L.A.'s New Generation

(LOS ANGELES) Gen Art traditionally kick starts L.A. Fashion Week with a showing of new designers fresh out of school, and its attendance--at least in terms of biz heavyweights--has always been a little spotty. But on Friday night at the Peterson Automotive Museum--a fabulous venue filled with vintage cars which gave everyone another style element to aspire to--there was a large showing of established L.A. designers and journalists. Knitwear designer Rachel Pally, Rami Kashou, Pegah Anvarian (in brand new Chanel booties), Katy Rodriguez, and Henry Duarte all turned up to check out the newbies--as did Arianne Phillips and Paula Abdul. Abdul, in a black leather Gucci jacket and black jeans, said, "I like to see what the new designers are up to--I'll wear any piece of clothing I like, no matter who made it."

The show included womenswear designers Dorothy Lee, Wren, local faves Suh-Tahn, Rhys Dwfen, Marlova, Christian Weber, and menswear designers Orthodox and Endovanera, a trio of young men who made the best clothes of the evening--they might have been almost all men's looks of skinny blazers, hoodies, knits, and soft slim pants--but every girl in the audience wanted to wear them. "How do we get them to do more women's wear?" asked Anvarian.
MERLE GINSBERG