Los Angeles Fashion Week Fall I 2003: Heatherette
Heatherette designers Richie Rich and Traver Rains may be die-hard New Yorkers, but, while in town for Los Angeles Fashion Week, they put on a show that was pure Hollywood.
Seats were hard to come by at the duo’s April 2 show at the Downtown Standard Hotel—even for those who had a seat assignment.
Rich and Rains showcased campy, over-the-top looks inspired by 1980s new wave. A black-andwhite striped “Flashdance” sweat shirt, a teal-green lameacute; “Brat Pack” party dress, and a Hello Kitty princess-sleeve waistcoat worn with a pink tutu were pure spectacle—just like the ’80s.
Indeed, Hello Kitty prints were prominently featured at the show, but they soon gave way to deconstructed, yet fanciful, looks. For example, the designers offered their own screen-printed version of the Campbell’s soup can on mini dresses and sweat shirts.
After a dazzling finale—which featured socialiteturned- model Paris Hilton in a deconstructed, sequined “New Year’s Eve” mini dress—the designers joined Hello Kitty on the runway and took their bows as the song “I’m Alive” from the “Xanadu” soundtrack cemented the ’80s mood. —Claudia Figueroa
