John Sakalis — LA Fashion Week, April 2003
A Los Angeles fashion week record from April 2003 — the John Sakalis fall show at LA Fashion Week in April 2003, kept as the historical record.
A loyal following of supporters — Jennifer Tilly, RuPaul, Marissa Ramirez and others — filled the front row at the brand-new Colburn School of Music auditorium in April 2003, as twenty-six glamazons took to the stage in a luxurious celebration of fall. Scottish bagpipes gave way to up-tempo house beats, and the theme announced itself with the first look: a tartan strapless sheath with matching cape.
The review below was reported from the show by Debra Stevenson of The Skyline Studios, the West Coast Bureau for Apparel Search, during LA Fashion Week in April 2003.
Illustrative image created for this guide — an artistic impression, not photographs from this show.
Gladiator Glam Meets Swiss Alpine Chic
The review's summary phrase earns its place: strong-shouldered gabardine coats, plaid capes and camelhair wraps carried raw-edged pelts of Mongolian lamb and rabbit; charcoal circle skirts and low-rise gabardine stretch pants were perfectly fitted; and the designer's signature hand-nubbed distressed sweaters drew applause when paired with them. Tartan, gabardine and fur — Scotland by way of the Alps, cut for a Los Angeles stage.
A Designer and His Front Row
The Scottish Goth designer was all smiles backstage, greeting fans and press — the review's closing image, and a fair picture of how Los Angeles fashion week worked in 2003: the front row was a community, the designer its host, and the show a celebration as much as a selling event. The Colburn School of Music auditorium, brand new that season, gave the week one of its most elegant rooms.
The Review
A loyal following of supporters Jennifer Tilly, RuPaul, Marissa Ramirez and others filled John's front row at the brand new Colburn School of Music auditorium, as 26 glamazons took to the stage in a luxurious celebration of Fall. The theme was clearly apparent when Scottish bagpipes gave way to up-tempo house beats and the first platinum pompadored vixen emerged in Tartan strapless sheath and matching cape. Charcoal circle skirts and low-rise gabardine stretch pants were perfectly fitted and drew applause from the crowd when paired with the designer's signature hand nubbed distressed sweaters. Raw-edged pelts of Mongolian lamb and rabbit were slung over strong-shouldered gabardine coats, plaid capes and camelhair wraps. The look was Gladiator Glam meets Swiss Alpine chic, and the crowd loved it. The Scottish Goth designer was all smiles himself backstage as he greeted fans and press.
Photos
Common Questions
Where did John Sakalis show in April 2003?
At the brand-new Colburn School of Music auditorium in Los Angeles, during LA Fashion Week in April 2003.
What did the John Sakalis fall collection feature?
Twenty-six looks: a tartan strapless sheath and cape, charcoal circle skirts, low-rise gabardine stretch pants, hand-nubbed distressed sweaters, and Mongolian lamb and rabbit pelts over gabardine coats and camelhair wraps.
Who sat in John Sakalis's front row?
Supporters including Jennifer Tilly, RuPaul and Marissa Ramirez; the designer greeted fans and press backstage after the show.