LOS ANGELES, Oct 24, 2003/ FW/ -- Los Angeles designer, John Sakalis, 24, will be showing his Spring 2004 Collection at Smashbox Fashion Week LA on October 27th at 3 p.m. inside the Main tent. The collection, titled “All About Eve,” promises to be a fun collection highlighting the virtues of feminine strength.

John made his solo runway debut last season at the Zipper Concert Hall in downtown Los Angeles, as one of the few designers showing independently during fashion week. This season, he decided that Smashbox would be the perfect venue to showcase his collection.

“I love what Smashbox is doing for Los Angeles fashion,” says John. “Their philosophy about fashion being fun and exciting is exactly what my clothes are about this season.”

This collection is very personal and sentimental to John. In early September, John’s sister, Melina gave birth to a his nephew, Jared. After a couple days home, Melina noticed that the baby was extremely pale and rushed him to the hospital. The doctors examined the newborn and notified the family that Jared had a hole in his colon and an operation was necessary but there was a great chance that he would not make it. Though trying to stay optimistic, his family was obviously heartbroken about the news. The courage, resilience, and fragility his sister demonstrated inspired John.

“Seeing my sister in such an awful situation yet still remain so strong and holding everyone together completely changed my outlook on life,” says John. “She made me really appreciate womanhood so much more than I had ever before.”

Jared is still in the hospital but the doctors have said the newborn is recovering at fantastic rate and should be going home soon.

Those events helped change John’s outlook on his collection and what he wanted to do. He scratched his original concept and began creating a collection that would trace and celebrate the evolution of the female species, hence the title of the collection, “All About Eve.” His show is dedicated to his sister Melina.

Expected celebrity attendees are Jennifer Tilly, pop group 3LW, RuPaul, Chritopher Ciconne, Marissa Ramirez and more to be added.

John’s show is sponsored by KMS Hair Care and Smashbox Cosmetics. Smashbox Studio is located at 8549 Higuera Street, Culver City, CA 90232.