture need not to be impractical. Michael Cinco's two-in-one dresses, above, hint at the allure and mystery...and the exoticism of a hoodie-turned-shawl-skirt train mini-dress. Again, this is what the Grammys were talking about in the making of the new dress codes: exotic, alluring, and artistic, not trashy.
Michael Cinco's alluring show, Mike Vensel's intellectualism runway show, and Jen Awad's matured black velvet and white lace show reflected the maturity of the people being Style Week LA, Concept, and LA Fashion Week. It matured out (but not away) from the industry mainstay of denim and warm weather sportswear; and the city's best designers (and textile designers) are bursting out like a black swan. Sure, the parties still keep on running but the runway shows and the audience have grown up, gotten serious, and are demanding respect.
