Los Angeles Fashion Week Fall '06: Gen Art
Gen Art kicked off Los Angeles Fashion Week March 17 with its third annual “The New Garde” show at the Park Plaza Hotel in downtown Los Angeles. An estimated 1,400 dapperly dressed stylists, buyers and L.A. tastemakers turned out for three installation collections from Kit Pistol by Christina Scarbo, Mandula by Hajnalka Mandula and Unhee by Suzy Yun.
Scarbo of Kit Pistol took the seed idea of global warming and created her misfit doll-like collection from tangential associations on the subject to create a “very complex original aesthetic.” She touched upon the nature theme with original screen prints of coral, but kept the tone playful with a high-waisted skirt and jumper dress shapes. Boy Scout uniform patches nodded to the idea of community service.
Canada-based designer Mandula brought out the inspiration of “old world” Hungary by layering crinkled, wool and raw-edged textures with proportions such as billowy shapes around the waist and fitted arms and legs. Found objects such as skeleton keys, bicycle inner tubes and antique coins that were integrated into her clothing as decoration or closures added to the rustic look.
Yun said she listened to “a lot of opera music” while she was designing her first collection of Unhee and was inspired by the “dramaticism” of the music. Yun translated the drama through volume, with oversized puffed shoulders on a jumper, a bell-sleeved shrug and short dresses with full skirts and sleeves against the backdrop of a gigantic tattered ship set. —Rhea Cortado
