Fetherston's Fairy Tale

(LOS ANGELES) Villa, on Melrose near the Pacific Design Center, is Hollywood's club of the moment. So it made sense that Erin Fetherston would invite the local fashionistas--on the eve of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week here--to come out and preview a short that Ellen von Unwerth directed for her. It stars Zooey Deschanel frolicking in fuzzy imagery as a wood nymph wearing pieces from Fetherston's fall collection, which was inspired by Romeo and Juliet. "Zooey plays a tramp who eats a magic mushroom and finds herself with a group of fairies," Fetherston explained.

The actress couldn't make it, but there were plenty of fierce Fetherston followers from the West Coast, including Angie Harmon, Leelee Sobieski, Rachel Zoe, L.A. designers Gregory Parkinson and Melissa Coker, promoter Audrey Bernstein, George Kotsiopoulos, Magda Berliner, and Jeanne Yang and Satine Boutique owner Jeannie Lee, the duo who hosted the event. Rosario Dawson also made a surprise appearance, in a Fetherston cocktail dress that she wore over pants. "I know Erin from New York," she said. "And I wear her clothes, so I wanted to come out and support her--her stuff is adorable. But then again, so is my new L.A. boyfriend!" she laughed of Mathieu Schreyer (aka DJ Mr. French), the music man she's been spending a lot of time with in L.A. recently.

Fetherston, in a chiffon floor-length crimson dress from fall, explained her look. "I always like to wear things from my newest collection," she confided. "You'll see this dress in the film. I'm also loving the long silhouette--but I did short dresses for fall, too."

She was clearly pleased with her trendy turnout. "I love that people showed up to show support for me," she offered. "Showing the film this week is a little out of sync with the buying calendar--but I did get some really gorgeous weather!"
MERLE GINSBERG