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GenArt‘s Fresh Faces in Fashion show at Vibiana this past weekend introduced us to Dear Creatures, a whimsical line that weaves modern sensibilities and vintage attitude into one pretty little package. We chatted with Bianca Benitez and Rob Sinclair, the brand’s designing duo and husband-and-wife-to-be, about their Spring 2012 collection, thoughts on designing in L.A. [...]
A perennial favorite of LA Fashion Week and recently seen on — of all people — Britney Spears, Skingraft took a decidedly different approach to the traditional runway show during last night’s Concept LA Fashion Week presentation held at Ace Gallery.
Under the looming spectre of global disaster, designer Jonny Cota’s recent inspiration struck an unintended vein. Citing “the grace of death and dying” as his muse (his grandmother passed away quite recently), Cota presented his Fall 2011 collection in stark contrast to last season’s softer silk and jersey-infused wares. The brand’s signature elements were present in each of the seven pieces on display, including the usual triple zippers, swaths of rogue leather and shredded knits. But the overall vibe was decidedly more mature, with sharp shoulders, Gaga-esque fur and blazers that erred the side of traditional for the avante garde label.
The crowd of tattooed and theatrical devotees seemed impressed with the showing, as murmurs of approval and and awe passed through the packed gallery. While the collection was small (Cota chose just a handful of pieces from his full fall line to display), the designer delivered a success with the promise of much to come.
— Jordan Rae Lake
Photos: Jordan Rae Lake for Style Section L.A.
Couture-like fashion came out to play at the Valerj Pobega Fall/Winter 2011 presentation at Concept Fashion Week this past Friday evening. Pobega, who not only designs but creates each of her limited edition pieces herself, told us that her ideal client is a woman who isn’t afraid to wear something different and special. “There is never a chance that she will go to a party and another girl is dressed the same.” the designer said.
Dubbed “Kabaret 1939,” Pobega’s latest collection is truly for the unabashed gal. Inspired by the era of 1930s Berlin mixed with her own punky style, Pobega took to a time in history when innovative freedom in mediums such as fashion, art, music and film were thriving. “I’m always inspired by the whole era. I like Man Ray—the typical picture with the one eye with the drops—but I always mix it because my inspiration comes from one era.”
And the historical references were apparent in structured, yet whimsical wares that included glamorous satins and silks, risque tank tops with sculptural accents and military hats.
To source her fabrics, Pobega goes vintage and flea market shopping, citing the Rosebowl here in L.A. and Portebello Market in London as her favorites — though she admits that she doesn’t globe-trot as much as she used to. “It’s true; when I came here to LA people said you are going to be stuck,” said Pobega. “I didn’t believe it, but it kind of happened for some reason. I travel less now than when I was in Europe.”
When it comes to sister designing duo AI for AI, inspiration strikes in the form of artistry. For their Fall/Winter 2011 collection, dubbed “Modern Mystics,” the sisters interest in the world of magic and astrology led them to find amuse in Kime Buzzelli, the L.A.-based artist and longtime owner of Show Pony, her rad-but-now-defunct Echo Park boutique.
This Tuesday, join AI for AI at Satine Boutique as they present their Fall/Winter 2011 collection. Space is limited. Please RSVP here.
AI for AI Presents Fall/Winter 2011 Collection. Tuesday March 15 at 7pm. Satine Boutique. 8134 W. 3rd Street, Los Angeles. Street Parking.
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The myth of the Greek Goddess Persephone tells of the young, naive daughter of Zeus and Demeter who was kidnapped one fine afternoon while picking flowers. Her captor was Hades, the God of the Underworld, who made Persephone his unwilling Queen and forever changed her destiny.
Odilion designer Stacey Clark and assistant Harold Kuhn used this story of Persephone as the inspirational springboard for their Fall/Winter 2011 collection. We went to the LA-based company’s debut presentation for New York Fashion Week at the Metropolitan Pavilion earlier this week. Setting the Queen’s existence to 1970s rock n’ roll and psychedelic music, the collection was to be Persephone’s transformation from a sweet girl into a creature of the Underworld. As the looks began we were pleased to see an East Coast Fall vibe in such items as a multicolor brown wool cape jacket and a multicolor brown wool skirt.
Progressing from that, our favorite look was a gold twill cocktail dress underneath a pomegranate (coincidentally the name of the forbidden fruit eaten by Persephone binding her to Hades for all eternity) pony hair jacket with bronze zippers, shown at right. The 18 look collection wrapped up with a black double knit shift dress and black double face wool fleece cloak coat. While we found this end note to be a bit a bit too dark for our apparel tastes, we loved the edgy and wearable feel of the entire collection. Major kudos.
