In Los Angeles, the city always shines because of the stars both down on its Walk of Fame and those high up on its hills. The sheen of Tinseltown last week, however, emanated from a different light source, one whose glow beamed so bright it dawned blinding. As Los Angeles Fashion Week (LAFW) unfolded, the city, usually illuminated by the constellations of the entertainment industry, made room for those of fashion. And though the lights no longer pulse on the runways, those electrifying moments that occurred on (and off) them remain. Whether you’re reading this to relive the glory or to soothe your FOMO, here are the highest of LAFW’s highlights.
Where LA’s beau monde rubbed rhinestone-encrusted elbows and clinked studded belts, the Ed Hardy show descended on the City of Angels with nothing short of sinfully steezy grails. Hemlines reached an all-time low on denim and soared to new heights on tops. It was audacious, louche, and delectable—down to the last grommet. When we asked why Ed Hardy was the place to be at LAFW backstage, pre-show, Creative Director Kevin Christiana simply replied, “We’re fucking EdHardy. That’s it. We’re bringing it.” And brought it, they did.
Meanwhile, BRUCEGLEN maxed out on camp as models glided down a spiral staircase, sporting textiles that rendered a dream-like optimism. But dreams can’t occur without resting, as the dynamic design duo Bruce and Glen Proctor put it. While on a recent trip, seeking some much-needed R and R, they found themselves in the Louvre. “There was so much blue everywhere. We said, ‘There’s something there with that blue color,’” shared Bruce. “We got back to LA, and there were so many things happening out of the blue,” added Glen. Dubbed “Out of the blue,” the collection materialized the boundless possibility of dreaming and all its topsy-turvy joy in brightly pigmented patterns abbreviated by asymmetry. Psychedelia flirted with surrealism as Trompe-l'œil took center stage with printed scribbles and draping that seemed to have onlookers questioning if any of it was real or just a wild dream.
Time already moves mysteriously in LA, but at LAFW, it’s increasingly enigmatic. “We are creating something that anybody who attends doesn’t have to leave,” shared LAFW President and Co-founder Ciarra Pardo over an intimate chat with Highsnobiety, ensconced in the plush emerald lounge of the W’s Living Room. With all that’s offered, it’s easy to feel perplexed about what to hit up next, but that’s all for good measure. “Part of our mission has been to help the world to recognize what LA has to offer,” she noted. “We’ve curated this in a way that you can spend a full day with us and constantly be discovering—and not get bored or tired. Next thing you know, you’ve been with us eight hours.”
And that feeling of discovery was the navigating theme to this season’s schedule. Either in the N4XT Chat Series, delving into the future of beauty, tech, and fitness, or at the screening of Mark Bozek’s “The Life and Times of Bill Cunningham,” where Pat Cleveland joined Bozek for a post-screening panel, reminiscing all the uncanny and fascinating happenings of the Battle of Versailles, opportunities for discovery abounded within the W. “When we decided to do this and take over LAFW, we immediately knew that we didn’t want to create the traditional type of New York, Paris, Milan [fashion week],” added Imad Izemrane, CEO and Co-Founder of N4XT Experiences.
Past the syncopated beats of the 444 traveling among the runway’s floor, the sounds of other hard-hitting tracks boomed past the corridors of the W. Elsewhere, the city offered decadent doses of debauchery at the parties raging on well past LAFW’s official itinerary. Over in WeHo, fashion kids took to the dancefloor of The Moon Room for a night of indie-sleaze-coded revelry, decked out in Dsquared2, Versace, and Saint Laurent. At Tao, Dess Dior celebrated the release of her collaboration with Pascal Fine Jewelry via a culinary extravaganza as Pan-Asian delicacies flirted with sumptuous libations (such as a certain unforgettable lychee martini twisted with the zing of St. Germain) in an intimate, private dinner. Meanwhile, in Silver Lake, a bohemian disco of sorts materialized in Tenants of the Trees, where 70s bangers kept spirits high on the dancefloor while spiced concoctions of citrus, cinnamon, and vodka kept them even higher at the bar.
Back on the W’s rooftop Wet Deck, the glitterati of LA’s style scene bopped to tribal house beats on the final eve of LAFW at The Blonds afterparty, presented by RASA. Beyond the cabanas and swaying palm fronds, the sun descended, and the sky faded from pastel to indigo. The Angelino skyline sparkled, rivaling the dazzle of those savoring the final nectar of the week’s festivities out on the terrace. Fashion Week never felt so indulgent.
Discover more from LAFW here!
