F  L  A  U  N  T

 Photo courtesy Scott Studenberg of Baja East has revealed Baja East’s Fall 2020 collection in Los Angeles. Inspired by divas and drag balls the collection features fall fabrics drenched in Swarovski crystals. The collection screams “OPULENCE, SHE OWNS EVERYTHING” and “HIGH FASHION EVENING WEAR”, in true ballroom style. The color palette of the collections transcends from midnight blacks to aquamarines into pink opal, making its way to honey quartz and finishing off the affair with an all-white fringe situation. The show went on all while a ten-piece band played a plethora of 70s hits. Flaunt got in for a Q&A with the designer read about his move to vegan leather, ballroom inspo, and Billy Porter. **What do you want people to feel when they see this collection?** Sexy and inspired. **You debuted your last collection over in NYC, how was debuting this one here at home for you in Los Angeles?**  I lived in NY for 15 years and it’s just not for me anymore. Showing in LA was so awesome and comfortable. Instead of dragging my Laurel Canyon living room vibes all the way to NY, I only had to recreate it down the street from where I live at The EDITION’s disco ball ceilinged club. Do you know of a disco ball covered ceiling in NY that I don’t?  **What was your personal favorite look from the collection?** The short answer would be 46. The long is: 1-3, 6, 7, 10, 11, 13, 14, 16, 17, 19-25, 27-30, 32, 34, 35, 37-41, 43-45 **What inspired you to tie in elements of drag and ballroom culture into this collection?** Because I’m quoting Paris Is Burning all the time and something needed to be done about it. Also, I wanted to start my own HAUS (OF LABAJA). Wanna join? **For this collection, I saw Baja East has added a new addition: vegan leather! What prompted this incorporation of vegan leather into this new collection?** It’s WAY less costly and there are so many cool things they can do that look like leather. The waterproof trench I did in look 19 this season is so epic.  **What was the most surreal moment for you when presenting this collection?** When I saw a safety pinned together bandeau out of the corner of my eye turn down the runway and there was nothing I could fucking do about it. it’s the one thing that devastated me and the one thing that fucked with the vision I’d been working so hard toward for so long. That is SO not me and I’m mortified it happened. I’m the leader of my team, so not matter how it happened it was fully my responsibility. BUT, I’ll tell you, the next time I’m sending models down the runway, I’m looking them front, back, up AND down. Also I met Paula Abdul.  [](https://www.instagram.com/p/B8ANA99FbvR/) [When bitches tell you "NO" your whole life and you turn it into a "YAS". 💅🏿 . . Style and Creative Direction by @sammyratelle Make-Up by @nellichristine Custom hat by @sarahsokolmillinery with @smooth.technology crystallized with @preciosacomponents Custom look by @scottstudenberg of @bajaeast Song - 'Poker Face' by @ladygaga](https://www.instagram.com/p/B8ANA99FbvR/) **I know you made that amazing hat for Billy Porter at the Grammys, what was working with him like? Who are some dream celebrities you would love to work with or dress one day?** He is HILARIOUS—once we got him in the jumpsuit and hat, no one in the room could keep a straight face. And we had three fittings. I’m cackling while thinking about it because it’s still so funny. And honestly, have developed tighter abs solely from laughing from all of the memes since. Also, this is the T, because everyone thinks I made that hat. What I did was make a crystal fringed bucket hat in Spring & Pre-Fall 2020 that led to Sammy’s ideas for one that mechanically opens, that led to him finding Sarah Sokol to make the hat. I just gave her fabric to cover it and had an overall idea of what it was going to look like in my sketch. That’s the T.   But I definitely designed that jumpsuit.  The Category Is Living Legends: Jane Fonda, Tina Turner, Mariah Carey, Diana Ross, Oprah, Catherine Ohara, Mary J Blige, Faith Evans, Jane Krakowski, Anna Wintour, Destiny’s Children, Patti Labelle, Maggie Smith, Lil’ Kim, Michelle Obama, Julianne Moore, Angela Bassett, Lauryn Hill, Rupaul -- in red carpet & sweats equally. **Tell us more about the collabs you did for this collection!** The boots are EPIC. Total go-west glam. A [Swarovski](https://www.swarovski.com/en-US/) drenched boot with a hand-painted Joshua Tree landscape and the other is a suede boot we did in ivory and black with tonal lurex fringe that echos every stomp - I designed them in collaboration with Aurora at [Brother Vellies](https://brothervellies.com). The hats were also drenched in Swarovski crystals and lurex fringe, but the veiled pieces were my favorite - I designed both of those with [Gigi Burris](https://gigiburris.com).    **What do you think is the most important thing the fashion world should be focused on right now?** Laura Dern.  **What are some personal goals for you this year with Baja East?** Continue to keep making clothes that make me happy, that I love, and hope that other people love and get good vibes from too. I’ve learned that if you don’t put yourself first, no one will. And in this case, it’s hopefully not fully self-serving. Also, opening, a Baja Boutique would be awesome.