Add to favorites Examiner Bio FGI-LA presents "The Designer and their Muse". An LA Fashion week staple

Last week as LA Fashion week kicked off the second bi-annual FGI-LA "the Designer and their Muse” event commenced with a strong purpose. To give us an opportunity to see and even meet the real magicians behind the fashion magic that happens in Los Angeles. Like GenArt from the night before, it’s all about pride. Pride in what Los Angeles has to offer. And shouldn’t we all celebrate in that? I say yes. I sadly missed last season’s launching event and heard the most incredible reviews so of course this year it was top on my LA Fashion Week agenda. And what I discovered was a environment where you could walk right up to your favorite LA designers with their stunning model muses in a Fall 2010 design and just simply say hi. Accessibility. Pretty amazing.

So as I milled around this room of fashion greats, to my left is Lloyd Klein with his muse Natalie Cole. Donning am beautiful emerald green one shoulder gown. To the right is the proud LA fashion mainstay Nony Tochterman of Petrozillia and her muse Samaire Armstrong, (who I love.) And even from the designer meets mass market world, Michelle Bohbot who’s collection Bisou Bisou has been be a JC Penney success for years, was accompanied by CariDee English. (America’s Next Top model... and definitely one of the more successful winners of all the seasons.) But for me and many others, there was a stand out designer and muse for the evening. And a personal favorite of mine as his runway show last season blew me away. The fabulous Oliver Tolentino and his incredible pineapple fabric gown with fresh water pearls, tiers, rosettes and romance galore. Everyone was talking about this dress. Not only was the gown stunning, Oliver wanted you to not just see it but touch it. The pineapple fabric, solely made in the Phillippines has a magical hand feel. While it’s stiff like silk organdy, it’s presence is soft and fluid. In snagging a couple words with Oliver he told me that he is ever inspired by nature and that always translates into his collections. I'm definitely looking forward to what is to come with Oliver and with all the designers for that matter.

FGI-LA has it right in giving Los Angeles an event that showcases our design celebrities to everyone. This city has much to be proud of and we as a city need to band together to promote our talent. I'll be looking forward to next season and the seasons to come of this event as it takes it's rightful place as the premiere event of every LA Fashion week. From your Editor-in-Chic... I'll see you on the streets.

Source:examiner.com/