There are evenings in fashion that feel less like a show and more like a reckoning. The 28th of March 2026 at Ever Club, Tustin, California was one of them. This writer’s opinion: what unfolded that night was not simply a runway presentation. It was a declaration.
Swedish Designer: Max Jenny, Models Left to Right: Anastasia Peristaya, Amanda Dill, Laura Bianca Collins at Ever Club, Photographer: Joe Garcia.
The Opening: Max Jenny There is a reason royals take notice. Max Jenny arrived in an eruption of colour so joyful, so deliberately alive, that the room forgot to be composed. It was the perfect opening act — not because it was loud, but because it was free. She set the tone for a night that would not let the audience look away.
The Procession: Kyle Denman & Daisy Desert Jewelry What followed was something rarer than talent. Kyle Denman (Project Runway, OWN) brought his mentees — young designers who have overcome adversity — down the runway alongside a stunning collaboration with Emma Roberts of Daisy Desert Jewelry. Fashion with a conscience and a cause. The kind of procession that reminds you why this industry, at its best, still matters.
“They have created something magical out of nothing. That is what makes them true artists.” — Kyle Denman
The Moment No Other Fashion Week Has Produced The OC Ballet Theater, featuring the artistry of Dmitri Kulev Classical Ballet, took to the runway — not as backdrop, but as headline — presenting jeweler VL Cepher in a live performance previewing their own April 10th showcase. Movement, light, and fine jewelry converged in a single unrepeatable moment. Fashion as performance art. Performance art as fashion. London understands this language — and Orange County just proved it speaks it fluently.
The Finale: Anna Gupta Then the room went quiet.
Designer Anna Gupta of Anna Gupta Couture (in white) and Jennifer LaBanca CEO of Boost Hydration (in pink) premiere at Ever Club at OC Fashion Week®, Photographer: Chris Romero CJR Media & Photography.
Anna Gupta closed the season in a standing ovation that no one planned and everyone felt. Her gowns — coveted, California-dreamed, impossibly elegant — did not close a show. They closed an era and opened another. If you were not in that room, you will spend the next twelve months wishing you had been.
Why London Is Watching Consider this: Orange County commands an $86 billion retail market. London — a global capital, a city of centuries — commands approximately $80 billion. Orange County is not a city. It is not a country. It is not a state. And it achieved this without the aid of Los Angeles. London is watching because the numbers demand it.
Laily Fogel, owner of Ever Club, the venue that made it all possible:
“Fashion and jewelry sit at the intersection of art and identity — they are ultimately about storytelling, reflecting culture, individuality, and personal expression. At Ever Club, we’re passionate about supporting designers by creating a platform that celebrates innovation, craftsmanship, and community.” — Laily Fogel, Owner, Ever Club
OC Fashion Week® is the official fashion week of Orange County, California — The Luxury Market of California®. Official global media partner: FashionUnited. Behind the Seams airs on LATV.
Contact: Chloe York | [email protected] | 949-235-5084 🌐 ocfashionweek.com
