L.A. Fashion Week Fall '10: FBI, CMC's Designer Launch Pad Runway Show

Above the buzz of the Los Angeles Fashion Market, seven emerging designers showed their Fall 2010 looks at the March 20 Designer Launch Pad runway show, held in the California Market Center’s penthouse.

The show started on something of an intimate note with the looks of lingerie and sleepwear labels Love Dragons and Toute la Nuit. Love Dragons designer Lori Shapiro used silk charmeuse fabrics to create a lingerie line made dramatic with shrug coats, skirts and hats. Toute la Nuite showed a long slip/nightie and stylish loungewear.

Dollimou used tri-blend cottons to make track suits, shirts, tank tops and dresses inspired by a theme of travel to destinations such as Rio de Janeiro. Accessories line Baah showed its leather, crocodile and python-skin belts topped off by black nickel buckles. The buckles featured Swarovski crystals and depicted designs of roses, cherubs, cameos and animals.

Gia Lee used stretch cottons and Ponte di Roma knits to create a 1960s-inspired line, which featured neutral colors, geometric prints and silhouettes such as jumpers and blousons.

Mariska used silks to build a contemporary line with a nod to 1960s looks and Austrian history. The seven-look show featured dresses, silk shirts and a military-style coat inspired by the aristocracy of the Austro-Hungarian empire, said designer Maria Janossy.

The Jen Awad line mixed rock ’n’ roll style with some futuristic “Barbarella” looks. Designer Jen Awad showed a biker jacket constructed out of gold vinyl material and a mini-skirt embroidered with pearls. Other looks included an angle coat made stylish with an oversized leather collar.

The Designer Launch Pad show was produced by Fashion Business Inc., the Focus fashion trade show and the California Market Center. The runway show was produced and styled by Jeffrey Relf/The Fashion Office. Many of the models were provided by Grace Model Management.—Andrew Asch