Hot Young Designer Alex Acosta talks this season’s fashion and his new clothing line.

“Spring is the new beginning,” explains Alex Acosta. He should know. Last Friday, the Miami born wunderkind’s clothing company Crash Culture premiered its 2008 Spring line at the 6th Annual Project: Ethos, Los Angeles’ hot red carpet fashion event. The line, entitled Tabu, has generated a high level of buzz for the 21 year old fashionista and earned him the position of one of Los Angeles most prominent up and coming designers. Recently Alex sat down with us to lead us through the ins and outs of this year’s spring fashion:

Real Gay L.A.: Could you please explain to us the trends for this season?

Alex Acosta: In nature, spring is when everything comes back to life. Spring is where fashion starts and it should always be innovative. A lot of the fashion that I’m seeing is a reinvention of the ‘80’s. There’s a lot of bright colors: magenta, bright pink, yellows. [Designers] are also using metallics, which I’ve not seen used in spring in a while. They’ve kept to a minimal color pallette using blacks, whites, and neutrals and adding a splash of color with their metallics. They’ve been using a lot of different materials: plastic chains, mesh tops, soft patent leathers. I appreciate that. People know that spring typically uses enamel, bangles, gold, and florals. I’m bored of that.

What staples should gay Angelenos invest in for Spring?

Every gay male should have at least two or three pairs of jeans: a light wash and a dark wash and maybe a medium one. My favorite brands are G Star and Diesel. G Star is very militant, they use rivet, army cuts, different silhouettes that make men look like men and women look like they are soldiers: very powerful people. I really like skinny jeans. A guy in a jean that fits him and shows the outline of his legs and body looks so much better than those drastic boot cuts. Not to put down any label, but True Religion needs to make more skinny jeans. A guy should have a pair of boots, sandals, and sneakers. For tops: a blazer, a jacket, a hoodie, a couple t-shirts, and maybe a couple of button ups. I like layering, so if you have those things you can do many different styles.

Any stores you’d recommend?

I’m very fond of shops on Melrose. Its different than shopping at a mall. That’s where you find the one of a kind stuff. It involves searching, but once you found it, you know you’ve found it. I also think its important for every one to visit a designer store. Go to Cavalli, go to Versace. You don’t have to buy anything. Just look at what’s out there and what those people are creating. That’s where you get the inspiration to dress yourself.

Where did you get the inspiration for your Tabu line?

The inspiration was nautical. In nature, the ocean goes through many changes: stormy weather, sunshine, shades of blue, greens, and tans. My uncle was a fisherman in Miami. Unfortunately he passed away from a brain tumor. He’s one of the reasons I did this line. He led me to this great appreciation for the ocean. No matter what happened in life you could go to the ocean and listen to those waves crashing.

What Spring trends can be seen in your new line?

There was a lot of recreating, like with the bomber jacket that I displayed. I made it with a metallic color instead of a satin or matte color. I also played with fits. I had the anti-fit pant: baggy at top and tapered at the bottom. This goes back to the skinny pant. Its okay if a guys not comfortable with a pant sticking to his thighs, as long as the calf kinda shows. You gotta show off the leg a little.

Any other Project: Ethos designers we should keep an eye out for this season?

Keep an eye out for SBG Designs. I definitely liked their jewelry. And the LL t-shirt line.Their graphics were really awesome.

Ideally, how would you like to see Los Angeles male fashion change over the next year?

I want Los Angeles male fashion to move forward. Women are in such a higher level of fashion than we are. I get so upset when I go shopping and I see the same thing over and over. It’s the same cuts, same pinstripes, same everything. I hope I’ve changed the male fashion at least a little bit. Men don’t have to be boring to get dressed. You can have a little spunk, whether its throwing a hot pink bandanna with your black outfit. Be different.

SEE THE FULL TABU LINE

- Photos of the Tabu fashion line.

Tags:Project Ethos, Spring Fashion

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Michael Ciriaco is Associate Editor of Real Gay L.A. An accomplished writer and actor, he matriculated from Rutgers University, the Circle in the Square Conservatory, Michael Howard Studio and Second City LA, where he continues to write and act. Mike has also been published in The Medium and Frontiers Magazine. You can currently find his work online at www.specialedfilms.com, www.NotABanana.com, and www.outlisciousTV.com. Look for Mike in the interactive feature The Weathered Underground which will release early 2008.
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