On the Town: Couture collection co-created by Elvira, Mistress of the Dark, debuts
When one hears of fashion designers selecting a venue to roll out their latest collection, it is the catwalks of Paris, New York, Rome, Milan or Barcelona that come to mind more so than a Burbank clothing shop.
And yet, it was at Pinup Girl Boutique in Magnolia Park that Cassandra Peterson, representing her alter ego Elvira, Mistress of the Dark, and Pinup Girl chief executive and designer Laura Byrnes debuted their new line during a gala launch party this past week.
Unveiling Elvira, Mistress of the Dark Couture for Every Body, a collection co-created by Peterson and Byrnes, the evening saw a line snake around the block as hundreds of goth, horror and pinup fans vied for the opportunity to party, peruse the collection and meet Peterson.
“This line is what I call Elvira’s day look,” Petersen said during a pre-party VIP reception. “These dresses are glamorous and give a woman the chance to be her sexy self with the Elvira vibe.”
Byrnes, who Peterson credited with doing the “heavy lifting” in the line’s creation, agreed with her partner’s assessment.
“These dresses are sexy, but they aren’t costumes. They are extremely practical and wearable,” she said. “They are high-quality couture that have been specially designed and priced so that they are available to anyone, and we will constantly be adding new designs and accessories.”
Along with the fashion line, Peterson also used the occasion to introduce her new jewelry collection, “Objects of Desire: the Elvira Jewelry Collection,” which is a collaboration between her and jewelry designer and manufacturer Sweet Romance.
Among the notables at last week’s gathering who blurred the lines between the goth, pinup girl, heavy metal and horror fan subcultures, were actress Traci Lords, Monique Powell from the band Save Ferris and actress and singer Carla Harvey from the band Butcher Babies.
Elvira, Mistress of the Dark Couture for Everybody, is available at Pin-Up Girl Boutique located at 3606 W. Magnolia Blvd. or by visiting www.pinupgirlclothing.com.
DAVID LAURELL may be reached by email at dlaurell@aol.com or (818) 563-1007.
