Frederick's Turns Up the Brights
Frilly and feminine are two perennial trends for lingerie. But Los Angeles–based Frederick’s of Hollywood also included striking colors in its Spring 2006 collection of soft and romantic looks, displayed at an Oct. 26 fashion show at the Avalon Hollywood.
The colors, called Brazilian Brights, were used to make a fashion point, said Linda LoRe, chief executive and president of Frederick’s. “Most women go to the safe colors: white or black,” she said. But the Brazilian colors—think magenta and lime—were layered over each other to encourage women to take risks in their lingerie choices.
Several of the show’s pieces were specifically meant to stretch the imagination. A hoop-like “cage skirt,” a derriere-covering satin bow and a 10-foot bridal train were art-inspired garments meant strictly for the runway. The 44-look show also featured bridal lingerie, which of course stressed the color white, and corsets such as “Dream,” one of the company’s top sellers.
The fashion show celebrated the debut of Annie Chang, Frederick’s associate designer. It was also staged to mark a couple more events: the September 2005 opening of a new flagship store, at 6751 Hollywood Blvd. in Los Angeles, and the Third Annual Lingerie Art Auction.
Julianne Moore, Jessica Alba and other celebrities designed Frederick’s corsets, which were auctioned to raise funds for the Tuberous Sclerosis Alliance, which provides support for those affected by the genetic disease. Moore’s pewter-colored corset bearing peace signs made out of Swarovski crystals was one of the eight corsets shown on the runway. —Andrew Asch
