L.A. Fashion Week Spring '08: Frederick's of Hollywood
One night was not enough for Frederick’s of Hollywood’s fourth annual lingerie art auction and fashion show extravaganza. So the 65-year-old lingerie company hosted two nights of fashion, music, burlesque entertainment and philanthropy.
On Oct. 24, Frederick’s made use of the Hollywood Palladium’s three stages with back-to-back live acts. The rock bands Eagles of Death Metal and Silversun Pickups performed on the smaller side stages earlier in the night, with celebrities such as Jessica Simpson, Janet Jackson and Ashley Olsen in the crowd.
Later, the center stage featured the lingerie company’s Spring 2008 fashion show and the closing musical performance of the night, the Foo Fighters.
“Our current campaign is ’Sexy Takes Center Stage.’ What better way to illustrate that than to create a multi-stage event where our fashion show could truly take center stage?” said Yolanda Dunbar, Frederick’s senior vice president of marketing.
The lingerie company’s Spring 2008 collection covered the full spectrum of looks, from a demure bridal white corset embellished with lace and pearl beads to a pair of black satin bloomers with only a bow to cover the sexy open backside.
Vintage accessories provided by Doris Raymond’s vintage boutique, The Way We Wore, gave a nostalgic character to the modern corsets and bra sets. Corsets embellished with lace were accessorized with masks and opulent bustle trains made of peacock feathers to create a Victorian masquerade feeling. A teal shirred bra and skirted brief, styled with a feather headpiece and knee-high stockings, was reminiscent of a can-can dancer’s costume.
Following the fashion show, Dita von Teese, the star of Frederick’s of Hollywood’s Holiday campaign, took the burlesque theme to action with a live performance in a gilded birdcage. Von Teese undressed from a corset adorned with red feathers and crystals down to jewel-encrusted pasties and underwear.
On Oct. 25, celebrity-designed corsets by Lucy Liu, Scarlett Johansson, Gwen Stefani, Jane Kaczmarek, Beyonceacute; Knowles, Mary J. Blige and Christina Aguilera were auctioned off at Frederick’s flagship store on Hollywood Boulevard to benefit the Clothes Off Our Back Foundation. A white corset encrusted with Swarovski crystals and a hot-pink tail designed by von Teese yielded the highest bid at $20,000. —Rhea Cortado
