Off I went on Saturday to the Fashion District in LA to cover the L.A. Fashion Market for the Fall/Winter 2009 collections – and I loved every minute of it. There was a lot to see, so expect a lot of posts related to it in the near future.
I saw a ton of edgy lines, and all the showroom reps were more than willing to give me info whenever I asked (which was nice, I thought they’d retreat a bit when they realized I wasn’t a buyer). I’ve wanted to be a buyer since I was a young girl, but actually being at this show and seeing the buyers in action definitely made me realize that I would absolutely kill for that job….like, seriously, hand me a machete I’ll take someone out if it means becoming a buyer.
It’s perfect for me. I’m the girl that, when I was 3 years old, would go to the store with her family and have to be reminded, “now, we’re just looking remember?” I was also convinced that I was born at Wal-Mart until I was about 4 years old….that’s how much consumerism and shopping has influenced my life.
Fall trends that were prevalent at every showroom were leather, tons of embellishments, studs, SEQUINS, tulle, metallic fabrics, ruffles and tiered pieces. Leggings are also a big ticket item for Fall. Overall, pieces emphasizing attention to detail were the mainstays – so expect to see a lot of that in the seasons to come.
I was actually pleasantly surprised, I wasn’t expecting much of a wow-factor, considering the economy. But it was pretty apparent that some of the designers are confronting the economy head-on by refusing to cower or stifle their creativity.
WILLIAM RAST BRINGS THE HEATThe label that brought it, in my opinion, for Fall/Winter 2009 was definitely William Rast. I was actually the most excited to see what this showroom had to offer – I’ve been a big Justin Timberlake fan since I was 12 and I wanted to see if he really knew what he was doing when it came to fashion.
Having a denim line is one thing, but making other substantial pieces is another. I know William Rast is a pretty big line and is carried just about everywhere, but that doesn’t mean they’ve lost their originality. I was more than impressed when I walked into their showroom on the 5th floor of the California Market Center.
Now is the time to invest in non-traditional pieces from them. Yes, their denim is amazing, but I was intensely coveting their smooth-as-butter leather jackets, all studded and glorious! The line boasts a lot of leather, patches, studs, grommets and plaid. Everything is very rock + roll – and I love it! Some of my faves were navy blue studded cords, a studded lapel leather jacket (pictured above) and a sleeveless studded + patched up leather jacket.
They also had a cream colored tuxedo style blazer with black lapels - which was pretty killer. The tees were also super soft and comfy, both for the men’s line and women’s line. If I was only able to buy clothes from one line for fall, it would have to be from William Rast.
I could have stayed in that showroom all day and, again, would have busted out the machete if offered the opportunity to work for them in PR or something, but I had more to explore.
NEW, EDGY DESIGNERS MAKE THEMSELVES KNOWN THROUGH “FOCUS”FOCUS was a part of the Market showcasing edgy, street friendly labels – think Urban Outfitters and Nylon Magazine mashed up into one indie designer casserole.
This showcase was held in the penthouse of the California Market Center and was, by far, my favorite part of the show. What is so great about designers like this is their enthusiasm for their label and their need to be known. True passion was shown at FOCUS because these designers are still all about their art and creativity, as opposed to some of the bigger labels who have gone corporate and lost their sense of identity.
Among my favorites at FOCUS were:
Dustie Doll Clothing (amazing tees re-done in a way you wouldn’t expect, lots of details, fringe and studs)
Micha Design (killer, crazy, insane, one-of-a-kind statement necklaces made from vintage pieces)
Etched Clothing (comfy, super soft, edgy, graphic tees for men and women)
Crow Thief (probably the coolest military inspired jacket I’ve ever seen)
OTHER HIGHLIGHTSDesigners that chose not to show at the FOCUS showroom were placed in the various contemporary sections of the California Market Center. I gravitated toward the labels that really showed me something special – those that actually tried to produce something of interest. Anything different, detailed, funky, studded or shiny really caught my eye.
As a consumer, I appreciate the fact that some designers faced the economy situation head-on, they didn’t cower and they weren’t afraid to show what they’ve really got. They brought out the big guns when times got tough. I think that is extremely important as it shows who is really in it for the right reasons.
If I’m in a bit of financial trouble, I don’t want to look at fashion (one of the things that make me feel better about whatever situation I might be in), and see only bland neutrals and boring pieces. Seeing that will only remind me of my situation – it most definitely will NOT uplift me. Inspire me! Take me to another world!
While the designers below smacked me in the forehead with their creativity and beauty, other designers were plainly afraid of taking risks – and that’s not going to work. Some of the ones who got it right are above. I stress the word “some.” These are the lines that impressed me so much that I managed to excitedly write them on my Moleskine, complete with about a million exclamation marks!