We had only ever heard of the sheer amazingness that is the Betsey Johnson runway shows. So when we were invited to view her Fall 2011 collection Monday night at Lincoln Center, neither heaven, hell nor an acute case of bronchitis courtesy of the freezing NYC temperature could keep us away. As we entered the theater and saw the familiar Betsey Johnson name lit up in hot pink at the top of runway, we couldn’t help but smile ear to ear. That excitement seemed to reverberate from the walls.
Johnson, who’s whole persona exemplifies the free-spirited funky fashion prom queen adored by all, choose to theme her collection “He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not;” quite fitting since the show took place on Valentine’s Day. Split into two Acts, the “Black Tag” collection was a gothic ode to love gone wrong with dark black velvet outfits mixed with punches of blood red and zebra print calling for attention. A leopard print unitard with a blue floral dress and blue floral neck piece had our senses on overload. Johnson’s use of prints and colors in this first half was an absolute delight and completely surpassed any expectations we had.
Act two was filled with fun and love as the “Pink Patch” collection showcased classic Johnson items all priced under $100. Created for the everyday woman, the designer enlisted her own staff to model the clothes. Best of all, Johnson put them in bleach-blond wigs with blunt bangs to mimic her own signature look, including the men who had fun whipping off the headpieces.
After 70 looks, Johnson finally stepped onto the stage. Clad in a black wig and fur, the designer sauntered out and pulled Patricia Field onto the runway with her. The show ended with a dozen or so models walking out with gigantic flowers and a sign on their heads that read “I f*cking love you,” all to the tune of Gillette’s “Don’t Want No Short….Man.” We’ll let you Google the missing piece of that song title.
Overall, our hearts are still skipping a beat from Johnson’s show as an event that will forever live with us. View the entire Betsey Johnson Fall 2011 collection here.
Check out the finale below:
Betsey Johnson Fall 2011 Finale
Tibi debuted their Fall 2011 collection at Lincoln Center yesterday. While we were not present at the show, we did just get a view into their Spring 2011 web campaign featuring Olivia Palermo. Palermo choose the Tibi clothes that she would like to wear during fashion season and styled it with her own accessories. The spread has us yearning for warming weather and eating lunch at a sidewalk cafe. See the fabulousness below:
With Black Eyed Peas and Coldplay blasting on the sound system, we did not immediately sense a collection inspired by Asia at the Pamella Roland Fall 2011 collection Monday night at Lincoln Center. And indeed as each look came down the runway we failed to make a real connection with the East. The finale look, a camisole and pant ensemble with a billowing crimson silk coat with hand-painted chrysanthemums was more 80′s-era Alexis Carrington than Zhang Ziyi in Memoirs of a Geisha.
That’s not to say we didn’t enjoy the collection, which we did. The beauty of Roland’s pieces were in the details, such as the black matte jersey dress with lace and ostrich feather sleeves shown at right. There was also an olive green strapless pleated gown with leaf embroidered motifs and a smoke grey spiral tulle beaded gown that lit up the eyes of the audience.
With 47 looks total, the real disconnect we are finding at Fashion Week seems to rest with designers who fail to edit their collections to fit their vision.
If Gloria Vanderbilt and Keith Richards had decided to take a trip to colonial India in the 1960s and were musing on what to pack for the journey, then Timo Weiland’s Fall 2011 collection would have been just the answer.
This intriguing mental picture of the two legends was the inspiration that Weiland and design partner Alan Eckstein used to manifest clothes for this Fall. With the bold colors and usage of fabrics in India, we were pleasantly excited to see a print that was used in three different ensembles–twice as a skirt and once as a coat. Supposedly an image of the Himalayas at sunset, we felt the print could be stapled onto canvas and proudly hung.
Having this print mixed in with the plaid and zebra, alongside formally tailored English pieces made for a smart and fresh collection.
View the entire Timo Weiland Fall 2011 collection here.
The Stonemasters: California Climbers in the Seventies, is a book that details the rise of a small band of Southern Californians who changed the world of rock climbing. The adventure seeking trend was born out of this book. While Saturday’s show from Band of Outsiders contained zero outfits suitable for trekking the mountains of Malibu, except possibly the look on the right and only because there appears to be a rope harness, designer Scott Sternberg cited the book as an inspiration for his Fall 2011 collection. The original menswear Band, the menswear-inspired women’s line Boy, and the feminine Girl, all comprised the runway show.
View the entire Band of Outsiders Fall 2011 collection here.
