I traded the red carpet for the runway during my LA Fashion Week debut.
The entertainment world and the fashion world are more alike than onlookers may expect: designers are just as dedicated to their craft of telling narratives through needle and thread as film directors are through the lens of a camera. And when it comes time to interviewing creatives from both worlds, their faces light up in a similar fashion when they talk about their art.
“We love what we do and it’s such an art to us,” Ryan Patros of The Walter Collection told Krischic Media following their LAFW Fall/Winter 2019 show. “When a client is wearing our garment, they are literally wearing a piece of our love, so we just have a connection as soon as somebody’s wearing our dresses.”
Another common characteristic between the two worlds: their messages are told to consumers through Hollywood stars. Yes, high fashion’s presence still exists largely in the Big Four cities (New York, London, Milan and Paris), but those catwalks filled with lavish gowns and artistically curated outfits need figures of influence to really drive those trends forward. In America’s case, those influencers are more often than not celebrities who either are photographed street-side in LA on their way to Sunday Brunch in ready to wear threads, or in couture on the red carpet. LAFW therefore, is not a fashion event to overlook.
Native LA brands like the Walter Collection are well-tapped into this clientele and design for these larger-than-life women with flourishing lives and careers.
“For us it’s always about that strong, independent woman who doesn’t necessarily need a man, but she’s so beautiful men just always gravitate towards her. There’s always that special, romantic love story with our gowns,” Walter Mendez, the other half behind the Walter Collection told Krischic Media.
Power women like Beyonce and Jennifer Lopez have worn Walter Collection gowns. Don’t be surprised if you find such women dawning the ethereal ensembles the brand showcased at LAFW: soft pastel chiffon sillhouettes topped with flora and fauna headpieces, to make it look like a woman “is running through a garden” only to “get caught with roses in her hair,” Mendez told Krischic Media.
“All the celebrities that we’ve worked with are a lot more down to Earth that you would imagine,” Mendez said about getting to dress their star-studded clients. “It’s always such a great time great moment to be able to collaborate them because these are women that we grew up listening to, making [dressing them] a full-circle moment.”
Speaking of strong Hollywood women, Naeem Khan looked to ‘70s starlets like Liza Minelli and Elizabeth Taylor when designing his Fall/Winter 2019 Collection, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
“Their elegance and grace had such a powerful influence over so many people all over the world. The industry has opened my eyes to many of the latest red carpet trends, Naeem Khan told The Hollywood Reporter via email. “Movie stars are constantly influencing fashion, so I always keep an eye on what these celebrities are interested in wearing, both on and off the red carpets.”
As a fashion blogger, TV host and singer/songwriter, I completely resonate with the mantra of taking on the world while remaining well-dressed and feminine. What better way to exemplify my fashion philosophy than at LA Fashion Week while beholding these gorgeous gowns?
I am wearing an oversized, black wool blazer from another empowered woman I know, my friend Wallis Barton who is the vintage curator behind The Cornwall Collection. The embroidered pocket-watch detailing makes this piece a true showstopper, which is why I wanted to make it the focal point of the entire look. I kept the layer underneath simple: a lingerie-inspired black silk top that is also a vintage find. I paired it with a black mini skirt and transparent-strapped Jeffrey Campbells.
To top off this retro-spired ‘fit, I opted for some oversized gold earrings I stole from my mother’s ‘90s collection, which pairs nicely with the gold pocket-watch on the jacket. The sleek pony tail (which required an unhealthy amount of hairspray) and bold red lip bring everything together. Plus, I ended up matching the entire Petersen Automotive Museum (where LAFW was held) completely on accident. Talk about a place ‘haute’ wheels, am-I-right?
Look out for my night two coverage of LAFW soon!
Keeping it Krischic,
Kristin Vartan
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Keeping it Krischic 