Kevan Hall Shows Edgy, Elegant Designs

Tailored wool suits with a hint of sparkle. A floor-grazing chiffon gown with surprising chinchilla sleeves. A mink hoodie. Kevan Hall's fall line was all about elegance with an edge. The designer, a favorite among Hollywood's red-carpet crowd, cl osed L.A. Fashion Week Thursday with a cosmopolitan collection of smart suits, pretty party dresses and attention-getting formal gowns made for "the urban jet-setter.""This is for the woman who is all over the world," Hall said backstage before the show. "She skips the security checkpoint. She flies private. She's our new Angelina, Victoria Beckham or Mary J. Blige." Hall sees her in brushed titanium wool trousers, a ruby herringbone skirt suit or a slim, pinstripe pantsuit in unexpected bronze. Her cocktail attire features a beaded camisole and mink hoodie ensemble and a one-shoulder, belted, pleated purple dress that looks retro and modern at the same time. Hall is known for his graceful gowns _ "We do black tie. That's our mark," he said _ and his fall collection did not disappoint. Highlights included a forest-green silk column with a taffeta sash, an empire-waist chiffon dress in iridescent amber and a black satin mermaid gown with a jeweled velvet belt. Hall showed several fur coats and capes _ a rarity on the L.A. fashion scene. Keeping with his jet-set theme, the catwalk was striped down the middle and lined with blue lights, like an airplane runway. "This is an entertainment town," he said. "The shows are about great fashion mixed with a bit of theater." Ed Hardy designer Christian Audigier embraced theatrics when he debuted his eponymous line Wednesday. Nick Cannon worked the turntables while his ex-girlfriend Kim Kardashian (and Paris Hilton pal) walked the runway. Dennis Rodman and his former teammate John Salley had seats in the front row. A 15-member choir opened the show. Audigier's "Sexpensive" collection of shirts, dresses, jackets and bags dripped with glitz: gold and rhinestones, crown and tiger designs and bold initial logos. Men's leather jackets were metallic, studded and jeweled. Guys also wore velour shorts with sleeveless hoodies and carried luggage branded with Audigier's initials. Slim jeans and sleek denim blazers were more subdued. For women, everything came in gold: jackets, blazers, leggings and a long leather duster with studs and stones. But there was also a chic black satin pantsuit and an array of silky scarf dresses in pink, orange and blue. Satin jackets for men and women were embroidered with tigers, hearts and flowers. The show was Audigier's second during Fashion Week. His tattoo-inspired Ed Hardy line took the stage on Monday. Other designers showing collections during the five-day event at Smashbox Studios included Sue Wong, Dina Bar-El, Collection bebe, Anthony Franco and Imitation of Christ.