L.A. Fashion Week Fall '05: San Paredes
Art and fashion melded when Paul Magalad presented a retrospective of his 3-year-old label, San Paredes, March 17 at West Hollywood’s Gallery 825.
An eclectic crowd from the Asian-American community and fashion industry meandered among 14 models and the art gallery’s photographs, oil paintings and mixed-media artwork. Hanging from the ceiling were 6-foot-long photocopies of Magalad’s one-of-a-kind designs, which included chiffon twisted into a one-armed top and jeans and a maxi skirt pieced together from patches.
Influenced by Belgian designers and Comme des Garcons circa 1987, the Filipino-born Australian worked with the ongoing theme of deconstruction. Magalad said his Asian heritage also affected his predilection toward bright colors, including orange and red.
Los Angeles–based artist Cindy Suriyani designed the pattern for a white silk top that was patched together with red contrast stitching and worn over a frayed asymmetrical linen skirt. Although intended to look fallen apart, Magalad’s clothes were sexy and flattering, cut in a lean silhouette out of sheer fabrics. —Khanh T.L. Tran
