Nicky Hilton, Pussycat Dolls, Lauren Conrad Remodel L.A. Fashion Week

March 19, 2008

Just as L.A. Fashion Week took a step forward, the celeb-as-designer trend seems to have sent it two steps back.

Though the presence of bigger and more legitimate designers has grown over the past few years, fashion regulars Sue Wong, Kevan Hall and Ed Hardy chose not to show fall 2008 collections last week.

Instead, the spotlight turned to the likes of The Hills star Lauren Conrad, Nicky Hilton and the Pussycat Dolls.

Yes, the Pussycat Dolls.

Hey, it's just Hollywood, right? Wong, for one, calls the emerging trend "absolutely bogus." But Smashbox co-founder Davis Factor says the week "is for everybody," from established designers to showbiz types. Even the burlesque-inspired girl singing group.

Lauren Conrad Collection

Full-time star of MTV's The Hills and part-time fashion design student, Conrad UP made her designer debut without her MTV reality TV crew in tow. The budding 22-year-old designer's first fashion show won't be featured on her popular docu-soap because, she says, it's "what I do in my spare time. I kinda like that it's separate. . . . It's a career I want beyond my 15 minutes."

The debut featured 30 looks. Flowy wraps and strapless dresses were accented with touches like leather gloves and berets. Conrad said the oh-la-la designs were inspired by her recent trip to Paris, which will be documented on The Hills when it returns March 24.

Reality show connection: MTV's The Hills and Laguna Beach

Front row: Hills and Laguna Beach alums Whitney Port, Audrina Patridge, Brody Jenner, Kristin Cavallari, Stephen Colletti, Frankie Delgado and Lauren "Lo" Bosworth, Lisa Rinna. On-screen adversaries Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt were nowhere to be seen.

Pussycat Dolls

Known for skimpy costumes and sexy moves, the group unveiled its " . . . shhh" lingerie collection.

After a brief runway display of micro-minis with corset lacing and graffiti-covered bra-and-panty sets, break dancers took the stage. They were followed by four women who straddled chairs as they slowly stripped down to leopard-print lingerie.

The fashion show resumed with an array of frilly underthings, nearly all trimmed with ruffles and ribbons. There were striped, sailor-themed sets and sheer bras with barely-there bottoms.

To close the show, the real Pussycat Dolls - whose boy shorts and bustiers looked downright demure compared with their namesake lingerie - saluted their founder, Robin Antin , with a sexy song-and-dance performance.

Reality show connection: Pussycat Dolls Present: The Search for the Next Doll, Pussycat Dolls Present: Girlicious

Front row: Sean "Diddy" Combs, Dr. Dre, Lydia Hearst, Whitney Port, Jenna Jameson, Chelsea Handler, Apollonia

Nicholai

Kathy, Rick and Paris Hilton - along with Paris' current squeeze, Benji Madden - were front and center at Nicky Hilton's high-end show.

Before the models took the runway, mom Kathy mingled with the crowd, dad Rick snapped iPhone photos and big sis Paris exchanged whispers with Madden, the Good Charlotte guitarist.

The latest designs from the younger Hilton sister included trench coats, knit tops, houndstooth accents and lots of leather trim.

Reality show connection: Guest-starred on episodes of The Simple Life, I Want to Be a Hilton and Project Runway

Front row: No one outshone the Hilton clan.

From-http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/mar/19/designing-by-starlight/