Tag - TomTom

I had the pleasure of attending the (newly relaunched) Gen Art “Fresh Faces in Fashion” at historical Vibiana in downtown LA during LA Fashion Week. I got all gussied up a’la ’50s tulle princess’ and headed to the show. This time, Gen Art featured the Spring 2012 collections of: We Are Handsome, Dear Creatures, Odylyne, Chambers, 71 Stanton, Funktional and Stand & Deliver. There were also installations out in the courtyard by: Iman Toloui, Plomo, Sticks & Stones and Tom Tom. The show was hosted by the lovely actress (Gen Art alum and co-owner of MYFDB)- Zoe Saldana. The event was packed, but luckily I was able to sit my little be-hind on the floor in the media pit smack dab in front of the runway (huge plus for superb runway shots). First up was the Australian swimwear line- We Are Handsome presented first. I love their chic swimwear and the cool prints that are emblazoned on the garments. It’s always nice to see a change from the usual solid colors and floral, polka-dot and rainbow prints. The next line to show was Dear Creatures. Even the name, Dear Creatures sounds like something out of a fairy-tale… Their clothes were cute, whimsical and feminine. They also featured a couple Melie Bianco for Dear Creatures handbags that nicely complemented the looks. The next brand, Odylyne, was one of my favorite brands of the evening. They enlightened the audience with their menagerie of flowy, bohemian maxi dresses and separates, as well as fun head wear that was comprised of stones, beading and polished rock. Who knew dressing like a hippie could be this glamorous?! One of the highlights of the presentation was when the expecting and glowing designer- Stephanie Lampkin took a bow. She (like her collection) was just too adorable for words! LA-based menswear brand- Chambers introduced very casual separates that are meant to be worn everywhere. For a further look inside the brand, go here. 71 Stanton showcased a lux-sporty collection (if you will). The name 71 Stanton was derived from the year the designer-Ellis was born and the city in OC she moved to in 1994. I loved her use of juxtaposing more ‘California casual’ fabrics like jersey with more lavish fabrics like silks and chiffons. Check out 71 Stanton’s website here. The next line- Funktional had a semi-tribal theme to it (hence the models tribal-esque-inspired make-up). Again, the looks were effortless yet chic…coinciding with the California lifestyle. I did notice a hints of a vintage feel in the dresses and the pants. I loved the 80s-style floral pant and the 70s-style high-waist, wide-leg trouser. Other fun pieces included a lingerie-inspired dress with pleating and lace trim, as well as the multi-print fishtail skirt. Funktional’s “oh-la-la” moment came at the end, when a model wearing an intense Native dress harness strutted down the runway. Check out Funktional here. The last brand to walk down the runway was rebellious Stand and Deliver. The line is inspired by Kings Road in the year 1977 and has enough leather, spikes, studs and chains to make Lady Gaga swoon. S & D’s presentation also turned into a performance, as a male model skateboarded on the runway until another male model entered his territory-thus setting the stage for a mock brawl between the two. I forgot to mention that before the ‘fight’, a male and female model got together in one corner of the stage and hosted a make-out session. Oh… all in the good nature of mixing the fashion and entertainment industries… Check out Stand and Deliver here and on Facebook.

For more information and to become a member of Gen Art, go here. Welcome back Gen Art!!

**Please Note: Some of the photos towards the end of slideshow contain (topless) nudity**