Los Angeles Fashion Week Fall I 2003: Lotta

Swedish-born Lotta Stensson lives in Los Angeles now, but the designer spent 12 years in the Big Apple before she made her way out West. Her April 2 runway show, held at the Downtown Standard Hotel as part of Mercedes-Benz Shows L.A., revealed Fall looks that blended East Coast influence with what Stensson calls “West Coast sensibility.”

Stensson mixed ethnic and cultural influences with her signature styling using embellished fabrics and casual, sexy silhouettes. The collection featured handembroidered tunics in incarnations that ranged from Nehru to Afro-centric. Novelty items included a leather, herringbone kimono, a wool Twiggy dress with leg warmers and knit shawls. On the more feminine side were flapper dresses, halter-style evening gowns and plenty of charmeuse mini dresses.

“It’s all about keeping a New York attitude— doing your own thing, being true to yourself and keeping it real,” Stensson said. —Robert McAllister