Project Ethos, self-described as “the incubator for emerging artists in fashion, music and art,” makes it their mission to expose new and budding talent to the world through fun red carpet events. I can’t think of anywhere more fitting for an exciting soiree here in San Diego than nightclub FLUXX, downtown’s hottest venue of the moment.
On a recent Friday night many of San Diego’s industry professionals, members of the media, photographers, models and designers showed up for an evening of art, music, runway shows and celebration sponsored by Vitaminwater zero™. The evening kicked off with a performance by new-to-the scene rapper MANN, who you may know from his recent hit Buzzin’ featuring none other than 50 Cent. MANN warmed up the crowd and when the models hit the runway, the club really started to heat up as cameras flashed and the club filled with a crowd of over 1,000. Here is a peek at the standout designers and fashion that made an appearance:
Kymaro Cardi Wraps
There is one thing these cozy-looking sweaters certainly achieve and that's versatility. The cardi wrap concept is exactly what it sounds like: a cardigan with the main body being loose and flowing, with the ability to be wrapped around the body in a variety of ways to produce a multitude of looks. Tie the front end together loosely for a casual feel or twist, drape or accentuate your waist with a belt to accessorize and dress up the look. The brand touts that one cardi wrap can be worn 50 different ways and I believe it. These fairly simple little sweaters do make for a great addition to any wardrobe.
Fredrick’s of Hollywood
Everyone knows Fredrick’s often shows cutting-edge styles that are not for the faint of fashion. This evening we viewed their latest swimwear collection and as per usual, each piece was more than appropriate for poolside Vegas or lounging at The Standard, complete with flashy embellishments and interesting (and not always tan-friendly) cuts. Perhaps not always ideal for actually swimming, any wearer will definitely make a statement with lots of sparkle certain to catch the reflection of the sun. Or, in our case, flashing cameras.
Stacie May
Dresses and light fabrics were very prevalent in the Stacie May collection that showed on the runway, a natural fit for spring. Among the more unique looks was a sheer purple off-shoulder top that looked perfect for a hot summer night out, but my favorite piece was a red satin wrap dress with black detail and tiny white polka dots. You can check out the whole collection on her website.
Kenneth Barlis
The Kenneth Barlis Collection was in general geared much more towards evening wear, a refreshing change from the everyday looks we had just seen. The bright red dress pictured above is his design and won him the Flavor Fashionista Challenge: audience members texted to vote live during the show. Some Barlis designs were on the more extreme side, particularly a plainly cut blue satin gown with an enormous neck of what could have been feathers. I daresay the designer was taking a stab at emulating couture, with the extremity of this particular look. Nevertheless everyone likes to argue over eccentric fashion and he certainly stirred that pot, so it was worth mentioning.
After the runway shows concluded, the party launched into the scene FLUXX is known for. Great music, dancers, sparkler-filled bottles of Champagne making their way towards VIP booths and lighting up the club along the way. An overall successful event, the party continued long into the early hours.
