Los Angeles Fashion Week Spring '05: Ashley Paige and Ash by Ash

Who would have thought that Ashley Paige would cover up midriffs and bust lines? Paige isn’t going prude. The coverups are part of her new sportswear line, Ash by Ash, which debuted alongside her Spring swimwear collection on Oct. 27 at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at Smashbox Studios in Culver City.

Like Paige’s swimwear, Ash by Ash was full of knits. The line featured A-line dresses, knit ruffle knee-length dresses and full-length skirts. There were also tube dresses and zipped hoodies, which offered a strong complement to Paige’s swimwear collection.

For the first time, the designer did some cut-and-sew pieces for items such as underwire tops. She also went for lots of striping on her knit viscose bikinis. Red-and-blue and green-and-pink color combinations stood out, as did plaid bustiers and gingham two-piece suits.

For her “Redneck Riviera” fashion show, Paige drew inspiration from her Alabama upbringing. Models wore cowboy boots and pranced down the runway to “Harper Valley PTA” and “When You’re Hot, You’re Hot.” —R.M.