At the risk of sounding repetitive (and whiny), the events happening during this L.A. Fashion Week are quite  geographically scattered, with some held in the most peculiar places.

Last night, the Kevan Hall Spring 2010 show took me to the Universal back lot*, where the designer showed his collection on a set of grand steps that made every model look as though she were  descending the steps at the Palais des Festivals at Cannes.

After getting lost, mistakenly driving into the Warner Bros. lot and hiking the concrete hill to the "Rusnak Night of Luxury" event where Hall presented his line, I found the show to be a welcome respite amid the logistical chaos of what this fashion week/month has become.

For spring, Hall did what he does best: vintage-inspired gowns and day dresses that would make almost any woman feel polished, elegant and glamorous.

He specifically channeled the 1960s, with models wearing voluminous bouffants and "Mad Men"-esque silhouettes. The solid-color pieces were breathtaking. Every color was the most brilliant version of itself. Crimson reds, vivid corals and even a concrete gray were so vivid and rich, you didn't dare turn your head until the look was entirely out of sight.

Hall hit the "red" trend right on, with a one-shouldered cocktail dress that was structured, not slinky, and sure to be a classic in many women's closets.

His gowns were part Grace Kelly, part Michelle Obama, with strong, structured bodices and delicate jeweled details at the waist and occasionally as a brooch at the neckline.

Hall worked wide gold belts into this collection, which took a few formal pieces into sportswear territory, showing how versatile a dress can be by just adding a simple accessory.  

-- Melissa Magsaysay

*We previously wrote the Universal back lot is in Burbank. It's not, as a commenter points out. It's in Universal City.

Photos: At top, one of the looks from Kevan Hall Spring 2010. Left, designer Kevan Hall. Right, another sample from the spring collection. Credits: Axel Koester

Welcome to October in Los Angeles, where the concept of fashion week as it exists in cities like Milan, Paris, New York and London has been folded, spindled and mutilated into a month-long series of fashion-themed installations, events – and even a Halloween party -- punctuated by the occasional old-school runway show. Charitable causes abound, Hollywood studios are the new tents (while we aren't exactly taking credit for it, we did suggest just that in last year's Fantasy Fashion Week story) and there's more partnering up than a '70s key party.

As in past seasons, most remain invite-only affairs geared toward the media and buyers, although a few are selling tickets to the fashion-loving public.

Among the events:

October 13-16 Downtown Los Angeles Fashion Week

None other than Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa himself has thrown his weight behind this hybrid event -- a mix of presentations, runway shows and mixers -- back for a sophomore season. This time

around, it will include a handful of runway shows and presentations from the likes of Louis Verdad (showing his Louver Collection), Eduardo Lucero, and Oliver Tolentino, as well as a showcase of up-and-coming Israeli designers dubbed Mode Israel.

A mainstay of the biannual L.A. fashion week that was held at Smashbox Studios until October, Kevan Hall chose to show his fall collection at a charity event instead. And what a crowd he got! The event was hosted by the elite charity the Colleagues to benefit Children’s Institute, an organization that helps at-risk families. All of Hall’s celeb fans were there, including Garcelle Beauvais, Lisa Rinna, Molly Sims and Virginia Madsen, along with L.A.’s old-line social set Betsey Bloomingdale, Joan Collins and designer James Galanos. In other words, it was brooch central.

The medley of music from James Bond films was a clue that Hall was inspired by spy heroines. In keeping with fall’s tough vibe, he focused on sexy tailoring and body-conscious silhouettes -- a black wool sheath with parallel zippers up the sides, a body-hugging black rayon jersey dress with geometric-shaped leather embroidery on the bodice, a reversible hounds-tooth coat.

When you have dresses called “Garbo,” “Crawford,” “Ziegfeld,” “Hepburn” and “Lucille” in your collection, your audience is gonna get it.  Kevan Hall’s old Hollywood inspiration was crystal clear and a perfect way to showcase his knack for making a beautiful vintage silhouette. 

His daytime looks came in black and white silk dupioni, with 1940s zoot suit-style pointed lapels on a neckline and a graphic chevron pattern on the front of a blouson dress.  The classic contrast of color and Hall’s spin on a day suit felt strikingly fresh.

And then it was time to get down to business. And by that I mean playing to his increasing presence on the red carpet and his celebrity fans, a few of whom were sitting in the front row. Garcelle Beauvais, Rachel Griffiths and Dana Delany all clocked the frocks they could envision themselves wearing to the next round of award shows. Most of which are not far off -- kudos to Hall for taking the opportunity to get his gowns in front of the right people. We’ll see if it pays off come show time. 

There were gowns aplenty. Hand-painted cheery yellow flowers were fun and optimistic.  And a group of aquatic-tone chiffon such as sage, navy and aqua kept things fluid and light. But included was a heavier sea foam number -- and nothing really looks great in sea foam, especially taffeta.

Hall didn’t just play to the screen sirens, he also gave a shout out to the chorus members, making kicky little apple green “Tap pants” or as we might call them today, hot pants, paired with a green and white gingham “dance tunic.” One could just picture a young Judy Garland reporting to the set in such a get up, ready to rehearse, which makes sense since Hall stated in the liner notes that he was inspired by Adrian, who famously did costumes for “Wizard of Oz.”

The gingham didn’t stop with the chorus and thank goodness, since one of the strongest looks in the collection was a black jersey bodysuit worn beneath a black and white, large-check, gingham floor-length skirt.

Hall’s nostalgic collection gave a nod to Hollywood’s old screen sirens while giving a wink to the town’s new stars, who he hopes will wear these gala-ready gowns in the months to come.

   

-- Melissa Magsaysay

Photos: Top: Frazier Harrison/Getty, bottom: Jay Clendenin / L.A. Times.

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, accompanied by his daughter Natalia, were among those trekking out to Culver City for Kevan Hall's show yesterday afternoon, the first show on the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at Smashbox Studios calendar, the first trip to the tents for both. Villaraigosa's presence was notable not for his support of the city's garment industry -- he's been spotted at BOXeight shows in the past and is slated to speak at "Downtown at Dusk," on Friday evening, a fashion event at the California Market Center on Friday, which marks the kickoff of L.A. Market Week -- but because in March, when we buttonholed Hizzoner at a fashion industry mixer on the back lawn of the official mayor residence (co-sponsored by the Image section), Villaraigosa said that though he was determined to have a Los Angeles Fashion Week in Los Angeles proper, he hadn't darkened the doorstep of the event, held at Dean and Davis Factor's Smashbox Studios on Warner Avenue in Culver City for one simple reason -- it was in Culver City.

That seems to have changed now that Smashbox co-owner and Fashion Week organizer Davis Factor announced in an exclusive interview last week that he was looking for a venue in the Hollywood area for next season -- the first the Factors will be helming solo since they partnered with IMG five years ago.

"They've decided to bring Fashion Week to Los Angeles," said Cynthia Ruiz, president of the Los Angeles Board of Public Works who accompanied the mayor. "That's why we're here." Asked for a comment, Villaraigosa slowly bobbed his head and smiled.

"That's why," he said, before the crowd in the VIP lounge headed for the seats.

-- adam.tschorn@latimes.com

From left: Davis Factor, co-owner of Smashbox Studios, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Adam Paige, Department Manager Brand of Public Relations for Mercedes-Benz, in the VIP lounge at Smashbox Studios on Sunday afternoon. Photo by Adam Tschorn.