Elyse Walker hosts sunset dinner for Cushnie Et Ochs designers
Cushnie Et Ochs, the New York-based fashion label, has really been making its presence known on the red carpet lately, dressing stars such as Jessica Alba and Allesandra Ambrosio in its sexy, architectural dresses.
So it was high time the designers, Carly Cushnie and Michelle Ochs, came West to meet and greet some of their fans. On Thursday night L.A. retailer Elyse Walker hosted a sunset drinks and dinner party for the ladies at Gjelina restaurant in Venice.
“No one has done sexy this well since Dolce & Gabbana,” said Walker, dressed in a long-sleeve black Cushnie Et Ochs dress with strategic slash cutouts. “It’s hard to make a sexy dress without going all the way. They leave a little to the imagination.”
The event, which drew a bevy of Cushnie Et Ochs-clad ladies, including Jamie Chung, Ashley Madekwe and Cody Horn, was a celebration of an exclusive range of pieces from the designers available in September on Walker’s Forward website.
The designers launched their collection ($795 to $1,625) in 2008 after meeting at Parsons the New School for Design. They have garnered a handful of awards since then, including the 2009 Ecco Domani Award. They were also finalists for the 2011 CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund and nominees for the 2013 CFDA Swarovski Award.
“Red carpet and cocktail dresses are our bread and butter,” said Cushnie, dressed in a slinky black-and-white scribble-print dress of her own design.
“It’s all about finding the balance between sexy and sophisticated, and not too revealing,” added Ochs, in a black sheath with a midriff cutout traced in pearls. “We get a lot of comments about how our dresses defy gravity. The designs may look simple but they are actually not.”
The designers are in town until Saturday, taking in sights like the Soho House, the Ivy and Malibu Beach.
Next up for the brand? Shoes and handbags, they say. With their tight-and-sleek aesthetic, I’d suggest swimwear, too.
For the latest in fashion and style news, follow me @Booth1
