March 17, 2008

America's most stylish mayor?

In New York, Hillary almost posed for Vogue (she backed out, last minute).
In Paris, president Nicolas Sarkozy shacked up with a supermodel.
And in L.A., Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa is blazing a fashion trail, establishing himself as the most stylish politico the city has ever seen.
But don't expect the crush-worthy Villaraigosa, who loves runway shows and took the podium at last year's L.A. Fashion Awards, to ditch his somber councilman's suits any time soon. Rather, you should think of him as LA's Fashion Enabler, a closeted hipster who gladly opened up his backyard to fashionistas last week for a cocktail party and celebration of eco-style. The invitation-only FutureFashion L.A. event (hosted by Designers & Agents, the CFDA and Earth Pledge) was held on the sprawling lawn of Getty House, the mock Tudor mansion that is the official residence of the Mayor of Los Angeles.

Surrounding a small pond at the back of the lawn were a dozen or so eco-designs by mainly local designers, including Magda Berliner, Trina Turk, Trovata, and Bahar Shahpar. Each designer had created their piece using various eco-fabrics given to them by Earth Pledge, an organization that helps designers and manufacturers transition to sustainable fabrics.
My favorite garment was this huge bell-sleeved caftan by VPL (pictured), made from organic wool jersey and organic cotton indigo denim.
Hob-nobbers included David Hiller, L.A. Times publisher, and all the usual L.A. fashion suspects. I saw Rose Apodaca, who wrote most of the L.A. Times' magazine's Spring fashion issue. Davis Factor, the Max Factor heir who runs Smashbox studios with his brother. Trina Turk and her extremely tall husband. My friend, the fashion designer Rachel Pally. And the mayor's two fashion-crazy daughters, including Prisila Villar (pictured), who is studying at FIT in New York.

The mayor's girls are, it tur

ns out, his secret fashion weapon, and it was on their encouragement that the entire event took place.
Oddly, there was no sign of Linda Loudermilk, one of L.A.'s best-known eco-designers. Also absent was Diane Von Furstenberg, president of the CFDA.
But I did meet a man who looked like pirate.
Are you in fashion? I asked the man, who, it turns out, is the fabulous Russian painter Alexey Steele (pictured).
"Actually, I'm in anti-fashion," he said, snickering. "I paint nudes."

March 17, 2008 in LOS ANGELES | Permalink