L.A. Fashion Week Fall '04: Rock & Republic
Perpetual bad-boy musician Tommy Lee hosted the Rock & Republic runway show on April 1 at Avalon Hollywood. The frenzied concert-style event ushered in a new direction for the Los Angeles–based brand.
Once solely a jeans and T-shirts label, Rock & Republic’s Black Label collection included knits, furs and leathers.
Knits included sweaters such as “Perry,” inspired by a military knit that Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry wore during the 1970s. Rock & Republic founder and designer Michael Ball reconstructed the classic look with bright colors and leather patches on the shoulders and forearms.
Leather items included barely-there miniskirts and heavy jackets in water danka leather—material preferred by motorcycle racers and cops in Germany. The “Tina Turner” dress walked a fine line between bondage and glamour. The long train behind the dress would be perfect for the red carpet, and the skimpy top would mesh nicely with any erotica ball.
Rock & Republic still specializes in a denim cut that rounds and lifts the behind. For Fall 2004, denim variations included sterling silver trims and studs and a super-dark indigo denim with 1 percent stretch. —A.A.
