ON THE WEB

This week at latimes.com/image:

Style Scout “Artsy” doesn’t even begin to describe the crowd that turned out for the grand opening party Sept. 6 at the new Maison Martin Margiela store in Beverly Hills. Revelers looked more like time travelers from an ‘80s Basquiat exhibition in SoHo than Beverly Hills fashonistas.

There was former New York club kid James St. James, gliding around the stark, white store in a Muslim caftan and headdress, and a red-lipsticked Betsey Johnson look-alike circulating in a purple bustier and tulle skirt. One particularly daring guest, left, boasted a golden halo festooned with jewels and chandelier crystals.

Still, the always-sleek Westside fashion crowd did represent, with Jamie Tisch, Shiva Rose and Crystal Lourd stopping by to mingle with Tracey Ullman, handbag designer Brigette Romanek, party promoter Bryan Rabin and costumer Arianne Phillips. (A full gallery is online.)

“It’s about time we had a Margiela store in L.A.,” said Ullman, who marveled at how the designer has managed to keep his identity a secret. “I assume the man himself is not here. It’s really a great trick, isn’t it?”

Galleries of the runway collections from the Spring 2008 shows in New York, including Ralph Lauren, Marc Jacobs, Proenza Schouler, Rodarte and Thom Browne.

The World Is My Runway Image editor Booth Moore blogs from the London shows.

Video See designer Mike Gonzalez make a hoodie tunic dress.