Singer Justin Timberlake brought sexy back to streetwear in the first runway show for his denim brand William Rast on Tuesday night with the help of 10 racy dancers on the catwalk and a 75-minute all-star concert at the after party.
A fashionably 45 minutes past the scheduled start of the show at eatery Social Hollywood on Los Angeles’ Sunset Strip, Timberlake and his partner Trace Ayala played a tape of a mock interview between a journalist and two designers explaining what’s sexy.
For the childhood friends from Tennessee, sexiness had a Southern flair, as seen in the rockabilly and preppy looks inspired by the film “The Outsiders.” With the exception of one pair of jeans that appeared to have been dragged through dirt, washes on the gray, pinstriped, white and dark blue denim were clean, and the fabric was worn in and nicked.
The strongest looks were from the Specialty Collection comprising Fifties-style dresses and blouses that were designed specifically for the show by Cristy Pitoc, Annie Psaltiras and Brooke Dulien, who also styled the show and owns the White Trash Charms jewelry line.
During the after party held next door at Blvd. 3, Timberlake rocked the crowd with hits from his two solo albums and duets with the Black Eyed Peas’ Will.I.Am, Maroon 5’s Adam Levine, ‘NSync bandmate J.C. Chasez and rapper Timbaland. Nearly all the celebrities who attended the event have dabbled in fashion themselves, including Nicky Hilton (Chick by Nicky Hilton), Paris Hilton (former Guess girl), Nick Cannon (PNB Nation), Eve (Fetish), Cameron Diaz (former model), Will.I.Am (I.Am) and Levine, whose father, Fred, owns the Southern California-based M. Fredric specialty store chain. Photographer Mario Testino and stylist Rachel Zoe raised the fashion quotient.
Self-professed jeans junkie Diaz was loyal to her beau by wearing William Rast jeans with a gold knit top that contrasted her brunette locks.
“I wear them every day,” Diaz said. “I don’t have to, but I do.”