Gold diggin'

I really dug Utah's own Jared Gold's, open-to-the-general-public Los Angeles Fashion Week show at Union Station in downtown Los Angeles last Friday night. It was my favorite show during Fashion Week because it was fun --full disclosure--I bypassed Smashbox altogether this year including the Green Initiative Humanitarian Show which seems to be improving each year. Regardless, 1,000 plus pretty-freakin'-fashionable people attended Jared's show including eclectic talents Mark Ryden, Samantha Mathis, Billy Zane and Tarina Tarantino. It also featured a performance by Miss Derringer led by the multi-talented Liz McGrath after the runway show.

Underground maven Clint Catalyst hosted the show called 'Czarina' which was like an edwardian, neo-goth, surrealist cirque-berzerk. You have to love Jared Gold's ability to execute on his creative impulses, his art direction and the throngs that he attracts.

Gold utilized a motley crew of internet, reality t.v., and underground 'celeb's' as runway models which was quite brilliant as these people are well networked and each bring an audience to the table. Love or hate this new-found level of celebrity making (did PT Barnum have any idea what 15 minutes would look like today???) it is undoubtedly fascinating. Being out of that loop, the only one that I ever heard of was old-school ex-porn queen Traci Lords.

Gold also had the foresight to include a pop-up store at the show where you could slurp down an 'earth friendly vodka' while purchasing current and past wares including the uber eco-luxe jeweled Giant Madagascar Hissing Cockroach, known affectionately as the 'roach broach'.

What's 'eco-conscious' about all of this aside from live jewelry? Well, Gold uses a lot of recycled and repurposed fabrics and is certainly a D.I.Y. genius. Most importantly though, he is a strong personality who doesn't care about the fashion industry and its pretensions, refusing to show at Smashbox again or sell-out to Project Runway. He is vigilantly focused on his vision and serving the people that love him most. Eco-fashion peeps take note!!!