L.A. Fashion Week Spring 2010: EM & Co. Presents Up Next: Emerging L.A. Designers

Eveline Morel has been a champion of young talent by stocking her boutique, EM & Co., with jewelry, accessories and clothing by local designers starting from the ground up. On Oct. 14, Morel featured clothing lines Queenie4Ever and Ventidue and accessories line Helles in the Up Next: Emerging L.A. Designers fashion show.

A runway was cleared in the center of the store to make way for Queenie4Ever’s whimsical dresses, which were styled with a high school teen rebel edge. Precious princess designs—a bubble skirt peppered with rosettes, lacey party dress and ruffle collar dresses—worn with fishnet tights and combat boots spoke to the MySpace generation, as the line is designed by 17-year-old Tatiana McLane. Sitting front row was Frankie Clarke, who is McLane’s friend, lookbook model and the namesake of Daniella Clarke’s denim line, Frankie B.

In leather, Ventidue’s otherwise cocktail-friendly dresses had a bad-girl streak. A dress made of layered strips in a cracked silver suede finish balanced sexy with sweet. A classic leather trench coat was striking in the ’80s lipstick-red hue of Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” jacket. For both shows, Helles’ bold necklaces added a finishing touch. Designs ranged from chunky multi-strand necklaces that were a tangle of pearls, chains and charms to a neat collar of oversized green stones.—Rhea Cortado