Rags to Riches

The theme was Into the Wild, one of my favorite books. And while there were a fair amount of T-shirts and jeans (the standard garb of the book’s protagonist), the theme really carried through more in the relaxed fit of the clothes, the tattered edges, and especially in the sun-faded dusty blue jeans. They almost looked like they were washed with sand, and reminded me of the desert. He also used a cool nylon-hybrid fabric that made jeans and rain slickers look wet. There were lots of silver, pearl and champagne.

Sebelia, of course, does dresses really well, and there were a number of pretty floral dresses, very sweet and sexy.

Front and center at the show were debonair designer Jared Gold and writer-slash-scapegrace Clint Catalyst. Gold gave us the scoop on his upcoming show this season — it will be held in his new home, Salt Lake City, Utah. The models were chosen by Catalyst and include some actresses (Busy Philipps). The collection, as he described it, is Nordic Belle Epoque through an old-school chola filter. I’m booking my tickets now!

We also chatted with actor Lucas Haas, and Ima Robot’s Tim Anderson, who is producing Haas’ new CD. And I saw 11-year-old Zoë Day, daughter of designer Jonny Day, dancing in the aisles of the church with sunglasses on to some Stevie Nicks song. I had to talk to her.

“I grew up around fashion,” she told me as she took off her shades. Zoë’s dad is one-fourth of the Elmer Ave. designing team, and he was there with fellow designer Ward Robinson. The guys are hard at work on their men’s line.

And who is Zoë’s favorite designer? “Well,” she said, already media-savvy, “he is my father, so I’m going to have to say Elmer Ave.”

For more Fashion Week coverage, check the Style Council blog at www.laweekly.com.