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As Madonna's contagious song proclaims, "Everybody comes to Hollywood, 'cause they want to make it in the neighborhood." Aspiring actors, singers and dancers have traditionally flocked to Los Angeles like moths to a flame; however, recently the land of make-believe has been busy 'fabricating' fashion dreams. And where there is fashion there is also money, status, drama, color, splendor, sex and celebrities (some of America's favorite obsessions.) During Fashion Week 2003, Tinsel Town was once again the place to see and to be seen. On the 28th of October the glitzy and glamorous entertainment industry collided with the world of mode creating a spectacular big-bang, and the dust from this explosion has yet to settle.
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In fact it is a wonder that LA and its denizens were so late to embrace the fashion industry, which comes as a package deal with marginally eccentric designers, notoriously temperamental models and spellbindingly vain fashionistas. Nevertheless, Los Angeles' tardiness in making its runway debut has not prevented it from stealing the limelight away from fashion capitals such as Milan, London and New York. Quite the contrary: the prospect of celebrity appearances followed by intense publicity is giving designers more than enough incentive to pack up and move to the Golden State. Today even New York powerhouses such as House of Field and As Four are going west to show their collections. And take it from Fashionlines, the commotion caused by the detonation of the fashion 'n fame powder keg has been nothing short of sensational.
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Björk-international icon of esoteric culture; just as infamous for the inimitable quality of her music as for her violent attack on a paparazzo who was trying to photograph her first born-sitting in the front row at the As Four show caused such hysteria among the press that the irresistible Icelander had to cover her face with a purse to stop the madness. Dressed in a black trousers and jacket-cape ensemble, Björk looked surprisingly tame and understated. But then again even her notorious swan-costume may not have sufficed to overshadow As Four's intensely futuristic, multi-hued full body suits.
After Adi, Ange, Gabi and K.A.i's show, Björk attended Jeremy Scott's peep extravaganza, which was simply a cheeky, irreverent mockery of the art of making exquisite clothes. In Scott's "Sexybition" neither the nearly-naked model riding another model playing the horse on her hands and knees, nor a spandex clad nun flipping off the audience attracted the kind of attention that the Hilton sisters did. Posing in front of cartoons of naked men sodomizing sheep and dressed up as little farm girls (maybe to promote
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Paris's new reality show, A Simple Life?) Nikki and Paris smiled at the flashing cameras, unaware that a certain disreputable sex tape would surface just two weeks later. On a side note, Jeremy Scott is not the first designer to convince the blond multi- millionaires to promote a collection. Actually, the Hilton girls first hit the catwalk for Heatherette and Joey and T last year, creating ripples in the fashion circuit.
After Scott's theatrical circus closed its doors at the Smashbox studios, the already intoxicated (thanks to the Absolut Vodka Bar serving free mixed drinks the entire evening) crowd headed to the after party at the Avalon, promoted by the V Magazine. The rowdy mix of fashion editors, celebrities, models and designers filled the trendy club up to capacity and danced the night away like there was no tomorrow.
Though Jenni Kayne's creations received mixed reviews from the fashion press, her guest list was unparalleled. Thanks to a front row audience adorned with the Osbourne kids, Anthony Kiedis and Kirsty Hume, the
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young designer got the kind of attention reserved for maestros like Tyler. Nonetheless, a star studded audience for her show was not the only trick Kayne pulled out of her hat. By luring friends such as Christian Slater (such a shame his strikingly handsome looks were compromised by an unfortunate domestic dispute in a hotel room in Vegas) Melissa Rivers and Michelle Rodriguez to her after party, Kayne proved that she alone reserved the right to upstage herself.
However, when it came to stirring up a cocktail of trouble and spectacle Jenni Kayne could not hold a candle to the theatrics of Rock & Republic. Take Sting's shirtless son (never mind his mom and fourteen year old sister sitting in the front row), add in a few scantily-clad leggy blonds, mix in lots of Coors Light and top it all off with fast cars and what you get is a booze-soaked, orgiastic bash. Stage theatrics such as slip and sliding across the Coors sprayed runway, crotch showing and French kissing aside, Rock & Republic's spectacular had the best ingredient for pure, unadulterated debauchery: an incredibly drunk, young and good-looking audience. Needless to say the night began to head for its logical conclusion once the after party started. The rowdy crowd pouring out of the packed showroom immediately found itself in the midst of a celebration that would go on until the wee hours of the morning, fueled by rock'n'roll music, alcohol and the irresistible desire to have a good time. Many of the guests went back home with vicious hangovers and enough entertainment to last them….until the next night.
Joey and T's runway show (which coincided with Halloween) was a carnival from the get go. Featuring celebrity children Mia Tyler, Alana Stewart and Nichole Ritchie, the designers of Joey and T-distinctive with their wildly colored mullets-set the stage for a treat. Korn's lead singer and guitarist sipping on Moet Chandon while applauding actress Tarynn Manning's catwalk performance was a prime example of the unique ambiance only LA can conjure up. Of course to no one's surprise the costume party that followed was vibrant and colorful enough to eclipse the festivities ensuing across town in West Hollywood.
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Shock value is no substitute for high class and style. The elegance permeating the air at the Richard Tyler and Louis Verdad shows was the real highlight of Fashion Week Los Angeles. Both striking clothes and A-list celebrities embellished the Tyler and Verdad events. Sheryl Crow, Daisy Fuentes, Gabrielle Union and Garcelle Beauvais are some of the many high profile entertainers that paid their respect to Tyler's art by making an appearance. Shortly thereafter Verdad hosted Mena Suvari, Jason Ritter and Jerry O'Connell. But much to everyone's dismay, Verdad's queens, Madonna and Kate Blanchet were nowhere to be seen.
As an aside: the single most precious moment of Fashion Week LA played out when a five-month along Denise Richards watched the NOM show featuring maternity clothes. With regard to her pregnancy, the lovely actress told the eager press, "It's all going so fast."
Whatever your taste might be, elegant, cute, raunchy or shocking; LA has something distinctively West Coast in store for you. So the next time you want to immerse yourself in fashion, party like a rock star and rub elbows with celebrities, do something "angelic" and book a ticket to Los Angeles!
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