BY LYNDSEY SAUL >LA.COM

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It's fashion week somewhere, all the time. At least that’s how it seems considering that even though fashion week in New York was over and done with last month, because of last week’s Project Runway finale, Bryant Park is still lingering on in the airwaves (and our brainwaves). And here we are again. It’s Spring and time to see what Fall ’08 styles have sprung from the nimble thimbles of our very own homegrown designers.



HIGHLIGHTS FROM DAY ONE

Whitley Kros

Whitley Kros—the brainchild of best friends Marissa Ribisi (twin sister of Giovanni) and Satine co-owner Sophia Coloma—capped off the night with a wardrobe fit for a neo ‘80s power bitch (with a heart of rock n’ roll) set to a soundtrack mixed by the elusive Beck (Ribisi’s hubby), who we hear was in the DJ booth. But if he was, he kept such a low-profile that nobody noticed him.

Ribisi and Coloma cited “Melanie Griffith in Working Girl travel(ing) through Paris and Berlin, listening to Nirvana,” as the inspiration for their fall collection. This meant a playful mix of dresses (tailored, tunics, and the long, tank variety) jumpsuits and high-waisted skirts in plaids and black-and-white checks, and white jeans with silk-screened with zebras, baggy T-shirts and long, slouchy sweaters. Some of the pieces were paired with black leather gladiators and tights, giving part of the collection a late-summer feel—which makes sense for our season-less California weather—and all of it felt very Eastside-chic. Hipsters and celebs being those cool enough to wear it.

The front row was filled with celeb friends and family like the gray beret-clad Juliette Lewis, who flaunted pieces from Whitley Kros' Spring '08 collection. “I’m here to support Whitley Kros, which is why I’m wearing this,” she said, referring to her blousey shirt, shorts and hot pink footless tights.

And Lewis wasn't the only one paying props to Whitley Kros—from  the front row, Erika Christensen watched the same leopard-print dress she was wearing walk down the runway.

See the photo gallery (Collections by Whitley Kros, Julia Clancey, Orthodox and Imasu by Kelly Nishimoto)

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HIGHLIGHTS FROM DAY TWO

Joseph Domingo
Rounding off a rather quiet day at Smashbox—Jenna Jameson unveiling her PETA ad, in which this time for the cameras she plugs pleather, and a few no-name TV personalities being about the only "notables" around— was San Francisco-based designer Joseph Domingo's vision for fall. "Vixen" was the collection's name, and a series of vampy looks with dominatrix details was the game.



Domingo sent out a collection of form-fitting strapless dresses and bustiers over skin-tight bodysuits that seemed unsure of whether it wanted to be something befitting a femme fatale, a la Jessica Rabbit (one red strapless dress was even called the "Jessica Rabbit"), or a Hollywood Boulevard sex shop. Or maybe a country singer? The back of a long black trench revealed intricate purple beading and sequins in a shape more than slightly reminiscent of western shirt. Pretty, yes, but out of place. 

Perhaps Domingo was trying broaden our vision of a "vixen," by showing that sexy doesn't have to be defined as just one look—an admirable message if intended, but the overall effect was underwhelming.  And the dramatic, drag queen makeup, which aged the girls significantly, didn't help.

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HIGHLIGHTS FROM DAY THREE

Nicholai by Nicky Hilton
This is the one show, other than Whitley Kros, where we expected to see a decent celebrity turn-out. But, alas, the Hiltons—along with Paris's newest accessory, Benji Madden—were the only front row-ers causing a flashbulb frenzy. Which brings us to this question: where have all the celebrities gone? Not to Culver City, not even for Nicky Hilton. Which is too bad because they really missed out.

Hilton was on her high-horse with an edged-up equestrian theme that fell in a sophisticated slot somewhere between preppy and punk. Her first model cantered out swinging a riding whip next to a pair of black leather jodhpurs paired with a collared wool vest, riding boots and a helmet. A series of pleated leather, wool and houndstooth minis were worn over leather leggings, a patent leather motorcycle coat and skinny jeans with tiny leather tassle embellished zippers followed. Pea coats and double-breasted leather trenches topped off the show, after which Hilton came out for a bow, bringing a low-key evening to a close.

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HIGHLIGHTS FROM DAY FOUR

Jenny Han
Amidst the joyless, stone-faced models lined up on the conveyor-like runways throughout the week was a broken mold. At Jenny Han, in addition to donning a fun, feminine, and in a few cases, bright yellow collection, the girls had on their sassy pants. And were smiling. One girl practically skipped down the runway with such a bounce that only the mess of spiral curls on her head were as springy as her step. Jenny Han's forecast for fall: anything but somber.

For her second season at Smashbox, Han kept close to her retrospective roots, turning her eye for the past to the '70s this time. Ultra-wide leg tweed trousers, burnt orange jumper dresses over puffy-sleeves, mini-sweater dresses with bold prints, high-waisted pants and ruffled blouses called out to the days of disco, but remained modern and sweet, as Han always is. Some of most feminine pieces, dresses with jewel-encrusted collars, may not have been terribly innovative (lines like Mint already having done a similar look last fall), but pretty they are. And wearable, definitely.

Down in the front row, fan of Han Mena Suvari paid her respects in an open-back lavender Jenny Han dress that showcased more than her support of the designer. Suvari showed off her new tattoo, an homage to the ‘70s-era reggae band “Word Sound Power.”

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HIGHLIGHTS FROM DAY 5

Pussycat Dolls by Robin Antin
If we thought fashion week this season was a bit low on the energy meter it was because the Pussycat Dolls had yet to strut the catwalk. Founder of the super-sexy group Robin Antin showed her Agent Provocateur pinup girl-worthy lingerie collection to a front row packed with people who clearly love pretty kitties like Dr. Dre, Sean Combs, Jenna Jameson and Carmit Baker.

Here, Dr. Dre admires a model's ass:





We were skeptical that this line of lingerie might be too Frederick's of Hollywood for our liking, but we were pleasantly surprised by the cuteness of the majority of the collection. Looks ranged from innocent and girly—with anchor emblazoned boyshorts and ruffled bras and panties embellished with hearts and bows—to naughty and sporty, with leather micro-minis and thin wife-beaters with black ribbons lacing corset-like up the side seams. Each group of looks were separated with entertainment: a strip tease, breakdance (complete with headspins) and finally, a grand finale performance by the Pussycat Dolls which had the audience making more noise than the whole week combined.

And thus, fashion week strutted off in the sunset. Meow.

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