The crush at the Lauren Conrad show at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week last night would seem to lend truth to the chatter that the local version of IMG's event is largely driven by tabloid celebrity culture rather than serious fashion presentations.
The show, which came with a nominal 8 p.m. start time, drew a massive crowd well in advance, and the line of hundreds eventually snaked clear around Smashbox Studios. Staff assured clamoring guests that the single line contained ordinary folks, press, and talent alike. At about 8:30, security announced that the show had begun and that publicists had cut off ticket distribution. The remaining group reluctantly and slowly dispersed without seeing the line from the star of MTV's pseudo-reality show The Hills.
Conrad's presentation—like the Pussycat Dolls' last season—pulled a considerably larger group than than did the other designers at L.A. Fashion Week, who may be lesser known in the entertainment industry, if not in the local fashion world.
