If a photograph is worth a thousand words, just think how many names and numbers you could get with a snapshot of the Los Angeles skyline spread across your favorite party dress. Kristen Friedlander puts her vision of LA nightlife right where her party is with her striking interpretation of dusk ‘til dawn. A freshly graduated student from the Otis College of Art and Design, Friedlander has already hit it big with her thesis project in window displays at Neiman Marcus and Trina Turk, poised and ready for a night out on the glamorous town.

As part of the mentor project at Otis, Friedlander was linked up with Trina Turk, the established designer of patterned chic, and given ten weeks to design a line.

The challenge: Design a cocktail dress for a fashionista to wear at a gallery opening.

Her inspiration: Balenciaga and cut-outs for a modern, sculptural effect.

Sewing the extra mile: Her updated take on the 50s style dinner coat classic, lined with her new signature print.

The judges say: As the recipient of the outstanding student award, Friedlander obviously knew how to “make it work ”.

But to get her flawless version of La-La land required what the city’s already famous for: a little nip and tuck. Starting with two photos digitally meshed together, Friedlander then scanned her design pattern into Photoshop and manipulated the sunset to fit. She gave the City of Angels a little wing lift by adding different layers of colors, creating an ombre dip that’s worthy of any LA story. Finally, she sent the files and fabric to AVID Ink where they printed her digital image on panels used to create the final toast to the town.

Her fierce and fabulous frock and coat ensemble was unveiled at a runway show at the Otis gala fundraiser, intended to raise money for fashion students. “I wanted the person who wears this to feel like the hippest and most interesting girl in the room,” Friedlander says. There’s no question the girl in her dress would feel on top of the world, or, at least, Los Angeles. After all, isn’t living above Sunset every party girl’s dream?

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via Liza Kaplan, 21 May 2008 5:28pm | 2 |