L.A. Fashion Week Spring 2010: Skingraft
It was a pared-down look on the Skingraft runway at Downtown L.A. Fashion Week at the Geffen Contemporary at MOCA.
The signature leather-armored looks of past seasons were softened this season to create a more commercial collection. “We wanted to do a little bit of couture because that’s what people expect of us and we love the creative process. But, at the same time, we want a collection that is accessible to the masses,” designer Katie Kay said. “We hope to be able to continue to grow in both worlds in the long term,” she added.
Kay, who designs the collection with Jonny Cota, channeled Amelia Earhart to create a collection of aviator-inspired blouses, jodhpur pants and bomber jackets. To stay true to the Skingraft look, they added a tough Joan of Arc edge with a dark palette, tomboy silhouettes and plenty of studding. Leather bustiers layered over stretch-cotton twill dresses, and leather harnesses were paired with flirty blouses and shorts. Stand-out looks for women included a chic white leather jacket and matching pant, and for men it was a leather moto jacket with studded epaulets paired with crop pants. It wouldn’t be a Skingraft show without a couture leather dress with a multitude of ruffles. The three finale gowns illustrated the bird in flight theme utilizing feather bustiers, a stuffed bird upon a model’s shoulder and a Gareth Pugh-esque feather headdress that topped a studded leather bustier dress.—N. Jayne Seward
