L.A. Fashion Week Spring '04: Petro Zillia

There is no Lulu Bratzzo, but in the world of Petro Zillia, the fictitious fashionista was single-handedly responsible for every stylish moment in the past 50 years, advising Norma Jean Baker in her pre-Marilyn days, Jacqueline Kennedy during the Camelot years, David Bowie before he became Ziggy Stardust, and Diana Spencer on the day she became Princess Di. Designer Nony Tochterman, who cites Bratzzo as the inspiration for the latest Petro Zillia collection, describes her as “the every woman, who does as much as she can in every moment of her life.”

Tochterman showed the Spring 2004 line on Oct. 28 during Mercedes-Benz Shows L.A. Her show was one of four underwritten by the event’s organizers.

Tochterman used everything stylish from the past five decades as a springboard for her latest collection, which stays true to Petro Zillia’s exuberant style without reprising past collections.

The show featured silk chiffon, silk charmeuse, cotton twill and knits in patterns with brightly colored rainbows, oversize flowers against a gingham ground, and op-art dots.

Standout pieces included a hand-stitched patchwork coat and vest of flower appliqueacute;s, paillette-encrusted hand-knit swimwear, and contrast-trimmed fitted jackets worn with tailored shorts featuring pocket fabric that peeked below the hems. —Alison A. Nieder