The guest list: VIPs worthy of our fantasy front row

If there's one thing L.A. has, it's star power. Even the celebrities who don't live here are often around. The ones we'd like to see are the serious style setters of today -- actress/designer mogulettes Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, fashion fanatic Kanye West, Katie and Suri Cruise, Dita Von Teese, Brooke Shields, rapper-designer André Benjamin, multi-hyphenate Ryan Seacrest, singer Katy Perry, Kirsten Dunst, Salma Hayek, "Mad Men" fashion plate Jon Hamm, famous couples Heidi Klum and Seal, David and Victoria Beckham.

Talkers

In addition to generating editorial content, high-profile people from the publishing world generate serious credibility: Marie Claire fashion director Nina Garcia, Elle creative director Joe Zee, Teen Vogue Editor Amy Astley, Interview magazine's editorial directors Fabien Baron and Glenn O'Brien, Esquires fashion director Nick Sullivan, Flaunt magazine founder Luis Barajas, "Project Runway" mentor Tim Gunn, snarky blog team the Fug Girls (a.k.a. Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan) and Scott Schuman, street style chronicler for thesartorialist.com.

Money

Sometimes the difference between a breakout label and toiling in obscurity is the backing of a deep-pocketed investor angel who likes the cut of your jib (and your clothes). Among those dabbling in designer duds: Halston backer Harvey Weinstein, "American Idol" creator Simon Fuller (Roland Mouret), movie producer Arnon Milchan, who put his capital behind Puma, and Sean John investor Ron Burkle. For good measure we'd throw in the following moguls with enough money to float any label: Tyler Perry (of "Madea" money) and Tyra Banks.

Walkers

There are few things the cameras like more than a model -- on or off the runway -- and some of these long-legged ladies call L.A. County home: Erin Wasson, Cindy Crawford (who recently popped a constellation of flashbulbs at the opening of the Malibu John Varvatos store), Gisele Bündchen, Amber Valletta -- and we always have a soft spot for homegrown designer/DJ/actress/pizza-maker Caroline D'Amore.