Anna Wintour & Frederic Fekkai sitting front row.
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In the middle of a busy, sweltering afternoon in West Hollywood, I found myself trudging up Sunset Boulevard toward the Chateau Marmont, dressed in black from head to toe. The Chateau was an oasis from the hot day. Violet hydrangeas cooled the air around us. I immersed myself in the calm before the storm upon arrival.
Here we are, at Los Angeles's most important & prestigious fashion event of the year: the 2011 Vogue/Council of Fashion Designers of America's Fashion Fund Fashion Show. Ten finalists compete to be named CFDA's Designer of the Year. Past winners include Proenza Schouler, Alexander Wang, and Rodarte. |
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The iconic Chateau. Wikipedia
Immediately upon entering the historic Chateau, the scent is what first greets you. It was such a distinct smell...like you know A LOT has gone down here. I thought back to all the notable events that had happened here: Jim Morrison falling onto a shed after attempting to swing into his room from a drain pipe, Greta Garbo spending her days here in artistic, dramatic seclusion, Hunter S. Thompson typing away in one of the rooms overlooking the entire city...I was in the presence of greatness. Layers upon layers of historic epicness, infused with the essence of importance and relevance from people of so many walks of life.
And here I am, getting ready to put on a show for the most important people of the fashion world. Hey, Anna Wintour doesn't just leave New York City for nothing. |
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| President of the Council of Fashion Designers of America, Diane von Furstenberg, sits front row with Olivia Wilde & Ryan Murphy. Image from LATimes.com |
Queen Anna Wintour, Frederic Fekkai, Diane von Furstenberg, Olivia Wilde, Ryan Murphy, Solange Knowles, Kate Bosworth, Chloe Moretz, and Dianna Agron are all sitting front row. Vogue/Teen Vogue's West Coast Editor, Lisa Love, is also in attendance, while her daughter Laura is right next to me backstage...she's modeling in the show!
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| Laura, Nathalie, and Mama Lisa Love. Vogue |
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| Dianna Agron (in Libertine), Kate Bosworth (in Proenza Schouler), & Michelle Monaghan. FabSugar. |
Ten CFDA finalists waited anxiously for their designs to glide down the runway before fashion's most elite and influential figures. So, who will be the next household designer name? Only time will tell! We find out next month who wins, so I'll keep you posted.
Keep your eyes posted for any of these finalists!
AA, Antonio Azzuolo
Altuzarra, Joseph Altuzarra
Carlos Campos, Carlos Campos
Creatures of the Wind, Shane Gabier and Christopher Peters
Cushnie Et Ochs, Michelle Ochs and Carly Cushnie
Finn Jewelry, Soraya Silchenstedt
Fenton/Fallon, Dana Lorenz
Ohne Titel, Alexa Adams and Flora Gill
Pamela Love, Pamela Love
Suno, Max Osterweis and Erin Beatty
xo
