L.A. Fashion Week Fall '10: MOCA Contemporaries Merges Art With Fashion
March 29, 2010The scene: A random jumble of art and fashion fans packed into the Blum & Poe art gallery on March 25 to support MOCA Contemporaries’ “Art Merges With Fashion” benefit event. MOCA Contemporaries’ board members picked some of their favorite local and up-and-coming accessories, jewelry and clothing designers (Jacqueline Rose, Jeffrey Levin, KNIOMY, Lisamichelle, Marlen Lugo, Samora, Smoke & Mirrors and YevArts) to showcase their work and take orders.
Kniomy Chang-McAuliffe’s eponymous line of men’s shirts didn’t look like much by just glancing at the rack, but after inspecting every inch of the garment, hidden stitches, ribbons and extra buttons would appear like hidden Easter eggs.
“My husband, when he goes to shop, he sees touches of details that he appreciates, which I love,” said Chang-McAuliffe, who graduated from L.A. Trade Tech and from Fashion Institute of Technology in New York and then worked in France for nine years. She now lives in Pasadena, Calif., where her line is sewn by a special contractor. “The shirt isn’t screaming. It’s a lot of little details.”
Smoke & Mirrors’ rack was busy and crowded all night long as guests thumbed through the line's current Spring 2010 goods and took notes for ordering. Designers Emily Harteau and Michelle Chaplin have a knack for making flattering and easy-to-wear dresses, skirts and tops in fresh prints. “We’re just having a lot of fun with the collection. We’re doing less SKUs but more colors. We’re just doing the pieces we love. We’re not doing any of the filler pieces. We’re not waiting for the retailers to tell us what they like. We’re saying, ‘This is what we like’ and putting it out there,” Harteau said of upcoming seasons. Smoke & Mirrors’ Web store is in the works to debut soon.
Lisamichelle designer Lisa Felsenthal recently added embellished belt, headband and bracelet accessories to her line. At the event, Felsenthal and friends modeled, showing how the accessories gave an extra jeweled glitz to her solid-colored jersey dresses.—Rhea Cortado