Typically there’s is a big kick off with LAFW and an ending that winds up with a flourish. So far, the kick-off was Juan Carlos Obando. This experiment of fashion "in the round" being followed by video cameras so that we can view the video post mortem is less successful in its execution. As you can see in the video, the videographers are often in the way and distracting from the key point of the show– FASHION! While one wants to see the way the garments move, you frequently don’t get to see the entire view of the model walking and turning and thus miss some details. The Lightbox was cut to a very small number of chairs and stylist Barbara Palmer was lucky to view this line. Palmer was sitting behind Dean Factor and he indicated that this was a test of the video. Check out the video, it’s not as useful as one would think and given that there are other photographers there, how much they got of the show and the looks has yet to be determined.
What was apparent from the photos seen was that the line was featuring black, grey and white primarily done in min dresses with a few long ones thrown into the mix.
Palmer stated that "the video camera was such a distraction! They haven’t done that for other shows. He showed lots of mini dresses. He chose flat spectator shoes that did not go at all and were clunky with the dresses."
Where are the trousers? Where are the coats? Where are the dresses that would actually be practical for the office? Where are the styles, the fabrics that indicate this is fall (besides the dark tones) that make it suitable for the fall/winter season that actually does get cold (well LA’s version of cold) Just who–and what season– is Obando designing for?
Rating– let’s not even go there. Is it a good reflection of LA Fashion? Not to my mind or serious fashionistas who want to show off the best of LA and show that we can present something more than mini dresses, denim and tees. Why pitch this line to the celebrity quotient when what is needed is to show how fashion really can be worn on a daily basis.
Barbara Palmer and Stevie Wilson
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