L.A. Fashion Week Fall '04: Latin Elegance
Los Angeles–based designers Susana Mercedes, Cantu & Castillo and Louis Verdad were featured on the runway on April 3 during “Latin Elegance,” an evening of art and fashion at the Museum of Latin American Art in Long Beach, Calif.
As part of Latina Women of Excellence, a month-long celebration at MOLAA, executives honored U.S. congresswomen Linda and Loretta Sanchez. Museum Director Gregorio Luke’s presentation on the history of the guayabera shirt was a perfect segue into the fashion show.
Cantu & Castillo designers Daniel Cantu and Rodolfo Castillo presented a collection made with 100 percent silk from Gamma Seta of Como, Italy. The elegant 40-piece collection included a moss-green silk duchess opera coat with ostrich-feather trim worn over a matching sleeveless pencil dress, as well as a black “Mikado” off-the-shoulder flared-bottom mini-dress with lime-colored contrast bell sleeves.
Guatemala-born Mercedes presented an equally intriguing lineup with pieces such as a black asymmetrical skirt with checkered lining and a matching top, a long baby-blue square-neck dress with hand-embroidered floral straps and baby-pink lining, and a red asymmetrical multilayered cascade top and skirt with matching hot pants.
Verdad, whose designs had been on the runway at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at Smashbox Studios in Culver City the night before, showed several of his vintage-inspired designs, including a wool pantsuit and a ’50s-style spaghetti-strap silk charmeuse cocktail dress with flower appliqueacute;s. His bias-cut gown made with wool and tulle was reminiscent of “Moulin Rouge.” —C.F.
