L.A. Fashion Week Spring '04: Ashley Paige
New meaning was given to the phrase “itsy bitsy bikini” during Ashley Paige’s Spring 2004 show on Oct. 30 at Mercedes-Benz Shows L.A. The Los Angeles designer, known for her unique hand-knit swimwear line, suggested that if you can wear a speck of a swimsuit, well then, flaunt it.
Her designs also evoked her dedication to the environment. Leaves, grass and mushrooms were folded into some of her abbreviated–but–wellknit creations that hugged models’ bodies like glue. Musician Tommy Lee, who was covering the event for “The Sharon Osbourne Show,” was so impressed, he peeled a few dollars out of his wallet and dropped them on the runway.
Yet, not everything was so small that you could toss a few suits in your pocket and have room left for a few handkerchiefs. There was a bit of flounce and bounce seen in a lovely tiered knit one-piece that came bobbing down the catwalk. A few topless styles, in homage to the late designer Rudi Gernreich, graced the collection, as well as some see-through crocheted knit tops paired with swimsuit bottoms. —Deborah Belgum
