Fear of God lights up Hollywood Bowl with Collection 8 parade and fireworks

From the champagne reception to the soulful piano performance of singer-songwriter Sampha, the extravaganza of the 58-look runway show to after nursery rhymes by Pusha T and a closing fireworks display, Jerry Lorenzo hosted the quintessential L.A. experience on Wednesday: an evening at the Hollywood Bowl.

For the first-ever Fear of God fashion show, Lorenzo wanted to give back "to the community that believed in me from day one,” he said backstage. "It was a gift of love for the child who has been with me for 10 years."

And this kid came to the bowl stealing the earthy colors of Fear of God, dressed for the cold nightwear in Essentials sweatshirts from the line and the designer's daring tone-on-tone cut that evoked a modern L.A. dress uniform from another era created by a certain Giorgio Armani.

Four thousand guests flocked to the iconic L.A. venue, which celebrated its 100th anniversary last year last. They took photos of the Fear of God marquee and the Streamline Moderne-style white granite fountain depicting the muses of music, dance and theater, built in 1940 by George Stanley, the sculptor best known for creating the Oscar statuette of the Oscars.

About 2,000 were brand fans who scored tickets through the website, and the half were friends and VIPs, including a masked Kanye West, who slipped in with his new wife Bianca Censori, taking their places near the raised runway built to stretch from the stage to the boxes.

"This is the last place in LA that looks iconic. Staples is Crypto [Arena] and the Colosseum isn't what it used to be,” Lorenzo said, adding that he and his wife have seen Diana Ross, Steely Dan, Christopher Cross, Nas and more perform there.

He also brought showmanship.

A circular green screen cast clouds across the stage as mannequins emerged from a doorway luminous, as if you are stepping out of the gates of heaven.

Here's a vision of quiet luxury from a black west coast designer, complete with tailored coverage layers, long fitted blazers with leather drawstrings and trousers spilling over flats. Outerwear was soft but had a swagger, with bold, bolder shoulders. Layers of drawstring pants, turtlenecks and dusters had a casual polish that looks perfect right now.

The only other designer to ever present a fashion show at the Hollywood Bowl was Calvin Klein in 1993, and there were hints of her heritage in Lorenzo's gorgeous side slit skirts over slacks, baggy tank tops and oversized blazers. In the coat department, he was spoiled for choice, from classic Chesterfields to extravagant curly lambskin.

"Would I wear it or not?" This is the guiding principle of the design, said Lorenzo. “I have no intention in my bones to have a show piece. Like all those fur coats, I would rock,” he said. "Everything we do goes through a specific goal and that goal has been the same since I was 5 when dressing up - how do I show up to relieve someone of their preconceptions of who I am How sophisticated am I without effort?"

The designer also presented his long-awaited Adidas product, including a high-top moccasin-style sneaker, sweatpants fringed side stripes, cropped turtlenecks and hats with a more subtle FOG version of the brand's signature three-stripe logo.

Backstage after the show, Lorenzo reflected. “I wanted to share what American luxury looks like…but don't discount the cost,” he said after hugging his wife, kids and proud dad, the former Major League Baseball player, coach and manager Jerry Manuel Sr.

"My father tells me stories of his grandfather picking cotton and my staff bring me books on fabrics and I get to pick and choose cotton, so there's a freedom and a responsibility that comes from a lot of pain," Lorenzo told the media clutch. "But more than the pain, it comes of love… Although we are celebrating a co...