Bright Lights, Big Bebe Fashion Show

Racked is no longer publishing. Thank you to everyone who read our work over the years. The archives will remain available here; for new stories, head over to Vox.com, where our staff is covering consumer culture for The Goods by Vox. You can also see what we’re up to by signing up here.

On Saturday evening, Jessica Lowndes of 90210 and Gretchen Rossi of Real Housewives of Orange County joined slews of fashion followers and shoppers at The Grove for an exhibition showcasing just how fun fashion can be. While most runway shows are displays of artwork that we can only dream of wearing, the Bebe Spring 2010 collection was full of closet-ready looks that you don't have to wait months to purchase.

The show started with phenomenal aerial acrobatics by Hollywood Aerial Arts. Tunes were blazing courtesy of DJ Vikter Duplaix. And at last, the models came out. The first thing of note was the tights. Even though you might not think that opaque, neon green tights = fashion forward, the combinations worked. Since bebe isn't exactly known for making modest clothing, the bright tights kept the sky-high hemlines looking playful and fresh.

Pastels and prints was the first theme, with splashes of pinks, purples and florals. Next up was a Pin Up Girl theme that looked slightly nautical. Rock and Roll was the most funky segment of the show, with neon tights and bold outfits that were the perfect marriage of 80s glam with modern edge. The runway finished with the Cocktail portion, which featured elegant dresses, perfect for a hot date, or a night out with the girls.

Attendees were also able to preview the bebe-Kardashians Capsule Collection that will launch in April 2010.

It was a fun night that yielded a little sartorial inspiration, and a whole lot of excellent people-watching. And frankly, we wish more retailers and labels would jump on this bandwagon of showcasing ready-to-wear that's also ready-to-buy. (Text and photos by Samantha Lefkowitz.)
· bebe [Official Site]