Blackburn + Sweetzer Has Moved

Chris Benz at Beckley on Melrose

CFDA Emerging Design Winner Chris Benz paid a visit to Beckley Boutique on Melrose yesterday evening to host a trunk show of his collection (at 20% off), together with boutique owner Melissa Richardson Akkaway. Guests enjoyed champagne and hors d’oevres, and I personally was very happy to find the piece of Benz’s resort ‘10 collection on display that I had admired earlier that day online—a seemingly liquid, platinum colored shawl-inspired cocktail dress, with just the right amount of casualness to make it perfect for LA.

The designer was in great spirits even though he still was on East Coast time, and shared his to-do list for the next few days with us: “I’ve already visited one of my favorite places today, the Beverly Hills Hotel—so fantastically vintage Hollywood! I love the wilderness of the nature in LA, so probably a visit to Runyon Canyon is a must, as well as buying one of the most original scented candles I know of at the Chateau Marmont. They’re fabulous. And then of course Disneyland, I went so many times as a child but still love it!”

That dress!

— Photos and text by Christina von Messling