Peggy Moffitt MOCA: Rudi Gernreich, Peggy Moffitt, And William Claxton Honored At MOCA (PHOTOS)

PHOTOS: MOCA & Peggy Moffitt's Fringed Eyelashes

"This is a definitive LA exhibition," said DECADES Founder Cameron Silver at The Total Look on Saturday Night.

The star-studded evening unveiled a MOCA x MAC Cosmetics exhibition honoring the creative collaboration between designer Rudi Gernreich, model/muse Peggy Moffitt, and photographer William Claxton.

The exhibition features Claxton's original photographs of Peggy Moffitt dressed in Gernreich's icon designs.

"Way before Kim Kardashian's smokey eye there was Peggy Moffitt's fringed eyelashes," said John Demsey, President of Estee Lauder Company.

Guests travelled through time the moment the MOCA doors opened. Bright walls, Mod patterns and swinging MAC makeup colors permeated the gallery space. Yet, all eyes were on Moffitt's original outfits modeled by mannequins throughout the exhibit. Attendees like Sally Perrin, Jhordan Dahl, Trina Turk, Vidal Sassoon, Michael Chow and Jeremy Scott all dressed the part in gorgeous ensembles from times past.

Although born in Austria, Rudi Gernreich was a true California boy, having lived in this city since the age of 16. His life in fashion has been well documented. For example, to many he's known as the creator of the topless bikini and the thong.

"He invented. He pioneered," Peggy Moffitt told the Huffington Post. "He's a certifiable genius who's designs have lasted for decades."

Yet, during a time when Europe dominated fashion trends, Gernreich stayed true to the West Coast. "Oh, that's from the West Coast, that's from California -- it's sort of Old Fashioned," Moffitt said with a smile. "You don't have to go to Paris to be an important designer." History proves that true. Gernreich, Moffitt and Claxton didn't leave LA for Europe and they're work now defines 1960's Los Angeles.

"It was really the LA moment when that whole transference of London and Europe and fashion came here," said John Demsey. "It was a pretty groovy LA moment... it only makes sense that it should be here."

“The Total Look: The Creative Collaboration Between Rudi Gernreich, Peggy Moffitt, and William Claxton” runs through May 20, 2012 at the MOCA Pacific Design Center.

All images courtesy of Patrick McMullan:

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