L.A. Fashion Week Spring '08: Whitley Kros
Actress Marissa Ribisi and business partner Sophia Coloma debuted their new line, Whitley Kros, Oct. 16 to a packed crowd of fashionistas, Hollywood actors and retail buyers at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at Smashbox Studios in Culver City, Calif.
Their collection was sleek, clean and powered by subtle colors blended with bright tones ranging from eye-popping yellows to hot pinks.
Some of their design cues came from Coloma’s experience as the former co-owner of the Satine Boutique on West Third Street in Los Angeles. Ribisi’s creative sense comes from her first venture into fashion as a teen-ager, when she and her siblings started a T-shirt line called Monster. She later launched an acting career, as did her twin brother, Giovanni. The designer is married to musician Beck, with whom she has two children.
Whitley Kros is a fictional character the two designers invented. “She is a traveler, young and very free,” said Coloma, a native of Australia. “The collection will always be in her suitcase.”
This Spring/Summer ’08 collection was the contents of Kros’ suitcase after attending the Fuji Rock Festival in Japan. Those contents included lots of navy-blue items, including a classic short jumpsuit with short sleeves; an “Edgemont” dress; and clean, sleek jackets influenced by Chanel.
The designers spent eight months perfecting the fit of their “Vine” jeans, which have skinny legs. —D.B.
