Young Talents Hitch Their Hopes to a Star

Los Angeles, the second largest fashion center in the country, has its share of young talents trying to make it big. The California Mart honored these newcomers during spring showings recently in a presentation called “Rising Stars.”

It was an unlikely melange of leather sportswear, silk afternoon dresses, upscale evening gowns and rebellious underground outfits, all lumped together purely because the designers are local and new.

But much of the work held up. Beverly Standing, for example, is a name that may be around for some time. Her black-and-white silk day dress and her white eyelet evening jacket with an extended peplum reflect the designer’s emphasis on luxury fabrics and classic lines.

Sharon Baldoni for Bibbs presented a brief collection of white sportswear and dresses, highlighted by a tropical-print rayon challis dress worn over white cotton shorts.

And although California is not best known for extravagant evening wear, C. Randall Brooks--who says he is a former assistant to L.A.’s inimitable Jean Louis--followed in his mentor’s footsteps with some dramatic jersey gowns accented with beading and taffeta.

Other designers in the show were Ruth Wagner, David Dart, Marika Contompasis and Alexis Silver.