The scene: Art, music and fashion converged at the sixth installment of Project Ethos. The tri-annual event showcases emerging artists of the MySpace generation with a concert, fashion show and art gallery. More than 750 guests attended Project Ethos’ first show, in 2005. On Feb. 29, more than 2,000 guests crammed into the Avalon nightclub.

Co-founder Heidi Luerra raised the theatricality bar this year with her “Stars Aligned” theme and a magical “Midsummer Night’s Dream”–style mood that included fairies and a “mystical tree” character. “I think people look forward to see what we come up with to spice up the fashion show,” said Jason Peskin, co-founder of Project Ethos. To top last year’s circus theme, which featured a unicyclist and a stilt walker, groovaholic dancers opened for the fashion show, which was a mixed bag of T-shirts, cocktail dressing, retro fashion and dramatic gowns.

Vintage-inspired fashion was a dominant theme. Isabelle Lenton’s inspiration of swing music and hot rods was seen in rolled-up cigarette jeans, busty lace-up halter dresses and a men’s bowling shirt for her line, Golly Gee. Lillian Love Dennis’ black, red and white Heavinz outfits featured tuxedo details and humorous jailbird stripes. Black tears dripping from the models’ cheeks added extra drama. A fur-trimmed plaid jacket by Celebrity Star Fashion looked very 1970s, while shiny plaid and solid-colored dresses were thoroughly current. 

Tavi Adinasi’s dresses ran the gamut from ethnic prints to neon ruffles. SBG Designs’ bold necklaces, bracelets and earrings made a statement in colorful semiprecious stones and wood. Alexander Acosta was the most experimental with his line, Crash Culture Introduces Tá ßü, which included a mini-dress with pillowy padded hips and a long jacket trimmed with white feathers.

On the casual side, Jayson Alan showed swimwear and denim separates. To illustrate the versatility of Love Livin’s T-shirts, one T-shirt–clad model carried a surfboard, and another wore her shirt with white angel wings. 

Buyers from the Last September boutique, based in Los Angeles, and Jenny G boutique in Long Beach, Calif., attended.  —Rhea Cortado