Lady LUX

On Saturday, The Irvine Spectrum Center hosted the the kickoff of the 6th annual Style Week OC. The Spectrum, shopping center for Orange County’s local fashion crowd and popular tourist hot spot, showed fall’s hottest trends with an amazing runway show.

Fashion designer and host for the week, Nick Verreos, kicked off the event by christening the runway with his very own catwalk, and said, “We don’t want to have any YouTube moments of a model slipping and falling, right?” Verreos’ charismatic personality had the crowds engaged as they laughed and prepared for a great night of fashion. “My favorite thing about Style Week OC is the backdrop. There’s no other backdrop with a ferris wheel and lights. It’s gorgeous.” Verreos said, as the collections unfolded down the runway, “Fashion shows of this scale, you have to be invited to. They’re VIP and not everybody can go, and/or you have to pay a lot of money, and this is open to the public. It’s a great way for people to be at something special.”

Local shops within the Irvine Spectrum brought out their own miniature runway collections. Each look was created with pieces from the stores, featuring fall’s gotta-have trends. Verreos said, “It’s good to see the designs out of the stores, to see the hanger appeal and the retail side in a fashion show aspect.” Some of the most anticipated looks were from Macy’s, Nordstrom, American Apparel and Max Studio.

Verreos pointed out what makes this local fashion show so important to the consumer. “We don’t really have seasons- it is fall, but fall for us just means to throw on a sweater.” The SoCal shopper is definitely looking for the perfect details to layer into their wardrobe. Prints were played up on last night’s runway. Mixing colorful prints and textures is the perfect way to add a cozy, fall touch to a warmer climate area.

After seeing a runway collection, it’s important to determine what pieces to start adding to your closet. Verreos shared with us his take on the runway’s gotta-have pieces. “For women, if there's one must-have item for fall, it’s definitely the motorcycle jacket. They’re a little more fitted, more updated and a little more chic. They’re influenced by the 80’s and the 90’s, but they have a definite 2013 feel. For guys, look at the fact that the pants are getting leaner. The men and designers are losing the ‘dad pant’ and all the sudden they see it, it’s like they lost 20 pounds and they look good.”

Along with the local store collection, the night was unveiling four special designs by students from The Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising. Luxury car manufacturer Cadillac hosted a Couture Design Competition. Advanced study students were presented with a challenge: to create a look unique runway look which must include parts from an actual Cadillac car. Ready, set, go. Verreos said, “I love to see the designs these students come up with using car parts. Every year it keeps me fresh, in regards to the creativity. Especially when they’re that young, they don’t have real boundaries. Just make one dress, it’s a fantasy dress out of car parts, just do it.”

After the shows, the students and their designs resurfaced on the runways. One final walk down the runway and the award presentation wrapped up the night. The winner of the FaceBook Fan Challenge was Jarrett Levin, with his cherry red bondage cocktail dress. Overall winner of the Cadillac Couture Design Competition was David Lee. Lee’s black and white look was unreal. The shape was dramatic, sensual and what every woman dares to wear. Congratulations to all the talented students.

More of fall’s gotta-have trends and runway collections are to come as Style Week OC continues…

Tagged in: fall 2013, runway, fidm, style week oc, irvine spectrum, nick verreos,