L.A. fashion event skirts catastrophe

A blackout. A flood. And rampant runway rage.

Just another day at the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week held at Smashbox Studios last week.

For the fourth season (second at Smashbox), the Los Angeles fashionistas, press and buyers gathered to gawk at the spring 2005 collections of top L.A. designers ranging from Eduardo Lucero to Frankie B, Louis Verdad to Jenni Kayne, Da-Nang to MartinMartin, Ella Moss to Pegah Anvarian, Single to True Meaning.

But parts of Smashbox went totally black Tuesday. "Everyone was in the dark," whispered one top L.A. film costume designer. "They were making up models using flashlights," marveled a photographer who was shooting backstage during the blackout.

Seems a chunk of the Culver City area, where Smashbox is located, was hit by a power outage. A back-up generator was eventually obtained and light was restored. Then came the deluge. Around 7 p.m., the canyon-washing rains returned big time, flooding the perimeter walkways as well as the large, well-trafficked lobby. Thoughts of jerry-rigged generators supplying electricity had more than one show- goer nervous about being fried alive for fashion's sake.

"We're standing in water!" said a stylist. "I don't think it's safe to be in here!"

Folks pranced through the puddles to get into Petro Zillia's anticipated show Tuesday night.

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