Knic Knack Style Spy Concept SS 12
Concept LA SS 12 was all about showing the beauty of skin with vibrant colors. Working at the front desk the first night, I got a first hand experience of the event and the selective guests who attended. The crowd was unique to the LA scene , my favorite, being born and raised in LA. The Vibe in the space was one of a kind, never boring, which is my kind of event. Drinks, Music, Fashion, and Art set the mood for a good time, despite the high temperatures and angry fashionistas not getting front row seats for their favorite designer’s runway show. I see it as, if everything was perfect, there wouldnt be any excitement or anything to talk about. Us writers need to have a story! Amanda Herrera, Editor
Table Of Contents Intro to Concept L.A. P.1 Beauty: Temperatures Hot?? So Is Men's Hair! P.2 Beauty: Hollywood Vixen Red Lips P.3 Keeping Up with L.A. scene+lingo P.4 Chicanos with a Vision P.5 Sex Appeal P.7 Hippest Man in L.A. P.9 Jen Awad Runway Show P.11 Photo Credit
Back Cover
Concept L.a. Concept Los Angeles was an event that hosted the runway for L.A. based designers to show what they got and bring out the gist of the fashion world here in Southern California. The event is a collaboration of installations and runway shows. It was held at the Ace Gallery on Wilshire Boulevard in Los Angeles, where temperatures are always rising and fresh air is a window away. This place was packed with attendants of all sorts, from common fashion fans, to fashion bloggers, designers, models, celebs, and fashion icons. Art and music were also essential to Concept for half of the second floor of the gallery was nothing but art pieces, and live bands performing during the runway shows. The combination of new music, coming
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from the heart of L.A., with new fashion seem to be the succeeding goal of this event. The designers showcased their collection for Spring/Summer 2012, and accordingly the free spirited vocals with beats mixing music seemed to give the show the right theme. A total of 24 designers and their unique collections were the attractions of this three day event starting October 13-15th. To celebrate the event’s success and unite the designers and guests together, a closing party was held at Siren Studios Hollywood the day after, which was filled with drinks, music, Q&A’s, networking, blogging seshes, and great vibes. There is no place like LA, and this event excellently depicts the prominence of the city’s Fashion scene and all it has to offer.
Temperatures Hot?? So is Men’s Hair! What beauty a man's hair is. The hair can make the look of an ordinary man extraordinary as just simply messing it up a bit. The messy hair look seem to be the men's choice of hair do throughout Concept. Sharp, prep, indie, hip, and even casual styles of fashion for men seem to work with the messy hair-do. It was outstanding how bad hair days for these gentlemen seem to make them look more dashing and natural than the preppy hair combed to one side and creasing the other. Hair length was preferred longer on the fellas so that the natural curls and waves would just flow perfectly in its imperfection. Men's beauty may not seem to be very approachable and a hard topic to defy, but there is a simple way to look at things, men can enhance beauty through dressing fashionably and having great hair. If the look is unique and/or just works men give an appearance of being an eye catcher in the room and be (if the term beautiful is too girly) handsome, dashing, stunning, or even just hot!
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Women have always loved the finishing touch, especially when it comes to their outfits. And here in the heart of Los Angeles the style of Hollywood vixens is the key to gain the beauty to make any fashion style work. Red lips are the trending and timeless classic style of beauty since the early days, and allows any women to acquire the sass she needs to kick her look to the next level. The kissable red lips can be added to many styles especially all-black ensembles. The powerful red lipstick gives the statement of sexiness but conserves the energy of all the looks: professional, prep, exotic, indie, etc.. At concepts this look was recognizable and everywhere with the ladies smiling, taking photos, and conversating. Everywhere you would turn a set of lips would grab your attention. After noticing the red lips, connections clicked of how the fashion was collaborating very vibrantly with rouge fever.
Hollywood Vixen Red Lips 3
Keeping up With L.A. Scene&Lingo Terminology Hipstirrer = Young, trendy, and knows everything!
Socialartists =The ultra creative, thinking outside of the box type who spit on the mainstream. Trashionista = Fashionable lady caught wearing same makeup from night before, while still hungover.
Celebrittle = Celebrity whose fame is based on scandal. Bitchface = scowling so frequently and furiously that you develop wrinkles
Sadgasm = The sticky end to a long, hard pity party.
