L.A. Designers in the Spotlight at Barneys Co-Op
Barneys New York Co-Op kicked off a forthcoming series of events titled “Fashion @ The Grove” to be hosted at the outdoor shopping center in Los Angeles. The kickoff took place on May 14.
The event highlighted Los Angeles–based designers sold at the Co-Op, including Cynthia Vincent of Twelfth Street by Cynthia Vincent, Michelle Mason, John Whitledge, Jon Rose and Sara Mehrkhast of Trovata, Nony Tochterman of Petro Zillia, Jason Belick and Jamie Haller of Ever, and Ali Fatourechi of Genetic Denim.
Models walked down a cobblestone alley past the event’s seated guests—who included Barneys’ VIP clients, The Grove’s platinum-level shoppers and fashion insiders—and ended at a raised runway on the main thoroughfare street of the shopping center, where a cluster of Grove visitors viewed the merchandise up close.
The local designers’ Spring pieces, pulled from the Barneys Co-Op racks, were mixed and matched together with the top names in contemporary fashion, including Marc by Marc Jacobs, Phillip Lim, A.P.C. and Helmut Lang.
Trovata’s plaid story encompassed a casual weekend look in a grass-green plaid shirt and cotton skirt and a hip city look in a navy check dress and blazer. Genetic Denim showed versatility. A pair of cuffed slouchy shorts was worn with an edgy leather vest, and a pair of white slim jeans took on a preppy look with a plaid shirt and knit vest outfit. Ever stuck with a neutral palette and easy-to-wear design, such as a nude dress that gathered with draping at the waist.
Barneys carried only one silk dress in three colors from Tochterman’s Petro Zillia line, which has been scaled back in recent years as the designer focused on her Los Angeles boutique. The magenta version was dressed up with a long Alexander Wang vest. Mason showed off her deft hand for tailoring with a black vest, blousy tank and black shorts ensemble. Twelfth Street by Cynthia Vincent, which is consistently the second or third best-selling designer at Barney’s Co-Op, according to the designer, closed the show with a long black dress with cuffed sleeves that summed up a relaxed, everyday glamour. —Rhea Cortado
