William Rast at Beverly Hills Fashion Festival

By Laura Medina

William Rast Autumn/Winter 2010 Runway Show, http://youtube.com/watch?v=p3BYt9wezog

For only one Saturday, Beverly Hills conjured up a smooth-running, sleek, and well-coordinated fashion festival, albeit only for one day, that was as coiffed and chic as its namesake.

The staff, the management, and the layout is reminiscent of the days of yore when IMG run Los Angeles Fashion Week with Fern Malis at the helm.



The late afternoon-to-mid-evening schedule of select brands and designers were a mirage of the greatly departed IMG/Los Angeles Fashion Week but the white tent was Oscar gifting suite worthy.

The red carpet lobby had enough room for plush, black and white curved banquettes, worthy of Hollywood Regency revivalist, Kelly Westler, one of the many celebrities attending and socializing under the tent.

The Santa Monica Boulevard and Wilshire lot provided enough for an array of gourmet food trucks so no one went hungry. Something the late Los Angeles Fashion Week and following one-offs never bothered to include in their alcohol-fueled events. The Hello Kitty rose champagne was balanced by gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches and truffle popcorn.

A-list celebrities, such as Paul Sorvino, Carey Mulligan, and Kelly Wrestler chatted with the host and one of Beverly Hills Fashion Festival organizers, Jonathan Antin.

Mischa Barton debuted her party-friendly line of handbags, http://mischabartonhandbags.com/, as one of the vendors in the lobby. Her adorable Sue Ellen pouch with a clasp and the mesh handle is a great choice to a clutch.

But this afternoon-and night-they were there just to watch the real stars of the day, the designers showcasing their wares.



The hottest ticket was Justin Timberlake's William Rast Fall/Winter 2010 show.

The concept behind this collection was as though Justin and his buddy, Trace, made a road trip cutting through the Southwest, what Stylesight calls, "Tribal Winner."

Fringes swung as the rough and tough models sashayed. Navajo blankets and weaves are scarves.

Headbands around the forehead replace prim and proper handbands.


The William Rast mainstays are still in place, the reinterpretation of the motorcycle jacket. It morphed into a sixteenth century doublet, with wrap placket and ruffled trim or a cropped doublet with puffed sleeves, then a shiny patent-leather baseball jacket.

Folks can't beat William Rast when it comes to the leather jacket in all its forms. They beat the stiff motorcycle jacket out of its stuffiness.

Remember, this is Justin Timberlake's brand. They opened the show...with a show. Hip-Hop and street dancers, in various shapes and sizes but still early twenties, strut, hopped, twisted, and slither in the line, making the tight, black clothes look comfortable.

Even though Justin didnot make an appearance, the man who actually crafts and sews, Trace Ayala showed up and did an interview with Heather Petrey on http://www.lafashionsnob.com/.

The bold shouldered military coats and military chic parkas rounded out the collection.

This show only whets this scriber's appetite when William Rast for Target hits the mass retailer in time for the holidays-yuuuuuummmmm.

Cynthia Rowley does Art Performance on her blank canvas outfits

By Laura Medina

An art movie with Cynthia Rowley & Olaf Breuning.

While most folks, yours included, trick o' treated or did the Time Warp Dance with 8,720 people breaking the world record at West Hollywood's Halloween Carnival, Cynthia Rowley and fellow fashion designers team up with established and emerging artists for a Museum of Modern Art art performance during this past weekend.

Ms. Rowley provide an all-white version of her current Fall 2010 Collection as blank canvases for Mr. Breuning to spill and pour over the models.

Then, Ms. Rowley herself gently cuts off the pieces and hangs them as one-off, unique art objects.

Like traditional canvas, her outfits are constructed from good ole denim and they are now available for purchase on her website under "MOVE Collaboration with Olaf Breuning."

You can watch the art happening on http://vimeo.com/15824811.

Lanvin for H&M is Arriving just in time for the Holidays

By Laura Medina

Stills from Lanvin for H&M's Fashion Video Lookbook.

Watch the full video at http://www.hm.com/us/designer#/designer/

If there is a certifiable way to keep your figure during the holidays, this will be it...Lanvin for H&M before Thanksgiving.


