Los Angeles Fashion Week Fall '06: Louis Verdad
A dramatic ensemble of sophisticated vixens dressed in black and white opened Louis Verdad’s show on the debut evening of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at Smashbox Studios. Sexy zipfront dresses were cinched with patent leather belts, crisp jackets were paired with menswear-inspired ties and skinny pants, and coats were trimmed with patent leather and button details. The collection took a slight departure from the designer’s signature 1940s glamour look. This time he took an edgier approach by mixing in some punk influences and the sexy dominatrix look in the 1983 film “The Hunger.” An erotic hula-hoop dance by Verdad’s friend Karis, clad in tiny beaded boyshorts and tall black boots, mesmerized the audience. The collection proved Verdad has an experimental side. “I don’t want to lose who I am, but I needed to show people that I can do another vision,” he said.
Still, the designer showed enough of his signature 1940s-inspired sophisticated suitings, feminine ruffled sweaters paired with tweeds and elegant evening gowns to satisfy his loyal clientele. —N. Jayne Seward
