L.A. Fashion Week Spring '03: Starchild

Crowd support was strong for the debut of Starchild, a cleanly crafted collection from local designer Ayanna Henderson, who let the fabrics take center stage. Held Nov. 2 at the cozy 33 1/3 Gallery in Silverlake, the event drew about 50 friends and family members.

Solid pastels were the foundation of the 25-piece line that appeared fit for wearing to a seaside restaurant in a tropical locale. Sheer silk cropped halters trimmed with dyed leather, triple-ruffle-edged dresses with exaggerated sleeves, breezy caftan-style dresses and a fresh-looking shorts set with a cowl-neck sleeveless shirt and boy briefs were highlights.

Eschewing washed looks, denim was straightforward in hot pants, gauchos and a pantsuit with button pockets and adjustable leg ties. One sassy number was a corduroy gaucho suit with a vest top.

Blinking away tears and giddy with emotion, Henderson cradled her 2-year-old son, Dennis, afterward and hugged attendees. “A lot of the silks I use are fabrics that I’ve hunted down at $1 sales all over the city when I didn’t have much money,” said the Altadena, Calif. native. Tokyo A Go-Go in Chinatown and Labor Fruit in Echo Park are two stores that carry Starchild. —Nola Sarkisian-Miller