Design Suites Fall 2007

For Fall 2007, the Design Suites which have become an integral part of Fashion Week in Los Angeles, finally moved to the same premises as Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week www.mbfashionweek.com namely Smashbox Studios, in Culver City, Los Angeles. No more traveling back and forth as we decide which lines to view off-site at the Design Suites while we try and stick to our schedules when viewing the runway collections at the main venue.

Organized by Lauren Gurvich, www.laurengurvich.com March 18 22nd, Gurvich brought us Andy The-Anh; Biatta Intimates; DRES; Crimes and Misdemeanors; Ema Savahi Couture; EXEX JEWELRY; Fenix; Jennifer Rose Jewelry; JeTalia; K-Swiss; La Chica Chic; Lo-Fi; Mark Nason; Melly M; Mighty Fine; Mimi A La Mode; Mineral; Red Engine; Rene Furterer; Robin Piccone; Rockstyle; Tracy McWilliams; Vanessa Carreno and Zandra Rhodes as the newest lines by Los Angeles fashion designers under the white tent in showroom style at Smashbox Studios 8528 Warner Drive, in Culver City for Fall 2007. What a treat!

Once I made it thru the check-in table, I was curious to which lines interested my fashion radar. My first stop was Mighty Fine. I wanted to see what their new lines were and what concepts they were working with for Fall 2007. I have become a Mighty Fine fan over the years especially their play on cartoons with adult-themed graphic t-shirts. Alicia Brockwell-Blair, AmplifiedMPR www.amplifiedmpr.net guided me thru some of their new lines in a fast, interesting manner. Some of the new features at Mighty Fine was the chain concept used on their graphic T's; fabrics that had a glitter finish to it and the continued used of Americana imaging on their T's. Brockwell-Blair then introduced me to Kelly Cole, the designer of Lo-Fi, a retailer who exhibited next to Mighty Fine. The store's clientele has a who's who of young Hollywood: Ben Harper, Winona Ryder, Drew Barrymore, Lindsay Lohan, Mischa Barton, Ashlee Simpson and virtually every other actor, band, stylist and hipster under the California sun. At the Design Suites, Lo-Fi presented incredible, fashion forward array of leather belts which seem to be their number one seller.

The energy at the Design Suites was fun. There were a few celebrities viewing the lines, the party bar was in the far right hand corner and one welcome fashion face for me was Rose Apodaca, former West Coast Chief Bureau for Women's Wear Daily. As I continued to view the lines, I had to remain conscious of the time as the runway collections were happening in the main tent.

For me the Tracy Mc Williams line was feminine and flirty. The Zandra Rhodes line was the best in women's handbags while Fenix presented a beauty line that has made the best of the best in women's magazines such as Allure, Riviera and 944 Magazine. Crimes and Misdemeanors was a line that focused on the Mod dress. Their fashions were straight from the 1960's but with a twist for today's women. 

In my opinion, I think that it will be great if 7th on Sixth/IMG www.7thonsixth.com will have the Design Suites back on the main venue come the Spring Collections at Smashbox Studios later this year in August 2007. Time will tell. 

All photos Marisa Youlden for more go to www.myspace.com/marisayouldenjewelry