L.A. Fashion Week Fall '04: Show Pony and Madley
El Cid Restaurant was the perfect place to showcase the Eastside looks of Show Pony and Madley. The show, held on April 3 on the patio of the historic restaurant in Los Angeles’ ultra-hip Silverlake district, was the second event of “The Champagne Catwalk,” a four-week Saturday brunch fashion show series sponsored by LA.com.
Coryn Madley showed her Fall/Winter 2004 collection of colorful feminine knit looks inspired by mermaids, fairy tales and sea life. Madley combined hand-dyed yarns and vintage fabric for a homespun look with a whimsical twist.
Madley’s jewelry accented her collection, and headpieces decorated with pearl details and the designer’s signature “Rosette” details added a 1920s flapper feeling. Key looks included a chic gray jumpsuit with a yellow knit shrug shawl, a blue corduroy vintage blazer with sea horse appliqueacute;s paired with a knit ruffled dress and a “Louis XIV” sweater with Venus-pleated sleeves worn with a layered skirt.
Show Pony designers Kime Buzzelli and Niki Livingston showed pieces from their newly launched label, as well as one-of-a-kind pieces from their hip Echo Park boutique.
Buzzelli and Livingston said they were inspired by the 1966 Czech new wave film “Daisies.” Models danced and giggled around the patio with mischievous energy, wearing the vintageinspired collection, which came in creamsicle shades of peach, mint, pink and gold, as well as black. Looks included ruffled mini-dresses, simple jersey bodysuits and little suspender dresses paired with flutter-sleeve tops; wool crepe bias-cut gowns; handkerchief-hem dresses and skirts printed with surreal images; and dresses paired with recycled 1920s beaded fringe tops.
“We just make clothes for girls to have fun with the way that they look,” Livingston said. “You only live once, you know?”
—N.J.S.
