Frankie B, onetime slinger of low-slung jeans, relaunches at New York Fashion Week - Los Angeles Times
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Frankie B, onetime slinger of low-slung jeans, relaunches at New York Fashion Week

Looks from the Frankie B Hollywood spring and summer 2016 runway collection shown on Saturday during New York Fashion Week.

Looks from the Frankie B Hollywood spring and summer 2016 runway collection shown on Saturday during New York Fashion Week.

(Noam Galai / Getty Images)
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Remember L.A. fashion label Frankie B, known in the early aughts for its rock ‘n’ roll back story and for slinging really low-slung jeans?

It’s back, minus the really low-slung jeans and minus founder Daniella Clarke, who was married to Guns N’ Roses guitarist Gilby Clarke and named the line after their daughter, Frankie.

Bankrolled by a new owner, L.A. businessman and real estate developer Kevin Chen, the label has been rebranded as Frankie B Hollywood. It relaunched Saturday at New York Fashion Week with a new designer, Chadwick Bell, and a new mission — to become an edgy, rock ‘n’ roll-inspired brand in the spirit of Saint Laurent and Balmain, only with a contemporary price point (less than $1,000).

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That translated into layered pieces for men and women in oversize or shrunken silhouettes, including denim in the high-waist silhouette du jour, with fraying, fringe, hand-painted, tie-dye or concho-ornament details; blush suede moto pants and boleros; bomber jackets and vests; fringy ponchos; tuxedo jackets; lace T-shirts and midi-skirts stiffened by zipper-trimmed hems, and more.

FULL COVERAGE: New York Fashion Week 2015

Bell called the clothes “elevated core pieces,†adding that he was inspired by Brutalist architecture and rock ‘n’ roll lounginess, but most of all by L.A.

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“We’re selling this idea of chic L.A. It’s such a hot spot now, so I think it’s the perfect time to jump in with this collection,†the designer added.

“[The name] Frankie B to most consumers is not important,†said Chen. “But the entertainment industry is important, and Christina Aguilera is still wearing Frankie B, Kate Moss, Kate Hudson, Jennifer Lopez, Jessica Alba, a lot of A-list celebs are still wearing their old Frankie Bs.â€

Chen has plans to further tie the brand to the entertainment industry by launching a “festival collection†around Coachella in the spring, and he hopes to open the first Frankie B retail store in Los Angeles in coming months.

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For the latest Tweets from the fashion week seats, follow me @Booth.

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