California Apparel News

A look from the Queenie4Ever fashion show

Tatiana McLane puts a new dimension to the term young designer. The 17-year-old’s line, Queenie4Ever, was featured at the boutique EMCo’s “Up Next: Emerging L.A. Designers” fashion show on Wednesday. And this was McLane’s second fashion show.

“I did one when I was 13,” McLane said. “This one seems way bigger and I have a more detailed collection because when I first did the fashion show it was mostly T-shirts and these bloomers that I made.”

Perched front row cheering her on were Daniella Clarke, founder of Frankie B. jeans; husband and former Guns N’ Roses guitarist Gilby Clarke; and their daughter Frankie, the namesake of Daniella's denim line that pioneered the super-low rise jean. Frankie wore a lacey party dress by Queenie4Ever punked up with a leather jacket and Converse high tops.

“Resources now are so different than they were from when I was growing up,” said Daniella. “If I had all this I don’t know what I would do with myself. It’s amazing with computers and so much at your fingertips and it really allows a whole highway for creativity.”

Yes, they have resources. McLane’s parents are music lawyers who worked with Gilby Clarke, which is how she met Frankie. Frankie joined McLane as a model in the Queenie4Ever lookbook, which was shot by teen friend Harley Benson, daughter of music producer Howard Benson (Kelly Clarkson, Daughtry). McLane’s mom, Venice Wong, co-designs Queenie4Ever and has helped her get the designs on celebrities like Jessica Simpson, Hilary Duff and Howard Dorough of the Backstreet Boys.

Though McLane’s show was full of party dresses and poufy skirts worn with tees screenprinted with bows, the designer wears a uniform most days, since she goes to a Catholic school. “I like my uniform… I’m kind of lazy in the morning because I get up at like 4:30, so I’m not awake enough to want to look nice…On the weekends, if I’m hanging out with friends, going to events, parties, I can wear my own stuff,” McLane said.

from left, Gilby, Frankie and Daniella Clarke

A Queenie4Ever look from the runway

The cover of the Queenie4Ever lookbook and a few pages from the book of designer, Tatiana McLane (left) with Frankie Clarke (right).