The fashion scene was quite a whirlwind of social (and networking) activity last night – so much so – that I was forced to shift into high gear and scramble to make entrances around town at two high-profile events where the stylish-elite hob-nobbed right up to the witching hour!
Uptown at Sunset Gower Studios in Hollywood (they used to shoot the TV sitcom "Golden Girls" and "In Living Color" there) attractive well-heeled trend-setters mixed-and-mingled as they sipped on exotic cocktails (courtesy of Absolut Vodka), munched on mouth-watering finger-foods, and wolfed down designer cupcakes offered up by Bubba Sweets (Huntington Beach).
Under a festive tent, vendors – with a myriad of fashion-related products – teased guests with free make-overs, tempting promotional samples, and slick sales pitches in a bold-faced effort to boost sales.
For instance, reps for Glamglow.com (Andrew Mark) were plugging tingling exfoliating mud masks; Teaoxi, a powerful anti-aging and anti-wrinkle skin cream; Volcanic Pumice Rock, a multi-level surface cell cleanser; and French Sea Clay, which allegedly triggers 12 hours of collagen synthesis for an amazing three-day glow!
Sign me up fast on that one, eh?
Nobu Hotel owners got into the action, too.
At one end of the tent, a spokesman for the luxury Hotel (now accepting reservations at http://www.NobuCaesarsPalce.com) - a handsome Spaniard clad in an elegant black bathrobe – was chatting up guests about the “mocked up” suite installed at Los Angeles Fashion Weekend to introduce travellers to the Hotel’s unique décor which features dramatic lighting, inviting entry ways, and rich textured trappings.
Nobu owners are pushing the world-class Hotel as a powerful stage where the “players” may share exotic experiences and escape the mundane.
The 181 guest rooms are all outfitted with Filo Doro Linens & Natura Bisse Amenities.
Once a weary-traveller checks in a butler will serve steaming hot tea in-room, folks!
By the time the house started to fill at the Gower venue (Producer Micky Koffman was hovering at the gate keeping a watchful eye out to ensure the tony guests glided into the kick-off party without incident) it was time for me to dash downtown to catch the Fashion Minga celebrations at the Los Angeles Exchange Building which included celebrity interviews on the red carpet and dazzling runway shows.
Once the stream of pretty people started to parade by, the swarming paparazzi switched into a frenzied feeding mode.
Downstairs (early in the evening) the photographers were fairly polite with each other, as they jockeyed for position to capture those coveted publicity stills.
But, later – upstairs – the situation got a little nasty at one point.
Just before the show was about to start, a tall heavyset camera-man took up a position a few feet from the end of the runway, which aggravated a posse of the roving photo journalists.
No wonder, he was blocking their shots and casting shadows on the faces of their subjects.
One irate photog finally got sp frustrated that he dashed off to complain to a handler who summarily instructed the upstart to move to one side. At this juncture, he tried to push me (and a few other newsies) roughly aside in an obnoxious attempt to grab our precious perches.
“This is my work, ‘ya know,” he hissed at us.
“I am a member of the press, too,” I responded quietly, without blinking-an-eye.
“You don’t even have a camera,” he barked back at me.
“I do. It’s in my pocket. I haven’t brought it out yet,” I coolly informed him.
Uh-huh!
The paparazzi were anxious to get that money shot, alright. And were willing to come to fisti-cuffs with enough to snap them up.
Finally, the runway shows kicked-off without further interruption.
The fashions of about a dozen designers lit up the runway including those by Katriel Designs, BRDLY Apparel, Buddhaful, Spankie Valentine, Basically Me, Cielo Rosso, and VP.
The sexy underwear whipped up by the designer for VP was quite popular with the crowd who whooped and hollered whenever scantily-clad dudes in white tighties (with pumped-up pecs and bulging crotches) strutted by.
I was particularly smitten with the swimwear collection by another designer which consisted of itsy-bitsy bikinis in eye-catching neon colors.
The female models were stunning!
One designer’s silhouettes consisted of understated elegant gowns (sometimes in see-through fabrics) which were fashioned in soothing mint greens, creams, and shimmering opaques.
The creations on the runway ran the gamut actually – from the futuristic (which touted stand-up collars, snaps, and fin-like flourishes) to the downright earthy (some were reminiscent of gym work-out ensembles).
One menswear designer sent out a male model in a floor-length jacket with buttoned-down panels, highlighted by exquisite gold broidery inserts and brocade.
Michael Jackson would have snapped up that outfit in two seconds flat.
The shows were fresh and original and out-of-the-norm in many respects.
Designers featured acrobats, tango dancers, blues singers, and female musicians on string instruments to dazzle.
The unexpected surprise themes made for a vastly entertaining night of fashion from where I stood.
Around 11 a.m. the curtain came down – at which point – the night owls began to party-hearty at the after-bash.
Moi?
Time to head home for my beauty sleep.
After all, there is another round of shows – featuring swimwear and beach ensembles – to catch tonight at Sunset Gower Studios.
See ‘ya there!
Luxurious Nobu Hotel Suites in Las Vegas! 
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