As a teasing appetitizer, H&M release the whismical video lookbook, more upscale art film short with rotoscoping comic book captions today.


In the film, you have two women wearing the same black dress with ruffle straps. Then, you have a mother and daughter team, with another woman, wearing identical one-shoulder ruffle cocktail dresses, dancing, prancing, and posing. The mother makes it fierce.


Towards the end, as one woman doffs off a chic zebra striped trench coat, she unveils a black shift dress that another woman is wearing.


These montages prove that one, you are never too old or too young to wear a Lanvin.


Second, this limited edition capsule collection is for everyone and should not be ashamed if you catch someone else wearing the same dress. Something most party girls with limited choices know all too well on New Year's Eve.

Zebra Trench Coat can be paired with the black full dress with the nude bodice.

Alber Elbaz, the man who revived one of the oldest design houses into the twenith-first century, is bringing his haute couture fashion to the masses-his ardent fans who had always dreamt of his creation but could never afford them.

Well, on November 20th, they can. That is when H&M is going to release the limited edition collection to the people who will actually wear them because they need something glamourous and attainable for Christmas and New Year's Eve.

H&M, with Lanvin, cannot time this better.

Yes, there are a lot of ruffles in this collection, as much if not more than a bag of Ruffles Potato Chips. However, those complicated pleating and ruching is time-consuming which translate into expensive.

Thanks to the fashion-forward, mass retailer, both women and men can get their hands on not only great tailoring and engineering but some oh-la-la pumps in zebra stripes and bows, shoes, tees, tuxedos, and blazers, with a fabulous faux fur jacket to spice things up.

There is even a pleated shift dress with a loose multi-tiered, ruffled boatneck that can be worn up for a demure look or droop one side of it for a more sassy style. Two looks in one piece. It comes in hot pink, purple, and of course, reliable black.

H&M is going to celebrate the Lanvin Launch on Friday, November 19th as the grand opening of its Caesars Forum Shop, from 7pm to 11pm.

This Mr. Elbaz's way of bringing the fantasy of haute couture as luxury to all.

Like the holidays, better catch this designer dream before it all disappear as a sweet memory.

Hollywood Loves Tracy Reese

By Laura Medina

Too bad Ms. Tracy Reese never went through with a mobile boutique truck as Ms. Cynthia Rowley.

This scribe hopes and wishes she does because it seems like the ladies of Hollywood loves her stuff.

Bottom center, Rihanna in Sailor Stripe Shirt with Floral Skirt, while hanging out with fans in London.

Center, Middle Row, Taylor Swift not only wore Tracy Reese once, she wore the designer three times. Ms. Swift can't get enough. She wore the Crimson Polka Dot Prim Shirt Dress one day. Then on Ellen, she donned a very elegant and mature black lace Frock with nougat underlining from Reese's trendier line, Frock by Tracy Reese.

Left, Middle Row, Tori Spelling wore Frock for her "Today" Show appearance while Tina Fey dresses up in a Dark Water Black Frock Dress, Right, Middle Row.

Carmen Electra is sultry in an orange strapless layered dress.

Taraji Henson is wearing a piece from the current Fall 2010 Collection.

First Lady, Michelle Obama displayed fashionable frugality by wearing this very girly but never silly Shirred Frock Dress in Indigo Placement Floral twice. She can't live without her Frocks.

With her springy, feminine, ladylike style, sunny Southern California sure wish Ms. Reese will make an appearance.

Cynthia Rowley models her Spring 2011 & Fall 2010 Collections on "Gossip Girl"

By Laura Medina

Heads up, Gossip Girls!

The girly but hip Cynthia Rowley is making a guest appearance on next Monday's "Gossip Girl."

On Monday, November First at 9pm on the CW, Ms. Rowley, Elle Magazine's Joe Zee, and Rachel Zoe are dropping by on episode 4.07, "War at the Roses."

In this episode, you can watch Ms. Rowley model her own black-grey ombre ostrich feather skirt, now available in her current Fall/Winter 2010 collection you can pick up at http://www.cynthiarowley.com/; and you catch her also wearing her Glass Cabochon top from her upcoming Spring/Summer 2011 Collection.

