Tortilla Paintings, Lucha Libre, a Fashion Show and a Miss International...All in One Night!
Nick's Body Guard: Nick Verreos stands in front of a massive "Lucha Libre" sculpture
Last weekend, I attended a fun event titled
Vision: The Party, Fashion, Art and Music. It was also the "official celebration" for the Birthday of
Alejandro Laguette, an acquaintance from the LA fashion and film "circles". There was going to be a Gallery Exhibit of very eclectic Mexican-inspired art, a DJ for dancing, plus a fashion show as well. Only five minutes away from my studio: Sign me up!
"Vision :The Party" guests and FIDM Debut 2009 designers Johnathan Webster and Adrian Manuel also pose in front of the Mexican Wrestler sculpture/statue
The party took place in the
KGB Studio, located adjacent to the Chinatown area of Downtown Los Angeles.
LA Chinatown is not exactly the Chinatown of, say a city like
San Francisco. Let's just say it's not as iconic or postcard-perfect. This party, in fact, took place in an area not surrounded by Dragons and Chinese-food restaurants, but next to a slew of warehouses and other industrial buildings. It was definitely a place where tony types from Beverly Hills and the Palisades would be scared to leave their Mercedes Benz! Lucky for them, there was Valet parking.
Vivacious Couple: Web show hostess Melissa Chataigne and Nick Verreos at "Vision: The Party"
As soon as I got there, I greeted the Birthday Boy and met his lovely--and very chic--parents, who hail from Mexico. The party was in full form, with over a hundred guests outside in the courtyard mingling, enjoying the Coca Cola and Rum--as well as the Tequila--bar.
Guests were already dancing the night away, under the Downtown LA skyline.
Crowning Moment: Nuestra Belleza Mexico '07 (Miss Mexico) and Miss International '07, Priscila Perales
I was happy to run into the sexy
Melissa Chataigne of
Vivaciously Chataigne and I even spotted
Miss International 2007, from Mexico, the gorgeous
Priscila Perales (she was very incognito, but I still recognized all 5'10" of her!).
Cantinflas Tortilla: Tortilla Art by Joe Bravo
Inside the studio, my friends and I ventured into the Gallery Space and surveyed the unique
"Tortilla Art" by artist Joe Bravo. He and his wife introduced themselves, confiding to me that they were both great fans of
Project Runway (naturally!). I especially loved his "painting" of
Mario Moreno Reyes "Cantiflas", Mexico's answer to Charlie Chaplin. And my favorite was the one of Mexican cinema Diva,
Maria Felix (and inspiration for my
Spring 2009 Collection). I was about to inquire about maybe purchasing it until Alejandro told me that he had just bought it. Oh well!
La Diva: Maria Felix on a Tortilla, art by Joe Bravo
The "crowning jewel" of the party was a fashion show by LA-based
XR Collection and designers Xavier Othon and Richard Bowman. They also are the owners of the Los Angeles boutique by the same name, located on Beverly Blvd. I have been friends with them for AGES--and they were one of the first "mentors" who guided me through my fashion career. As a young and cute (stop laughing!) FIDM student of fashion design, I was even a Dresser at some of their fashion shows, back "in the day".
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Finale Tableaux: XR Collection models strike a pose
The designs on the runway were consistent with
what
XR Collection is known for: Lots of Glitter, Glamour and Fierceness; the perfect outfits to get your groove on--at a fun dance club, or at a house party in the Hollywood Hills!
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No Carb Zone: XR Collection menswear
There was sexy menswear as well; everything tight and definitely not for the guy who eats. There was even a Drag Queen (or two) thrown in for the "fierce" factor. Those girls on
RuPaul's Drag Race Show need to call up Xavier and Richard because some of those outfits were out-of-control!
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XR Collection: One of my favorite looks from the show, a lemon yellow off the shoulder jersey dress
My favorite womenswear looks included a yellow off-the-shoulder jersey dress as well as the long white finale gown which featured a fishtail train (and you know how much I love a fishtail hem!).
I could see a young Maria Felix in that gown for sure going to an event on Sunset Blvd--or to a fun party in the Chinatown Distric of Downtown Los Angeles!
Two weeks ago (almost) , I was invited to my friend Alejandro Laguette's Birthday Dinner Party at the UBER hip Los Feliz Vermont Restaurant. It was actually a "Shared Birthday" with other fabulous boys, Feruz, Frank and Iffy.
Feliz Cumpleaños: Nick Verreos and Birthday Boy Alejandro Laguette, Rockwell VT
In conjunction with the blowing-out-the-candles celebration, Los Angeles designers Xavier Othon and Richard Bowman of XR Collection decided to unveil their Summer 2010 Collection at the "secret" behind-the-Vermont-Restaurant lounge, Rockwell VT. I couldn't make it to the Birthday Dinner but arrived just in time for the fashion show. 
Los Feliz Boys: John Wade, Joey Maalouf, Erik Moreno, Rockwell VT
Of course, I didn't come alone: I brought one of my best friends, Erik Moreno, John Wade and Joey Maalouf, who was about to leave to NY to do Rachel Zoe's make-up and hair for the Met American Woman Gala. 
Front Row Benches: Birthday boy Alejandro Laguette, Nick Verreos (far right)
The show began as models walked from the Rockwell VT upstairs balcony and down the stairs and then sauntered through the capacity-filled invitees. 
Fashions ranged from sexy Menswear for the guy who obviously has no time for work and LOTS of time for the gym (tank tops and very sexy fitted pants) to... 
slinky cowl neck gowns in jersey for their "girlfriends".
I was excited to see one of my DIVA models, Amara Wilson, who actually came with me back in 2005 to the Season 2 Project Runway Castings, model in the show--she brought the nightclub DOWN kiddies: She worked the flashbulbs and the gowns like a Pro! (BTW: She is!) 
Making a very "special appearance" in the XR Collection Summer 2010 fashion show was Ru Paul's Drag Race Season 2 Contestant Shangela--yes, that's how LA does it: Models and Drag Queens can sometimes share the same DIVA runway stage!
