Sexy model: Circus Hardy LA Fashion Week Finale
“Today at The Grove we have five thousand people and a lot of fun”, says designer Christian Audigier. “The Grove is Fashion Week tonight!” says Fred Levine, founder of M. Fredric with 26 stores. “It’s exhilarating to have fashion media here at The Grove. What a great place for a fashion event to see Christian Audigier and Ed Hardy.” The Grove’s entire open-air plaza is packed with people. There are dancing Chinese dragons and tigers, stilt walkers, skate boarders, and a marching band. The expansive outdoor Hollywood shopping plaza is transformed into a circus, bringing Fashion Week to a climactic conclusion.
“The fashion industry needs today a little kick in the butt”, says Levine. “And, I give it to them”, says Audigier. “When Christian designs he creates”, says Levine. “It’s fresh. It’s vibrant. It’s exciting. Christian took a tattoo artist and converted that style into something flattering for a man, woman or child to wear. He added color. We’re getting tremendous results. His clothing is flying off the shelves at M. Frederic.” Audigier says, “I wanted a public fashion show because my clothing is embraced by all the people, from celebrities to rappers, bikers, parents and kids.”
One hundred models, including sixteen top European models, graced the 500-foot red carpeted runway. Audigier’s Ed Hardy line is inspired by the tattoo designs of Don Ed Hardy. It’s street bling, a cross-cultural style that’s sexy, yet elegantly comfortable. A dancer in to-the-knee stiletto go-go boots with gold fringe detail, black pinstripe suit-material briefs with gold monogram on the back, and off-the-shoulder peasant top kicks off the show. Fancy T-shirts are complimented by brightly-colored transparent tulle skirts over brightly-colored panties or circus-colored tights. A T-shirt-inspired fitted white and silver-striped halter-top goes over silver short shorts and black high-heeled boots with colorful details. Like a tattoo, the Ed Hardy line draws in the eye to examine the rich detailing in its designs, whether that’s a T-shirt or boots.
A shiny black leather dress, with brass rivet detailing, is punctuated by swinging Indian-maiden fringe. A gold metallic jacket, with three-quarter-length sleeves, a gold and silver belt mixing two different metallics, a soft black T-shirt with rose and stars design, black beaded transparent tulle past the knee, is accessorized with fun stacked bracelets and big gold hoop earrings. Bright transparent turquoise tulle to the knee over bright blue panties, a large Indian head design tank top under white cropped sleeveless velour hoodie, with rose detailing, is accented with a beret and white boa. A metallic beige double V-neck knit mini-dress with full-length sleeves is offset by a fantastic unstructured black leather large tote (very in-season, hobos were last season) with leather and chain handles, plus Christian Audigier sailor hat and large gold hoop earrings.
For men, a black pocketed leather jacket and black leather biker gloves, signature silk-screened T-shirt, and stone-washed jeans, is completed with oversized aviator sunglasses and a long heavy silver wallet chain. Before starting his own line, Audigier made a name for himself as the “king of jeans” working with Guess, American Outfitters, Fiorucci, Bisou Bisou, Levi’s, XOXO and revamping the Diesel brand. For kids, black cropped leggings with signature imprint under an olive skirt has a short-sleeved T-shirt over a unisex long-sleeved T-shirt with high top tennis shoes.
Christian Audigier’s Ed Hardy line brings French elegance to the American T-shirt, with sophisticated yet softly wearable designs that work on hot chicks, gangsta rappers and kids. The appeal of Christian Audigier extends beyond M. Fredric to other boutiques such as Atrium, Lounge, LuLu Couture, Up Against the Wall, Planet Funk and Le Lotus Bleu and to department stores including Nordstrom, Bloomingdale’s, Macy’s and Dillard’s. Expanding from their original, signature trucker hats and T-shirts, new products include knits, leather wear, sunglasses, shoes, belts, loungewear for men, purses and lingerie, all embellished with bling, glitz and glamour. At the recent Project and Magic Shows in Las Vegas, the French designer from Avignon rang up an impressive $35 million in bookings. Audigier’s private L.A. Fashion Week fashion show based at Smashbox in Culver City was so packed they had to turn away guests. “We came to The Grove because Smashbox was too small”, says Audigier, seen below right with M. Ferderic. “We’re just blessed.”