Folks just have to love "Gossip Girl" for giving people sneak peeks at incoming collections.

But, you have to watch this Monday's "Gossip Girl" to see it.

FLuXuS is of the Moment.

By Laura Medina

FLUXUS' founder & CEO, Martin Paquette, in the knit cap.

The word, fluxus, is Latin for "to flow."

The clothing brand, FLuXuS, is also a zeitgeist, German for a spirit, a thought or a feeling reflecting the time it exists in that moment or era.

This could not come from a more unassuming guy, such as Martin Paquette.

An offspring of the garment industry and art fan, he was searching for that right name for his new company three years ago that it has to be so right for the moment of the times that will remains timeless, Mr. Paquette rummage through his old art history books looking for the right name.

That's how he fell upon FLuXus, Latin "To Flow," as in to flow with the times.

"When I studied art history, I read a lot of books on Fluxus ten, fifteen years ago. Then, came back to me. Alright, FLuXus, this is it!"

As a garment veteran who sees brands come and go with trends like the tides, "We adopt the trend. We are not married to the trend because when you put your name to a trend, when the trend is over, you're over."

This is it-FluXuS, recognize a trend then go with the times.

FLuXuS is also a name of an art movement in the Sixities (Beck's grandfather was one of the artists), where they use it as an attitude.

The emergence of FLuXuS, the clothing brand, coincides with the arrival of "Mature Goth."

Stylesight's trend tracker, Nina Stotler, reports on the new, evolved gothic style where depth in intelligence and romance with a subtle textures and a simpler silhouettes replaces the ostentatious bling and aggressive sexuality of the previous decade.

Martin's grounded philosophy in providing sophisicated, avant-garde clothes in quality fabrics and tailoring for all ages in affordable price points in locally available stores goes against what Ms. Stotler says, "fluffy consumerism" and frivolous disposal.

Martin describes his brand more as a collective of artists based on mutual respect than a company..."The name, FLuXuS, forces us to collaborate."

When he and "Project Runway Season Three" winner, Jeffrey Sebelia bumped into each other two years ago, they talked and shared a same vision.

Paquette, "He came. We crossed path. We talk. Wow, I'm looking for someone to design the line and take it to the next level. Bring it to where I like it to. He saw it. He brought it. We did a collaboration. We jump into it. Jeffrey is so natural, so talented. Really, make it happen. Boom! You have a designer, let's do it!"

To paraphase Nike, "Let's F*ckin' Do It!

Last year, they did a collaboration. Now, Mr. Sebelia is on board for one year, this year, as head designer.

"Especially Jeffrey and I, we pretty much got the natural side of things...The collaboration, the exchange between Jeffrey and I...we're strong because he brings in the cut, the choice of fabrics, the design side of it. I find a way to create a formula to find a balance to keep it within the range of price point."

Paquette likes the idea that they are bringing haute, avant-garde contemporary wear with Sebelia's haute streetwear-meets-Goth sensibilities to the masses in fine gauge knits at agreeable double-digit prices in mainstream locations, bringing quality streetwear to the people.

Paquette is all about making fashion a leveled playing field. To him, couture is dead. "Couture is over back in the nineteen-forties. YSL said couture is over. I am Pret-a-Porter. The low-end is exploding right now. At the end of the day, we are figthing to bring back the middle class."

He, Sebelia, and the collective make sure they do not skimp on quality.

"Quality is no excuse to raise prices. When capital is in, there's a break in point. If you go too cheap, you gotta cut corners or export manufacturing to China." They keep their manufacturing in Los Angeles.

Supplying cutting-edge fashion at cutting-edge prices is a good exercise, "Staying at $100, you stay creative. You use your brain. Find the right balance. Not spend too much money within a classic looking, stylish in quality...You don't need to spend a thousand bucks."

FLuXuS' current collection reflects the Mature Goth in the comfort of fine gauge knits, leggings, draped cowl necks, extended hoodies, draped tops, cowl neck tunics and cardigans and asymmetrical tanks in sheer knits for layering then topped with a stretch trouser or a fleece motorcycle, crop jacket.