“giant platform creepers and wacky sunglasses worn indoors” -LA Times
“Inspirational eye candy” -Rach LaRoche “festive arm candy” -Nubry.com “dizzy-high platforms” -Nubry.com “blogosphere” -Nubry.com “Foot Traffic > Street Traffic” -MissMandaMarie
“1990’s Hip Hop Club” -Nubry.com “oh so proper partygoers” -Nubry.com
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Chicanos With The art exhibition hosted at the ace gallery during Concept LA was from sinister duo the Date Farmers. The two-man team consisted of Chicanos Armando Lerma and Carlos Ramirez, both from Coachella, California. As a Chicana admiring work from fellow Mexicans, I seemed very drawn and felt very chill with the pieces. The art seemed very urban and ghetto, but at the same time felt like it had a desert and environmental feel to it. Many knick-knacks and random things were used to create these units of art. Many guns were used in certain pieces as if to say, “que chingado� (what the fuck).
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A VISION Right away the messaging of how logos and icons such as Mickey Mouse and Coke A Cola are just sending ideas into our youth and systems to corrupt the people. The aura felt to grasp the idea of darkness in the world. Drugs, guns, and violence were some points that came to mind as I walked through exhibition. Street art was also combined with this style of darkness through tag writing on art painting of Mexican styling. The feel of Raza and brown pride over American system overcame those particular segments of the exhibition. Overall I believe this duo wanted to trae un image of spanglish life and of how we live in un mundo violent.
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Sex Appeal Tease Sophistication Want to feel sexy? Showing skin is an alternative, but teasing may work as well. Sheer blouses and skirts are the perfect way to be revealing and be covered up at the same time. Radiant colored sheered garments can be used to give a professional sexy look without showing too much. And to show a little more, but not attract as much attention with colors: nude, white or black sheer material, which can be very exotic yet hold the right style for whatever fashion statement one may try to pull.
Alluring All-Black Another way to be sexy is with simplicity. An all black ensemble can give you a sexy, yet professional or sleek lean look. Utilizing a variety of unique, intricate, and colorful jewelry can add depth to the total outfit, bringing out a woman’s true personality and sex appeal.
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Prep Look For Men Fellas, there is always a way to catch up with the ladies in the sex appeal factor. A prep look consisting of blazers, dress shirts, bowtie, ties, the right pants and shoes can give you the look and feel to be around fashionable people. Outfits such as the sporty look (dress shirt, jeans, fresh kicks, and a nice smooth blazer) can always be worn for most special or any occasion. The nerd look, (not to be confused with the geek look because come-on! nerds got style), can be worn as a casual or semi formal attire. Just wearing a set of nice shoes (boat shoes, dress shoes, desert boots), plaid shirt tucked in with a bowtie and cardigan or vest can give a great city or even party look. Lets not forget the hair and accessories guys. Glasses, watches, and hair did just right delivers the punch line to your whole outfit. Now get out there and test you newfound sex appeal.
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Hippest Man in Los Angeles
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James Goldstein A.K.A. the "Hippest Man of Los Angeles" was a fashion icon who attended Concept on Friday and Saturday evening. This man took the spotlight as soon as your eyes glazed at him. His iconic style made him a one man runway. Fitted leather from the neck to the boots, Mr. Goldstein attended Thursday night with a night red leather jacket that seem to be a rather custom attire since the jacket had patterns made from metallic pins and studs. Black leather pants and stylish vintage boots were also worn by Goldstein at this warm event, which I still ask myself "How is he not sweating?" To top it off, his outfit was completed by a leather cowboy hat which gave him the appearance of an oldschool western Michael Jackson. Sitting next to this extravagant gentleman, his aura just captured you as he just had calm, cool ambience to him. He would move through the crowd, sit and spectate in a way that is very much his own. Many ask who is this elder man? But he is a mystery to all. He is seen all over the fashion industry and also the NBA. A loyal fan of the Los Angeles Lakers, he is seen at games and Laker events. Not only is he front row at Staples Center, but he has been spotted at front rows of fashion shows in Milan and many others worldwide. His connections and money is unknown and unspoken of, therefore he is a mystery. He is, however, the "Hippest Man in L.A." for he is the man at all the "need to be at" events, even though he is the oldest individual present. This fact is inspiring by making one think; it doesn't matter how old you are just enjoy life and have fun. James was also seen leaving the scene at Concept in his classic white, tan topped and mahogany interior Rolls-Royce. This man indeed knows how to enjoy his life and value great vintage styles and classics.
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Jen Awad
SS 12
The look kept sexy but tidy with hair up-dos.
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Keeping the style big requires big accessories, and what better than huge earrings by Sugar Scout Couture.
An 80’s punk/fetish style with bright neon colors was Awad’s style for here Spring Summer 2012 line. The fashion line of course obtained Black X’s all over, but those X’s were also needed to keep the line PG.
Footwear: Bedazzled pumps by K James Couture.
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Photography and images of Concept L.A. credit to Victor Felix Images from i-D magazine credit to: The Dreams and Aspirations Issue No. 315, P.3-GUCCI Advertisement, P.7-MCQ Advertisement, P.8-Lacoste Live 24/24: Berlin Advertisement