SHOWS : Multiple Choice : Hot Pants, Baby Dolls, Vinyl Suits Show Up on the Final Exam

Student designers from the American College for the Applied Arts in Westwood and Pasadena City College put a lot of pomp and plenty of circumstance into their annual spring fashion shows this month. While each school’s graduating seniors exhibited a passion for “very L.A.” women’s wear and unimaginative menswear, most of what came down the runways showed a flair for the theatrical.

Cleopatra-like day dresses, crushed-velvet bell-bottom hot pants worn with matching chef’s caps, and harlequin-pattern, medieval-influenced menswear might go over well on the big screen. But their place on the streets remains somewhat limited.

American College graduates showed the most promise, with Nadia Kincses-Deak taking the school’s top honors for her simple and very wearable black and white polka-dotted lounge dresses and sportswear separates. Other winners included Tuesday Conner for her copper and black active leotards; Bridget Rodriquez, who created pink-daisy baby dolls and playfully nostalgic children’s wear, and Tia Louise Krol for a black velvet cocktail dress with removable skirt. But it was Patricia Johnson’s vinyl and animal-print suits and Debbie Jung’s satin zip dress with chain-fringe hem that captured the true essence and wit of L.A. fashion.

Although some of Pasadena City College students’ work looked like home sewing projects gone awry, the school handed out an equal number of prizes. La Dean Thompson, a skilled designer and seamstress, won a “best of show” award for her elegant white evening gown. Tan Trinh picked up a prize for gimmicky day dresses; Paula Bravo won for novelty Lycra dresses and beaded swimwear, and Muriel Martinez for patriotic junior sportswear. But it was Amanda Elisco’s second-place safari-inspired separates that showed a winning combination of fine tailoring, good color sense and salability.