Fashion in the Bank: Elmer Ave Shows Spring Collection at 4th & Main

DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — The street fashion of Downtown L.A. came alive on the raised and roaring catwalk Saturday night at Elmer Ave’s "Top Secret" Fashion show.

Design and production partners Jonny Day, Collin Pulsipher, Ward Robinson and Sean Murphy used the historic interior of the Farmers and Merchants Bank to exhibit a collection for men and women that maintained the label's focus on punk-inspired suiting.

The designers’ backgrounds in music, art, and skateboarding were evident in the screen-printing, deconstruction and reconstruction of the garments, and the hand painting on fabrics. Each piece was custom-fit and tailored, with an emphasis on suiting and structured jackets. Jackets were the focal point of the collection, in a palette of grey, black, white, and eye-catching red with a touch of army green.

The Doll Fit line for petite women had a punk rock feel that had masculine influences, but retained a certain hard-edged sexiness, with tight pants and detailed suit jackets with exposed skin. Jackets and vests had velvet and leather details with military-style fasteners.

The men’s line had a similar grungy allure, mixing exposed skin and layered clothing. Fitted suit jackets, vests, simple pants, and high-top boots and sneakers were paired with basic shirts—or no shirts at all. The entire collection had an air of confidence and casual sense of power with a “go get ‘em” statement—downtown stylish and tough.

The show's location was kept a secret until RSVP's were in. It turned out the label didn't look all too far. The historic bank at 4th and Main is just 100 feet or so from the space that the line shares with SKINGRAFT.