Los Angeles Fashion Week Fall 2001: New Arrivals at the Lab

The hipsters were seated four rows deep, while many more found places to stand against stark walls—much of which contributed to the casual yet hip mix of fashiongoers at the New Arrivals runway show held at the Laboratory on March 30.

The show featured several young designers from the Echo Park and Silverlake districts of Los Angeles, including Gladys & Jeanell, Rockin’ Sissy, Kimme Buzzelli for Show Pony, Michele Montano and Miguel Diego Gomez.

Highlights from the show included a dance performance by Psycho Dance Show. Rockin’ Sissy designer Ryan Heffington, who is a member of the local dance troupe, showed ’30s-inspired menswear, which includes sweater knits with jersey sleeves and low-waist pants. Heffington’s collection also included knit hobble-dresses that ended in short leggings at the hem.

Kimme Buzzelli, owner of the Silverlake arts space known as Show Pony, showed her collection of one-of-a-kind dresses on models that were made to look like little girls. Each model carried a prop that ranged from innocuous to alarming: a child’s book, balloons, a hand mirror, a headless doll and a carving knife.—Alison A. Nieder