LAFC FW14 Presentation

The Los Angeles Fashion Council and some of its member designers were invited to do a one-day showcase at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Tokyo on March 17^th, so in lieu of a runway show Kelsi Smith and her crew hosted a presentation at their showroom located in the heart of Downtown L.A.’s Fashion District.

Invited guests had the opportunity to get an up close and personal look at the FW14 collections from Bellen Brand, That’s Totally Fine, Linden, MOFÉ, Together, Bri Seeley, Stella Proseyn, Kristen Dorsey, and Colton Dane.  

I was excited to see Debbie Talanian the designer for Stella Proseyn. I had picked up a few of her pieces from the showroom a few months earlier and received numerous compliments, so I wanted to share that with her. Debbie believes in creating clothes that will never be “out” because they were never “in.”

Her love of architecture, art, and design influences her stylish pieces that are flattering but not fussy. Here I’ve paired her palazzo style pants with one of my ICJUK tees.

Designer Colton Dane Lasater is known for his elegant, refined, sophisticated creations. His finely crafted pieces are made with luxurious fabrics and are designed for the confident, sensual woman.

Also in the house was Rose La Grua. Rose won LAFC’s Open Runway Competition last summer and went on to showcase her That’s Totally Fine collection at Los Angeles Fashion Week SS14. Rose’s street-style, club friendly looks are designed for the bold individual that is not afraid to take risks.

Designer Alexandria Norman has a similar aesthetic. Her Bellen Brand features a number of easy-to-wear bohemian street inspired looks. Her model was wearing the Temple Tee dress, which is one of the line’s best sellers.  

Accessories were represented by Kristen Dorsey Designs and MOFÉ. Kristen Dorsey uses conflict-free natural gemstones and recycled metals to create her artistic jewelry, which is inspired by ancient Chickasaw traditions. Shell carving, copper relief sculpture, and freshwater pearls define her timeless pieces, which pay homage to her cultural heritage and the beauty of the California coast. Each piece truly is a work of art.

MOFÉ handbags are inspired by today’s modern feminism. Linda Park designs bags that empower women to make a statement in more ways than one. The stylish purses transition easily from work to play and are crafted with genuine leather, feature feminine silhouettes, flattering dimensions, and subtle curve appeal. They are also surprisingly light. Linda informed me that MOFÉ pledges a portion of its profits from sales to CARE International – a humanitarian organization that provides textbooks to young girls in poverty-fighting communities across the globe. I'm a big fan of companies that give back.

Another highlight of the evening was meeting fellow bloggers Linda Nuves and B B Barrios. These two adorable gals are based in Pasadena, so I look forward to hanging out with them when I return back to my old hood.

Narrative and photos by Nikki Neil