El Paseo Retailers Look Hot on the Fashion Week Runway
Runway Bar El Paseo Fashion Show Monday, March 22 2010.
BY ERIN WEINGER

It takes a lot of chutzpah to pull off a runway show featuring 16 retail stores ranging from children's wear to jewelry and everything in between. But that's exactly what Palm Springs Life Fashion Director Susan Stein did last night at Runway Bar El Paseo, the official kickoff to Fashion Week El Paseo.

The evening featured looks from a smattering of independent retailers including InSanity from Denise Roberg, Trio, Cactus Flower Shoes, and Troy, as well as national specialty retailers Chico's, Vilebrequin, and White House/black Market. Each merchant showed wares from their spring 2010 shelves and the results stayed true to the overall scope of this season's trends. Though instead of showing outfits that could have come from Vogue, these babies each had a personality that was distinctively Palm Springs.

The earthy, ethnic trend seen so heavily on the New York catwalks last September hit the desert in full force, as evidenced by a sheer, watercolor caftan by Chico's, an Ikat-printed cover-up that could easily double as a blouse from 4 Seasons Swimwear and oversized raffia totes at Tommy Bahama's. Jeweler Amber Romeo got in on the au natural action with chunky jade and amber lariats. And a Navajo-style fringed blanket cardigan from Josie's Heart replicated the Native American look currently sweeping through Los Angeles coolest neighborhoods.

The 1960s were a big decade on the runway, as well. At Troy, models doubled for January Jones in Mad Men wearing a white taffeta sheath with organza trim and an oversized sheer bow on the back. Trio took their looks a bit later in the decade with a selection of hippie-esque children's ensembles that made us wonder when the bra burning would begin. No such show, but we did get tie-dye leggings, a tank top emblazoned with the phrase Love this planet and a mini fringed handbag that looked better than those of some adults in the crowd.

Speaking of handbags, they were a highlight of the show from more than one retailer. Standouts included a major raffia carry all from Chico's that looked like it belonged to an off-duty model, a quilted nude satchel from BB one and a brown leather belt bag (known in some circles as a fanny pack) from Josie's Heart. But the piece de resistance was a disco ball mirror, faux-snakeskin satchel from White House/black Market that channele similar Prada styles from a few seasons back for a measly $48.

As for the fellas, the fashion wasn't earth shattering (save for those wash board abs). But the short cut of Vilebrequin's cheery printed swim trunks evoked a cool, 1950s Mr. Ripley vibe that felt like a very welcome update to a trusty old classic. Just like a constantly evolving desert town we know and love.
 

Fashion Week El Paseo Day 2 Designer Inspiration Like the desert's own personal Project Runway challenge, night number two of Fashion Week El Paseo took a decidedly do-it-yourself twist. Only instead of aspiring fashion designers competing for the affections of supermodel Heidi Klum, this group was comprised of 23 of the desert's leading interior designers tempting their fate in front of a panel including ex-catwalkers Beverly Johnson and Cheryl Tiegs.
Fashion Event Article Posted April 1, 2010

Ethnic Flair Marks
Islands
Runway Show at Fashion Week El Paseo Truth be told, of anything listed on Fashion Week El Paseo's weeklong lineup, we were most excited for the Islands of the World runway presentation, which took place last night under the big white fashion tent in Palm Desert. Why? Because everywhere you look, from popular fashion blogs such as Jak and Jil to the pages of Elle to the streets of Los Angeles, ethnic tribal dressing is in full effect.
Fashion Event Article Posted April 1, 2010

Fashion Week El Paseo FIDM Debut 2010 I already have orders from some of the models, said budding knitwear designer and recent FIDM grad Julia Nish. The California native's collection of knits was the standout showing of Fashion Week El Paseo's FIDM Debut 2010, which featured collections by nine of the school's third-year design students.
Fashion Event Article Posted April 1, 2010

Hip Beachwear Men's Night Wins the Crowd Oh, this guy is hot, said an attendee of last night's Jamie Paul Holahan show at Fashion Week El Paseo. She was of course referring to the models, particularly the dudes, who stole the show away from the clothes.
Fashion Event Article Posted April 1, 2010

Colleen Quen Puts El Paseo on the Fashion World's Map  Being at Colleen Quen's runway show Saturday night the marquee event of Fashion Week El Paseo make one feel like they were some place other than in the desert. The designer's masterful, exotic eveningwear transported the audience to a catwalk in New York, or even Paris, where the materials are lush, the tailoring impeccable, and the designs eye-popping in an artful, organic way.
Fashion Event Article Posted April 1, 2010

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