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L.A. Fashion Week: Skingraft serves up stage-worthy leathers

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Fashion Critic

Where do you go when you need a custom leather android arm or garter belt? Skingraft, that’s where.

Photos: Skingraft’s spring-summer 2013 presentation

In business since 2005, Skingraft is one of those L.A. brands that is a hometown source for stylists and celebs looking for custom pieces for magazine shoots and music videos. In July, Justin Bieber wore a futuristic-looking Skingraft silver leather “android arm” when he performed “Boyfriend” at the Teen Choice Awards, and in June, Azealia Banks wore a Skingraft black leather garter belt and bionic leggings in her video “Liquorice,” which was styled by none other than Nicola Formichetti of Lady Gaga and Mugler fame.

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And the atmosphere was decidedly upscale rock ‘n’ roll on Friday night, when designer Jonny Cota showed his spring-summer 2012 Skingraft collection poolside at the Skybar at the Mondrian Hotel in West Hollywood. He was inspired by “a new generation of motorcycle gangs,” according to the show notes, which amounted to leather with a lighter touch, and the biker jacket re-imagined as athletic wear in bold black, white and red.

The amazingly-dressed crowd gave the models a run for their money. Everyone was working a look. One guy was sporting Bedouin chic layers and a colorful striped head scarf, which seemed like a practical choice when the wind started to kick up. On the ladies, it was all about over-the-knee boots, fingerless gloves and fun furs.

The models came out in two groups, standing on blocks by the rippling pool water, wearing leather visors that almost completely covered their eyes. Women’s pieces included a biker coat dress with zipper details, a leather harness bustier worn with a black chiffon skirt with a high-low hem. Men’s pieces included blousy leather athletic shorts, crochet mesh T-shirts and elongated leather vests.

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There are few reliable things about the ever-changing face and format of Los Angeles Fashion Week, but Skingraft’s ability to consistently serve up stage-worthy leathers is one of them.

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