By Crystal Harrell
Fashion Week El Paseo is strutting down the runway once again this week, to celebrate 16 years of style at the West Coast’s largest consumer fashion show—held March 17-23, 2023, at The Gardens on El Paseo in Palm Desert.
This world-class event provides an inspiring, immersive fashion experience and features cocktail receptions, trunk shows, celebrity meet-and-greets, and much more. Highlighting fashion trends and showcasing a who’s-who of the country’s top design talents—including some stars of tomorrow—Fashion Week El Paseo takes one of the world’s most relatable art forms and brings it to attendees in style.
The show schedule for this year brings sophistication and luxury of the desert as attendees indulge their inner fashionista at this premier, state-of-the-art experience celebrating the newest collections of the industry’s most prominent influencers and innovators.
On March 17, the “NARCES by Nikki Yassemi” show displayed strong silhouettes and structures that accentuated elements that yield a powerful superhero look injected with a hyper-feminine feel. The pieces shown in the collection are meant to be worn and styled in different ways to show individuality. From a voluminous-sleeve organza gown, which could be worn as an overcoat, to a dress that can be disintegrated into four pieces, there are numerous creative combinations. The feel is ethereal-meets-supernatural, and bodies are textural with hand-embellished flowers that are both dainty and bold with metal and spark.
Saturday’s “Josie Natori Presents an Artisanal Affair” show celebrated the culmination of the designer’s 45th year with a special collection that epitomizes comfort and glam with an artisanal flair. Her resort-ready collection featured an exotic exploration of bold prints, vibrant colors, and fun silhouettes inspired by the beauty of nature. Vibrant colors and ombrés brought the ensembles to life, enhanced by details such as microbeads, embroideries, and Maria Clara–inspired sleeves.
March 18 featured the return of Michael Costello with his latest couture collection, unique selections from his top-selling Revolve collection, and some of his designs that are now available this season at Saks Fifth Avenue. The designer—a go-to among celebrities, with a client roster that includes Lady Gaga, Céline Dion, and Beyoncé—grew up in Palm Springs, and much of his inspiration comes from the beauty of the desert’s surrounding nature. Costello opened his first store on Palm Canyon Drive when he was only 15 years old. At age 27, he garnered a spot on Season 8 of Project Runway, returning later as a fan favorite for the first edition of Project Runway All Stars.
March 20’s “Rocking El Paseo” featured the latest in ready-to-wear and accessories from 120% Lino, Chrissy’s On El Paseo, Connie Roberson, Eileen Fisher, Gorjana, Grayse, Johnny Was, Margaux, Summer Colony Living, Tommy Bahama, and Trina Turk. When Fashion Week launched in 2006, it was developed to spotlight the boutiques and luxury shops of El Paseo. The boulevard has blossomed alongside the event, cultivating a reputation for its diverse assortment of high-end shopping options, and this year’s participating retailers represent that progression.
On March 21, the “HENDRIXROE Experience: Castles Made of Sand” show was inspired by the vintage rock ’n’ roll style of Jimi Hendrix and old Hollywood glamour of Marilyn Monroe. HENDRIXROE exemplifies “glamorous rocker chic” to perfection with close attention to construction, fabric, and silhouettes. Jordan McKay’s designs for HENDRIXROE have commanded attention at numerous red-carpet events for theater, film, and television and have been worn by artists including Christina Aguilera, Cree Summer, Kardinal Offishall, Arkells, Walk off the Earth, and more.
March 22 and 23 will feature the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising Debut Collection and the Best of Saks Fifth Avenue, respectively. For tickets, call 800-210-0689 or visit fashionweekelpaseo.com.
