L.A. Fashion Week Spring '09: Christian Audigier
Christian Audigier is not shy about emblazoning his name and initials over every square inch of his clothing. And for his eponymous collection, shown Oct. 15 at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at Smashbox Studios in Culver City, Calif., Audigier added his face to his image bank of embellishments.
Though the collection was titled “American Lord,” the look was decidedly derived from across the pond. Union Jacks were incorporated into Audigier’s cacophonic print collages of tattooed skulls, roses, geishas, birds, koi fish and now, Audigier’s own visage. Safety-pinned on the back of velvet and plaid blazers were patches of Audigier’s face against the backdrop of the British flag and “God Save the VIF” written over his eyes as a nod to the Sex Pistols’ album cover. (According to a spokesperson for Audigier, “vif” is French for “the fast one” and the designer uses it the same way pals call each other “homie.”)
The punk-rock aesthetic continued with tartan-plaid miniskirts, vests and men’s slim-cut blazers that were given the Audigier treatment with rhinestones, sequins and gold-foil prints of the brand’s logo. Miley Cyrus, who was seated in the front row, nodded to her friend when the punky tartan plaid schoolgirl ensembles came down the grass runway. Celebrity, model and “Project Runway” host Heidi Klum turned out to watch the spectacle, as well. —Rhea Cortado
