Frankie B. — LA Fashion Week, March 2004
A Los Angeles fashion week record from March 2004 — the Frankie B. show at LA Fashion Week in March 2004, kept as the historical record.
News flash: the sexy rock goddess was growing up. Daniella Clarke's Frankie B. — the label built on ultra-low-rise denim — used its March 2004 show at Smashbox Studios to mature in public, pairing the signature jeans with sleek 40's silk charmeuse blouses and metallic-thread tweed coats on a gold velvet runway.
The review below was reported from the show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week LA, March 2004 — the first official week produced jointly by 7th on Sixth and Smashbox Studios. The show's runway photograph is carried in the Photos section.
Illustrative image created for this guide — an artistic impression, not photographs from this show.
Denim, Grown Up
The surprise of the show was the wardrobe around the jeans: charmeuse blouses in a sophisticated neutral palette of oatmeal, creamsicle and champagne; tweed coats shot with metallic thread; Mongolian fur accessories; and high-voltage jewelry by Kwiat. The bedhead goddess of the label's image was, in the review's verdict, rocking real bling and not afraid to show it — a premium-denim brand rehearsing its move upmarket in front of the audience that had made it.
Rock Royalty in the Room
The select audience mixed brand aficionados and outrageous models with rock royalty — including designer-spouse Gilby Clarke and their daughter Frankie, the label's namesake. Few March 2004 shows better illustrate the Los Angeles formula: a denim label, a rock-and-roll family, a velvet runway, and a fall collection aimed at growing a cult brand without losing the cult.
The gold velvet runway itself was a statement of intent: denim presented with the ceremony of couture. Clarke's additions — charmeuse, tweed, fur, fine jewelry — were the wardrobe a low-rise customer would need as she aged with the brand, and showing them on the same runway as the jeans argued that Frankie B. intended to keep her.
The Review
News flash the sexy rock goddess is growing up! If this show was a precursor of future trends, then the mudflaps icon of ample cleavage, Barbie hips, petulant pout and luscious locks might be maturing and taking on a whole new look. A select audience of brand aficionados, outrageous models and rock royalty (including designer-spouse Gilby Clark and their daughter Frankie) were on-hand for Daniella Clark's style direction and they were not disappointed. Paired with signature ultra-lowrise denims for Fall were some surprising additions to the Frankie B. wardrobe. Sleek, 40's silk charmeuse blouses featured prominently on the gold velvet runway, in a sophisticated neutral palette of oatmeal, creamsicle and champagne. Metallic-thread tweed coats polished off the look, along with Mongolian fur accessories and seriously high-voltage jewelry provided by Kwiat. The new Frankie B. bedhead goddess is rocking real bling and not afraid to show it.
Photos
Common Questions
What did Frankie B. show in March 2004?
Signature ultra-low-rise denims for fall, grown up with sleek 40's silk charmeuse blouses in oatmeal, creamsicle and champagne, metallic-thread tweed coats, Mongolian fur accessories and Kwiat jewelry.
Who designs Frankie B.?
Daniella Clarke; the label is named for her daughter Frankie, who attended the March 2004 show with her father, Gilby Clarke.
Where was the Frankie B. show held?
At Smashbox Studios in Culver City, on a gold velvet runway, during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week LA in March 2004.