Lena Dunham, Lily Collins, David Beckham honor CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund

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Actresses Lea Michele, left, and Lily Collins attend the 2013 CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund event. Collins is wearing Altuzarra’s “Chika” boro-printed blouse and “Pagoda” white silk and cupro draped skirt from the spring/summer 2014 collection. (Jeff Vespa / WireImage)

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Actress Diane Kruger wears a Cushnie Et Ochs’ asymmetrical bandage dress in black/white from the spring/summer 2014 collection. (Jeff Vespa / WireImage)

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Actress Rachel Bilson dressed in an Isabel Marant spring 2014 sheer floral printed top and skirt. (Jeff Vespa / WireImage)

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Actress Emmy Rossum dressed in Oscar de la Renta. (Donato Sardella / WireImage)

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Actress China Chow poses in a Maison Martin Margiela sleeveless tailored jacket from autumn/winter 2012 haute couture Artisanal collection. (Jeff Vespa / WireImage)

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“Fifty Shades of Grey” star Dakota Johnson accessorizes with Irene Neuwirth jewelry. (Jeff Vespa / WireImage)

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Actress Mary Elizabeth Winstead in a Roland Mouret ice print Siena stretch wool dress from the pre-fall 2013 collection. (Jeff Vespa / WireImage)

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Actress Bella Heathcote poses in a Thakoon Resort 2014 skirt and top. (Jeff Vespa / WireImage)

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Actresses Lizzy Caplan and Caitlin FitzGerald attend the 2013 CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund event. FitzGerald is wearing Irene Neuwirth jewelry. (Donato Sardella / WireImage)

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Actress Camilla Belle smiles in a lime green leather dress from Ralph Lauren Collection. (Jeff Vespa / WireImage)

By Booth Moore, Los Angeles Times Fashion Critic

Oct. 24, 2013 9:32 AM PT

Lena Dunham, Lily Collins, Diane Kruger, Lea Michele, Jessica Pare, Victoria and David Beckham, and many more descended on the Chateau Marmont on Wednesday afternoon to celebrate up-and-coming fashion talent, the 10 designer finalists of the 2013 CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund.

Vogue magazine editor-in-chief Anna Wintour hosted the runway show and tea, which brought together a who’s who of Hollywood and American fashion, including Reed Krakoff, J.Crew’s Jenna Lyons and Neiman Marcus fashion director Ken Downing, all judges in this year’s competition.

PHOTOS: CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund event

In its 10th year, the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund competition culminates in a $300,000 prize, and $100,000 prizes each for two runners-up. The winner will be announced Nov. 11.

For years, Los Angeles was mostly ignored by the New York-based fashion industry, dogged with a reputation for being more a manufacturing town for down-market denim and T-shirts, than a center for design creativity.

But that has changed over the last decade with the rise of more artisanally focused Los Angeles luxury labels, and the importance of the celebrity-fashion connection. The local community has been embraced by Vogue magazine in particular, with a story in the September issue declaring Los Angeles the coolest city on the planet.

Last year’s Vogue/Fashion Fund winner was Greg Chait of the L.A.-based luxe boho cashmere brand Elder Statesman, and Jennifer Meyer, the L.A.-based jewelry designer who is married to Tobey Maguire, was a runner-up.

Also representing L.A., Rodarte’s Kate and Laura Mulleavy (also alumni of the fund), Chrome Hearts’ Laurie Stark, jewelry designer Irene Neuwirth, A.L.C designer Andrea Lieberman, shoe designer George Esquivel, stylist-turned-designer Rachel Zoe, Juicy Couture founders Pamela Skaist Levy and Gela Nash Taylor, Toms founder Blake Mycoskie, Gregory Parkinson and Jenni Kayne were in the seats watching this year’s class work their magic on the runway.

Among those vying for this year’s Fashion Fund prize is L.A.-based advertising creative-turned-fashion designer JC Obando, who showed his jewel-toned peasant blouses, hand-pleated skirts and flowing gowns.

Another local, accessories designer Jason Jones, showed duffels, messenger bags and purses crafted of brightly colored American bison from his label Parabellum.

“L.A. is definitely having a fashion moment,” said Mark Holgate, fashion news director at Vogue. I asked him what he thinks unites the designers working here. “They have a pioneering spirit, because there is not a lot of support in L.A., and not as much of a sense of community. What unites them is dedication, ambition and drive,” he said. “There’s also a level of emotion and care, from A.L.C.’s Andrea Lieberman exploring what it means to have a made-in-L.A. contemporary label headquartered downtown, to Greg Chait and the extended family of people he has knitting his things for Elder Statesman.”

Also in the running for this year’s prize, New York-based Misha Nonoo showed her painterly separates on the runway; Veronica Beard designers Veronica Miele and Veronica Swanson showed scuba-inspired sportswear.

Marc Alary, formerly Marc Jacobs’ jewelry designer, presented his charming, animal-inspired pieces, while Todd Snyder showed men’s suiting in mixed checks.

It’s going to be a difficult decision for the judges; there is a lot of talent in the group.

This year, thecorner.com has set up an online boutique where you can shop pieces from the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund finalists.

And if you want more insight into the competition, “The Fashion Fund,” a new six-part series, starts airing Jan. 22 on the Ovation arts channel.

ALSO:

Jennifer Meyer is going places

Designer Greg Chait: Ready for his close-up

New York Fashion Week Spring 2014: JC Obando review

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