lafw: 90's flashback or a hot mess?

LA Fashion Week is more like LA Fashion Week"end". The Pretties couldn't make it to the GenArt show on Friday, but Racked LA had great coverage on that. Let's just say that there was fashion, alcohol, and the only celeb spottings were Ron Jeremy and Slade Smiley (Real Housewives of OC).

We did show up the next two days and experienced quite a spectacle. Here's our Saturday rundown:

Upon first arrival I felt more like I was attending a rock concert than a fashion show. The DJ was bumpin' Limp Bizkit and Sir Mix-a-lot. Is is 1995 again? We learned later in the evening, that yes it is. The crowd was sparse and it was a cash bar (WTF!?), things were not looking good.

The first show we checked out men's line COA. The highlights were definitely the bright colored denim and a shirtless model, always a crowd pleaser; even though the designer missed an opportunity to show an item.

Next it was downstairs for Future Heretics, where I was given numerous mixed signals: "yes you can sit here", "no you can't sit there", "sit here" and finally, "no we're not seating for the show yet." This is when I proceeded to the bar and bought one of those delicious $10 blueberry drinks with extra ice.

Alas, they were seating the show and I made my way inside. Future Heretics has some great LA street style mixed with distressed bleach stained denim, the 90's are creeping back into style. The audience seemed to eat it up.

Laeken brought us bright hues with a bounce, while MartinMartin put fear into our eyes, literally. Dreary music and colored bangs were distracting us from the fashion. Maybe goth is back due to the sad economy? Or maybe someone just needs a hug? I don't know, but I was bored. It actually reminded me of exactly how this one guy in middle school dressed during ahem, you guessed it, the 90s! Doc Martins and all.
The last show of the evening was UNIF who had us rockin' out to their best of the 90's mix. The highlight there was bright colored flannel with acid washed denim and topped off with Doc Martins. Was there a big clearance sale somewhere?

To us the star of the evening was Skin Graft! We're talking REAL innovation here I couldn't get enough of the elaborate details, ruffles, fabrics, feathers, and embellishments. It was like breath of fashion air after 90's flashbacks. They even know how to put on a show with an elaborate opening dance number. I also loved that they took the effort to put a brochure on every seat that had info about the collection. Multi-talented and very professional; I think they are the designers to keep an eye out for. I could easily see a celebrity (or myself) wearing one of their pieces. Margaret Cho was in the audience, she recently sported Skin Graft on the cover of Coilhouse Magazine. Racked LA has show pics.