Style Fashion Week LA Diary Day 2: Let the games begin! Style Fashion Week LA opens with Stop Staring! Fall/Winter 2011 Runway Show at Vibiana

Style Fashion Week LA kicked-off a round of runway shows for Fall/Winter 2011 at the newly renovated luxurious event space Vibiana. The former Cathedral’s baroque-inspired 35,000 square feet space hosted the week of events. Consisting of four days of non-stop fashion, the event showcased an intelligent, innovative platform for progressive, established, and emerging designers to show their collections to media, celebrities, national and international buyers, and select style makers.

Featured on the runway for opening night, the crowd was dazzled by the vintage and rockability inspired designs of award winning Los Angeles-based designer Alicia Estrada’s Stop Staring!

Photo credit Brian Pitts

Photo credit Brian Pitts

Photo credit Brian Pitts

Photo credit Brian Pitts

Since coming from Miami, Style Fashion Week solidified its legitimacy with the support of the City of Los Angeles, and Commissioner Cynthia Ruiz.

Commissioner Cynthia Ruiz

Commissioner Cynthia Ruiz

“It is my honor and privilege to be here tonight. I serve as the Mayor’s Fashion Liaison to the Fashion Industry, but the real reason I’m here is because I’m a big fan of Stop Staring! Alicia Estrada is the beauty and brains and the creator of Stop Staring!,” exclaims Commissioner Ruiz.

“One of the reasons I love Stop Staring! is because it shows that vintage fashion never goes out of style. Little known secret---we actually call Alicia ‘The Vintage Vixen.’ ”

In 2005, Alicia received an award from the Mayor for Minority Manufacturing Business of the Year.

 

Taking its inspiration from the 1940’s and 1950’s, Stop Staring! cocktail dresses and rockability designs have been worn by a host of celebrities including Eva Mendes, Kim Kardashian, Zooey Deschanel, and Twilight star Ashley Greene.

 

As a bonus, the crowd seemed to have gotten the memo of the night---it’s Fashion Week in LA getting decked out is a must.

 

Ashly Williams, Creative Director, PinkGrasshopper

Candis Porter and Eyewear designer and Stylist Charlie Brianna

Stylist Bethany Purkett of B Style

Nick Verreos holding down the front row

We loved the red lips, long lashes and designer tights.

 

Guests enjoying nail services by Nubar Nails during the reception hour.

Guests enjoyed treats from Pinkberry every night!

For more fabulous finds, please visit Stop Staring! at www.stopstaringclothing.com.

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Style Fashion Week LA Diary Day 1: Style Fashion Week LA VIP/Media Reception at FENDI Casa

On any other Monday night, Angelenos are more than likely relaxing and getting themselves prepared for the week. But this was not any other Monday night or any other week. Welcome to Style Fashion Week LA! The folks at Style Fashion Week threw a fabulous welcome fête for VIP and Media at held the swank FENDI Casa Showroom.



What a surprise to run into designers Jen Awad and Curly-V (of CONCEPT LA Fashion Week fame!), celebrity stylist Mr. Bradshaw, and America’s Next Top Model alum Joanie Dodds, who is now co-host and carpenter on DIY Network’s “Run My Renovation.”

Designer Jen Awad (left) and Designer Curly-V (right)

Celebrity Stylist Mr. Bradshaw

Joanie Dodds

Makeup Artist and Photographer Marq Mendez

DJ spinning the tunes

The Caipirinhas and Guava Rose cocktails by Leblon were tasty. We snacked on mini cheeseburgers and seasoned fries from the food truck in the back which were delish!

Oh, and don’t forget the gift bag…

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FIRST.LA presented by Directives West showcased the strength of LA’s undeniable influence on retail, merchandising and trends with the Contemporary market.

On a brisk early Monday evening in March, buyers, stylists, bloggers, and fashion trend forecasters gathered on The Patio at the California Market Center to mix and mingle while sipping Pisco Gran Sierpe cocktails and check out the fall collections of some of LA’s talented designers.

Now in its second year, the First.LA Fall/Winter 2011 runway show exhibited a fresh mix of notable and emerging talent in the local contemporary market.

Directives West selected three prominent LA fashion influencers to style the show---Erin Weinger from StyleSectionLA.com, Fashion Editor and Stylist Hellin Kay of ChampagneAndHeels.com and Stylist and Image Consultant Laurie Brucker of LaurieBStyle.com.

“In our own right, Los Angeles definitely has created a unique emerging design talent that continues to steal the spotlight every season and we’re here to highlight a few of those talents as well as some collections that continue to awe and wow and capture us in the fashion industry,” explains Shelda Hartwell-Hale, Vice President at Directives West.

“In our second year we are really proud to say that the market looks new and fresh it’s exciting, and our prediction is that the consumer is going to continue to spend. She’s going to invest on more statement pieces, she is definitely going to continue to look for value and she’s going to look for some of the hot new items you’re going to see on the fall runway shows this evening.”

Designers shown were YUYU, Twinkle by Wenlan, Whitney Eve, J Brand, James Icon, Dolan, Kolae, Dolce Cabo, 50 Dresses, Hazel and more.

Here are a few highlights.

YUYU. A leading LA based knitwear company featuring timeless, new contemporary designs in sweaters and knits. Gorgeous yarns in sophisticated styles and diversified silhouettes make this collection perfect for the season.

Twinkle by Wenlan. The Twinkle by Wenlan collection was born from designer Wenlan Chia’s affinity for design, love of art, and prolific imagination. Twinkle’s Chunky Texture Hand Knits are the most beloved items from Twinkle’s collection year after year.

Whitney Eve. An exciting and eclectic collection launched by Whitney Port evoking a girly nature with a touch of punchy sass.

J Brand. J Brand set out to create a sophisticated jean from a fashion point of view to make a woman look and feel beautiful. Known for its remarkable fit, J Brand has achieved a winning combination of style, comfort and sexiness.

Dolce Cabo. For Fall 2011 Dolce Cabo stayed true to the clean-lined sporty-cocktail vein the line is known for and once again has a solid lineup of special-occasion styles that strikes a hard-to-achieve balance between high fashion and accessibility.

James Icon. James Icon is the edgier contemporary counterpart to coveted demin brand James Jeans, known for its perfect and comfortable fit. Exuding a subtle sex-appeal, it is today’s answer to tomorrow’s fashion.



Dolan. Dolan is based on making the unexpected approachable. Even with surprising details, the styles remain unstructed and uncomplicated. Based and made in downtown Los Angeles, Dolan embodies authentic and creative California style.

Kolae. An edgy, chic and glamourous new collection launched for Fall 2011 created by partners Cameron Spear and Kristen DePalma. Kolae’s separates are perfect for an on-the-go lifestyle, and offer a seamless transition from cosmopolitan street chic to cocktail hour sophistication.

50 Dresses. Designer Tess Vigil presents vintage inspired, contemporary styles with the new LA-based line 50 Dresses. Modern lady-like silhouettes and feminine fabrics unite with an easy chic attitude.

Hazel. Hazel re-masters its playful and youthful take on classics and introduces an updated, more sophisticated look for Fall 2011. From statement jackets to romantic tops and feminine dresses, the collection captures a sporting aristocracy with a touch of modern enchantment.

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The finale…