Fashion arrives

Alicia Robinson and S.J. Cahn

We’d like to believe we’ve always been this fashionable, but these

days in particular, O.C. seems to be the new L.A.

Every time you turn around, big-name fashion designers are jetting

in to bask in their customers’ approval and give personal tips on

their clothes.

The latest instance of this was an exclusive appearance by

sportswear baron Tommy Hilfiger on Tuesday at Macy’s at South Coast

Plaza. Hilfiger was promoting his high-end H Hilfiger line, which is

new, and exclusive, to Macy’s stores.

At about 6:45 p.m., a bevy of celebrity models paraded before

about 600 at-times screaming spectators, including a line looking

down from the floor above.

To strains of David Bowie songs (along with the supermodel Iman,

he’s part of the line’s advertising duo), heiress Nicky Hilton,

NSync’s Joey Fatone, Meredith Phillips and Ian Mckee from the TV show

“The Bachelorette” and Jason Lewis of “Sex and the City” walked,

stomped, swirled and strutted down the catwalk in the bright colors

and bold stripes that help define Hilfiger’s new line.

It’s almost becoming old hat: Designers have been showing up in

Newport-Mesa a lot lately.

Clothing and shoe designer Kenneth Cole did a book signing at the

same Macy’s last fall, Bill Blass designer Jose Solis showed up at

the Balboa Bay Club and Resort in January, and Perry Ellis designer

Patrick Robinson launched his spring collection at the Fashion Island

Bloomingdale’s last month.

The events are a big draw for fashion-savvy O.C. customers, who

have jumped with credit cards in hand at the chance to meet the faces

behind their favorite threads.

“A lot of these have sold out as soon as they hit the selling

floor,” Hilfiger said of the response during the line’s first few

weeks at South Coast Plaza store.

Others have found a similarly rich reaction.

“We had a great response throughout with the Bill Blass New York

collection,” Balboa Bay Club spokeswoman Maggie Feldman said. “I

think that it’s because it’s something that not everyone gets to do

every day. It’s something a bit unique and a bit special.”

Shoppers can learn more about what inspires the designers they

love, and they sometimes score personal advice on what would look

best on them and how to wear it. And there’s the chance to rub elbows

with sartorial greatness.

“Any type of special event that involves celebrity and fashion is

good for us,” Macy’s South Coast Plaza store manager Sue Graham said.

That was loudly on display Tuesday night, whether in the screams

when the actor Lewis appeared or the even-larger outcry after

Hilfiger arrived at the show’s end.

His tossing a few sunglasses to the crowd didn’t hurt, either.

So why is everyone coming to Orange County these days? Store

officials said it could be that people here are into fashion, or that

they wield a lot of buying power. Or maybe it’s just that it is the

O.C.

“I think that Orange County has come of age,” Graham said.

In the late ‘80s and early ‘90s everyone was watching “Beverly

Hills 90210,” but now it’s all about “The OC,” she said.

The hit show even has touched Hilfiger, whose daughter, Ally, went

to school with star Mischa Barton, who plays Marissa Cooper.

But the draw of Orange County and Newport-Mesa goes beyond simple

cult TV status, Hilfiger said.

“We’re going where the best stores are,” Hilfiger said. “And I

think this Macy’s is one of the best stores in the world.”

As he listed off other stops on his launch tour, Orange County was

in the same breath as Miami, San Francisco and New York.

“I just think it’s a very fertile ground,” he said.

For those whose credit cards aren’t maxed out yet, more designer

appearances are in the offing, with Fashion Island’s Bloomingdale’s

hosting T-shirt mavens Claire and Cheyann of C & C California on

Saturday and contemporary sportswear designer Joie showing clothes

from her eponymous label on April 22.

Feldman said the Balboa Bay Club has great turnouts for the

private showings of Bill Blass collections it holds four times a

year.

“I think people are taking more notice of Orange County,” she

said. “I think in the past traditionally it’s been more L.A.-focused,

but designers and companies are starting to realize the power of

Orange County.”

* ALICIA ROBINSON covers business, politics and the environment.

She may be reached at (949) 764-4330 or by e-mail at

alicia.robinson@latimes.com. S.J. CAHN is the managing editor. He may

be reached at (949) 574-4233 or by e-mail at s.j.cahn@latimes.com.