Put them together and the new Goth silhouette comes out, the billowy and the flowing paired with the long and the lean in serious black and gray with calming neutrals of beige and cream.

Paquette calls this versatile for day and night, comfortable enough to move and stylish to be confident. Ms. Stotler calls this, "Flowing Minimalism."

The minimal, matte textures in draping knits are what he calls timeless.

"The material can be worn all day, everyday. Classic Look. Go out at evening. Go out to the beach. You can add that Rock n' Roll look."

"This is always our mission, keep it versatile and polish as possible."

The FLuXuS style in the middle, between the couture artistry of FLuXus conceptual sculptors.

As for just happening to reflect on a current trend,..

"I've seen a lot of companies do that; and my mission is to guide us to adopt trends and make it our own...Yes, we look at trends then take a snapshot of it then follow it with our own instincts. Fifty-Fifty, Fifty percent instinct. Fifty percent trend..."

"I'll tell you one thing about trends...We also can feel social trends in the apparel business. One thing I notice in these dark times, with the recession, we can see that, I am surprised people want to became spicier. They may not want to spend as much but they want something spicy. That spice. It's great for the fashion business,"-what Ms. Stotler call a demand for something edgy and different.

As for how and where people wear FLuXuS, "Medium satisfaction means going out to a party and buying a piece of clothes, less on big house, big things, big items."

As for launching a brand or a new style in uncertain times, Paquette sees opportunities..."People are retreating and retracting now...you gotta embrace it, adopt to it, find a way to make it in dark times."

As for bringing product to market, FLuXuS' product development and delivery as is minimalist as its aesthetics,

"Vertical set-up...We have all our machines. From top to garment in-house. All our warehouse and retail are in the city as well, so freakin' exciting for us."

They use their retail shops scattered in mainstream neighborhoods-they bring the fashion to the people-as experimental labs where I can test and see if a design will fly or not.

"We can wake up in the morning, let's make a pattern, let's cut sample, let's approve at the end of the day, let's ship it to our retail stores, let's test it...Sales, let's bring in a line."

Sarah Sanchez, Head of Visual Communications.

FLuXuS is more than just a clothing brand for Paquette. It goes beyond being a garment company. For him, it is an organic collective that grows and evolves, like the namesake.

"In the end, I like art, sculpture, music. I like mix like a big salad...like to mix it up all and get crazy. I love art."

He not only uses their retail stores as laboratories to test new designs, but also a place to exhibit and display talent, "Blending commerce with creativity."

"I've been pushing my guys to find painters for our retail stores to exhibit. Brand is now trying to affliate with deejays. Build a network of artists which FLuXuS is trying to build, international network of artists."

For his expansion plans, "Start it on a block then take international."

Reinforcing the collective, Sarah Sanchez, Head of Visual Communications, says the clothes are very artsy, very comfortable. "Pretty much anyone can wear it." They're affordable,fun, and comfortable, "Fits into everyone's wardrobe, regardless of your style. Transition from night to day."

She was one of those artists whom Paquette selected, "Worked with Jeffrey and Martin for a year and a half. Worked on their first retail store in Larchmont. From there moved to Visuals. Now, Head of V.C. department."

Sanchez not only styled the two mannequins's ruffled couture newspaper dresses, she does every single window and the grand opening of their Santa Monica Place shop.

FLuXuS is a collective where everyone participates.

It's Family Night for the Heather Locklear/Richie Sambora Family at White Trash Beautiful

By Laura Medina

With the exception of Getty Photographs and WireImages, all photos by Felix Salzman of Lookbook LA.

Left, Daughter and White Trash Beautiful model, Ava, & mom, Heather Locklear.

People may joke about the extended nature of Los Angeles Fashion Week. Too long to be a week and too short to be a month, the lucky few who managed to survive to the hump day of LA Fashion Week were treated to the biggest bang of the period-Los Angeles Fashion Weekend by Mikey Koffman of The Gallery LA.

Proud dad, Bon Jovi's Richie Sambora, his daughter, Ava, and his fashion design partner, Nikki Lund, in White Trash Beautiful.

