Fashion in LA

Not knowing what to expect, I registered to cover the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in Los Angeles this week. The LA version apparently doesn't get the well-known names that the New York show attracts in the Fall and that means the PR people have to work a lot harder. So far I've received attractive email invitations to the premier of not one but two lines of multi-cultural clothing printed with messages of unity, a rock concert for a maker of torn tee shirts and ripped jeans and an exciting new line of sexy men's underwear. 1% of all proceeds seem to be going to one charity or another. And there are more than a dozen brunches and runway shows for undescribed things I haven't heard of and can't Google because the sponsors don't seem to have web sites. I've never understood how companies can stay in business when they don't tell people what they do.

Anyway, if I don't include the sexy underwear there's apparently no classic men's clothing on display at Fashion Week and the best dressed men on site will apparently look something like the guy in the photo to the left. That's not for me. Though one invitation almost got me to the airport despite all, and that was to the TART Fall 2007 Runway Show - The Vamp, The Vixen and La Femme Nikita. I've always been a sucker for a woman with an automatic weapon and I know an editor at a gun magazine that might be interested in joining me.

But in the end I decided to hold out for the Milan show next January. You may want to enjoy the party as well, all expenses paid. DETAILS magazine is running a drawing with a grand prize that includes a 3-day, 3-night getaway for two to Milan with round-trip airfare, accommodation, and tickets to Dolce & Gabbana's fashion show, including a trip backstage to meet the designers.

After the fashion, we can go over to Caraceni and take in some style.