L.A. Fashion Week Fall '10: Hope in the City
On a runway overlooking the confessional booths of former Catholic cathedral St. Vibiana, the Hope in the City show presented collections from five emerging designers who flexed their whimsical and stylish sides.
The March 24 show started with an inventive foot forward during its pre-show, where more than 12 dresses constructed out of old issues of the LA Weekly newspaper took the stage. The newspaper gowns and corset dresses were designed by fashion students and emerging designers such as Shannon Russell and Heather Petrey.
Next up was Salvatore Salamone’s headwear, where natural and modernist architecture styles met. The welded-steel frames of the hats were set in sometimes angular, sometimes flowing shapes. They also provided foundations for plastic plants. The faux foliage gave the frames some stylish covering.
Rey Aquino Designs presented an 11-look show that offered riffs on the always-stylish English punk, Mod and Edwardian looks for men. Items included a frock coat with red top-stitching, a herringbone double-breasted coat and sleeveless jackets.
Adolfo Sanchez Designs offered 14 looks inspired by women’s styles of the 1920s to 1950s. The collection’s dresses featured draped open backs, according to designer Adolfo Sanchez. His collection also featured modernist art-inspired graphics on some items such as leggings.
Shekhar Rahate designs silk and satin red-carpet gowns. However, the first dress in his 26-look show was a 100 percent cotton dress bearing the Hindu mantra Om Namah Shivah. The rest of his collection featured gowns with beading and one-shoulder styles.
Shpetim Zero is an instructor at Otis College of Arts and Design. He presented a 12-look collection inspired by the natural world. A cashmere coat was inspired by a beetle’s shell. Another look was a corseted skirt with some boning material, which gave the garment the shape of a lily.
Hope in the City was produced by Christian faith community Mosaic. The event raised funds for nonprofit groups such as Serve LA. The show was emceed by Mosaic pastor Hank Fortener and television host Jeannie Mai.—Andrew Asch