Midway between Geoffrey Mac Presentation at SkyBAR last and the unfortunate dismiss of LA Fashion Week Official, Los Angeles Fashion Weekend was the closest thing this city has to a fully functional fashion week, despite it was only on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

However remember, it is the quality that counts and LA Fashion Weekend sure packed it in-with intensity.

Singer, Christina Milan.

Regardless of the three-ring circus chaos and the constant bustle and hassle among fashion runway photographers versus the paparazzi, LA Fashion Weekend delivered what it promised-the glitz, the glam, and the celebrities sprinkled over only-in-Hollywood Rocker Chic, thanks to Richie Sambora's and Nikki Lund's collaboration, White Trash Beautiful.

On Opening Night, Friday, Christian Milan set off the weekend with a performance after the swimwear runway show.

"The Girls Next Door" Bridget Marquardt on the red carpet and in the audience.

But LA Fashion Weekend saved the best for the last night, Sunday night.

Sunday's finale was Richie Sambora & Nikki Lund's White Trash Beautiful, reflecting the hottest trend in fashion, celebrating the uniqueness that runs against convention. Their line is the rock n'roll version of wabi-sabi.

A lucky girl sandwiched between "Species" Natasha Henstridge and Fashion News Live, Rocco G.

A-List fim and television stars showed up in support for fellow tv actress, Heather Locklear and her daughter, Ava, who happens to be modeling in her dad's, Richie Sambora, fashion show.

"The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" Tatyana Ali and "Small House" Jodie Sweetin showed up for the fashion show.

While the celebrities located their seats and grinned for the cameras, Ava Sambora was backstage, getting ready for her turn on the catwalk.

Of course, mom, Heather Locklear, and dad, Richie Sambora, with business partner and White Trash Beautiful designer, Nikki Lund, sat in the prime middle rown to watch their daughter strut her stuff in Spring/Summer's breezy but tough collection.



The best way to describe White Trash Beautiful's Spring/Summer 2011 Collection is this...when California Bohemian Girl moves out of the calm confines of Malibu over the hills to the Sunset Strip in Hollywood then toughens up her caftans then glitterize her tunics.

The easy construction and the soft fabrication still exists but the colors have brighten or darken or she coated it in sequins.

Left, rainbow striped one-shoulder maxi dress. Right, lilac sequin sari over black leather leggings.


There is one item that anyone can adapt into their current Fall wardrobe now then extend into Spring...the black leather crop jacket.

Nikki Lund intrepret it in a shawl or a shrug with braided detailing but always in black leather.

Left, you top it over a ruby red satin halter top or dress. Middle, over trapeze silk camisole and shorts. Right, over a triangle bikini top and leather shorts.


Another trend is the use of dusky and desert colors or inner-city, street colors of smoky plums, brown, smeared gray, and taupe in fine fabrics then roughed up for that worn-in patina.

Think of the rocker classic of smoky eyeshadow and liner in beige, brown, and black.

Left, reaching in the Beatles' closet for the Military Band jacket is the "It" jacket of the year.

Right, flowing wrap blouse with bell sleeves in ombre of smoky brown and taupe.

Shorts and black leather leggings grounded this collection.

Ava Sambora recovering from a near spill on the catwalk.

The audience drew grasps when Ava Sambora nearly fell while taking a twist at the end of the catwalk in tottering mules.

Agile and quick, she soon regained her balance and forget the twist then walked off triumphantly.

A daughter of two celebrities is a kid like any other kid or tween. They have their awkward moments too. It is all how you react and carry it off that matters.

After the models parade down the runway, Nikki Lund and Richie Sambora came out for the finale of LA Fashion Weekend, in blowing confetti.

Sure, with each success and growth, there are growing pains. As in when local Los Angeles television station, KTLA (Channel 5 in Los Angeles) have to duke it out for space on the media riser with the New York Post, the LA Times, E!, and Entertainment Tonight's "The Insider" for that precious center shot. The outside outlets were really excited about catching Hollywood, the rock stars, the film and tv stars, and the sexy, Hollywood hipster clothes.

Hopefully, with each new growth spurt, there is a sense of maturity in managing the national and the local news outlet for a more graceful but no less glamorous fashion weekend.