Didn’t make it to New York Fashion Week this year? Yeah, me neither. But Orange County has plenty of style to make up for it. All fashionistas should report to Irvine Spectrum Center the weekend of September 24 for Style Week Orange County. You may recall “Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County”/”The Hills” golden girl Lauren Conrad debuting her since-terminated fashion line, The Lauren Conrad Collection at last year’s event.
Although you won’t find LC at this year’s three consecutive nights of fashion, you may bump into Anaheim Duck Ryan Getzlaf, Christopher Boykin (aka Big Black) from MTV’s “Rob & Big,” former Los Angeles Laker and current Houston Rocket Trevor Ariza, as well as the entire LRG (Lifted Research Group) Skate Team, which includes Chico Brenes, Rodrigo TX and Jack Curtin.
The weekend kicks off with the first fashion show debuting the LRG Spring 2010 collection. LRG will be showcasing their skateboard- and music-inspired accessory and clothing line at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, September 24. Head back to the Spectrum Friday night to check out the Designer Showcase at 7:30 p.m., presented by Ezekiel and Active Ride and featuring six Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising debut designers. The FIDM designers will compete in the Needle and Thread Competition for a $4,000 scholarship and the chance to have their designs included in Ezekiel’s Spring 2010 line.
Stick around and catch Branded: Saluting Emerging Designers Michele Genevieve and Oday Shakar at 9 p.m., when Hollywood Million Denim founder Genevieve will show off his denim designs along side fellow designer Shakar. On Saturday, Nordstrom’s Fall 2009 collection will hit the runway at 7:30 p.m., followed by closing show, Metropark Presents MEK Denim, with celebrity model and recent “Dancing with the Stars” competitor Albert Reed modeling the latest in MEK Denim jeans.
Besides the runway shows, there will be plenty of post-parties and in-store events like the Metropark party with MEK Denim, from 7 p.m. until 10 p.m. Saturday. You’ll find Reed meeting and greeting fans, and those customers who buy a pair of MEK Denim jeans at full price will receive a free iPod shuffle.
Fashion show tickets are $10 per show per person, benefiting HomeAid Orange County, a non-profit organization that builds new homeless shelters and renovates existing ones. So come get your fashion fix, support a good cause and save New York Fashion Week for next year.
2nd Annual Style Week Orange County runs September 24-26 at Irvine Spectrum Center in the Giant Wheel Court, 71 Fortune Dr., Irvine; styleweekoc.com
