Las Vegas Weekly

February 17, 2009 · 12:28 PM

It’s an invasion of fashion designers, models and rock stars — it’s MAGIC

By Robin Leach

Scott Weiland.

Photo: Denise Truscello

For the next three days, Las Vegas happily suffers a giant invasion of fashion moguls, models, buyers, designers and distributors for the MAGIC Marketplace convention, and you can add a number of rock stars to the mix this time around. The unique, biannual marketplace is the top trade event in the global fashion industry, and new trends surface and develop into what we’ll be wearing in six months!

It was back in 1933 that an association of Los Angeles-based menswear manufacturers formed the original group. When U.S. denim giant Levi Strauss registered its unique fabric in 1938, menswear took on a whole new worldwide image. Ten years later, it took on its formal name of Men’s Apparel Guild in California, and jean wear exploded as a result of the 1955 James Dean classic Rebel Without a Cause.

Photo: Courtesy

The MAGIC Marketplace convention has been in Las Vegas since 1989.

After Ralph Lauren introduced the now legendary polo shirt back in 1972, menswear had gone from straight and stiff to relaxed and casual as a whole other big business. The annual show was moved from Los Angeles to Las Vegas in 1989 and welcomed global manufacturers to the game -- and it’s been here ever since.

Since then, MAGIC has added baby and children’s clothing lines, women’s wear and even grunge and hip-hop fashion lines. With swimwear and lingerie, MAGIC has become the largest apparel-sourcing exhibition in the world and last year celebrated its 75th anniversary!

Photo: Prive

Justin Timberlake.

Now musicians are finding success as clothing designers have gone mainstream. Stone Temple Pilots frontman Scott Weiland is partners with L.A.-based English Laundry in a line of men’s apparel known as English Laundry by Scott. KISS frontman Gene Simmons has his own line, and Motley Crue guitarist Nikki Sixx has teamed with Kelly Gray to launch Royal Underground, a line of rock and royal clothing and accessories. Don’t be surprised if you also spot pop king Justin Timberlake in town for a discreet meet and greet with the distributors and key retailers who carry his partner William Dast’s line of denim wear. Also expect to see hip-hop moguls and artists promoting their urban street wear.

Good Charlotte rockers and brothers Benji and Joel Madden are here promoting their DCMA line, and they threw a fashion week party at Carey Hart’s Wasted Space in the Hard Rock Hotel last weekend. That could’ve been a little tense because, as Vegas DeLuxe reported Sunday (click HERE), Benji and pop singer Katy Perry hit it off there on Valentine’s Day. And who showed up to film an MTV show in Body English there? None other than Gym Class Heroes lead singer Travis McCoy, who had broken up with Katy just six weeks ago! If she’d stayed with Benji at the party, who knows what fracas that may have caused?

Photo: Aaron Thompson

Good Charlotte rocker Benji Madden and Katy Perry at Lavo.

Photo: Hard Rock Hotel

Travis McCoy of Gym Class Heroes at Body English.

The three days of convention meetings are packed with three nights of nothing but parties, and here are some of the highlights.

Tuesday, Feb. 17

R&B artists Christal Monique, TradeMarq and Adonis entertain for MTV’s Wild Out star Carlos “Spanky” Hayes at Vegas Fashion Night as part of Hawaiian Tropic Zone’s Urban Fashion Week with models in Rocawear, Ruthless Art and Christian Audigier. … The Lingerie and Swimwear fashion show party by Curve struts its stuff at Blush in the Wynn. … Nylon magazine and Civil Smith co-host the fashion week kickoff at Lavo in the Palazzo. … French Connection hosts the Premium Magic party at Tao in The Venetian.

Photo: Grace Rakich

Kat Von D and Nikki Sixx.

Wednesday, Feb. 18

Nikki Sixx and Kelly Gray present Rock ’n’ Royal with their fashion giveaway party at Blush. … Steve Aoki is the guest DJ for the Project Fashion kickoff party at Lavo. … The fashion party at Tao, So Haute Right Now, features runway models in Billionaire Mafia, YoungBlood and Wildfox. … LMFAO performs live for the MAGIC party at The Beatles’ Revolution lounge in The Mirage. … For the sixth time, Creative Recreation and Hudson Jeans will co-host the highly anticipated Fashion Week party at XS in the Encore with an elite, rotating, four-deejay lineup. … There’s a Passion for Fashion over at Voodoo Lounge in The Rio with Hieroglyphics hosted by Phoenix Orion.

Thursday, Feb. 19

Taryn Manning and Tara Jane host their Born Uniqorn fashion show at Tao, and Chip & Pepper and L.A.’s Sunset Entertainment celebrate their unveiling at Blush.

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