Bright colors, bold tattoos define Ed Hardy line

CULVER CITY, Calif. — Ed Hardy's spring collection, like the designer behind it, is bold, colorful and borderline ostentatious.

Christian Audigier, who launched Ed Hardy in 2004 after working his brand-making magic with Von Dutch, looked to 1980s street style for Ed Hardy's spring line, which he unveiled Monday at Smashbox Studios during Mercedes-Benz L.A. Fashion Week. As if to underscore his inspiration, he opened his "Street Fame" show with a crew of preteen breakdancers.

Ed Hardy's spring collection of swimsuits and casual wear relies on the same bright colors and bold tattoo designs that have characterized the brand since the beginning. All the familiar skulls, dragons, roses and bulldog motifs were back, presented on purple, green, yellow, orange and denim backdrops.

For men, there were bejeweled jeans with rhinestone dragons on the front and embroidered skulls on the back. Distressed denim got dressed up with patches, studs and embroidery. Layering was key as bright button-down shirts topped fleece hoodies. There were also surf shorts decorated with skull tattoos, and little checkered briefs with a bulldog on the crotch.

Women could choose from bedazzled and embroidered denim jeans, skirts and jackets — the latter worn layered over tight T-shirts and printed leggings. Swimsuits came in tiny two-piece bikinis and one-piece designs with plunging fronts or belly-baring cutouts — all decorated with tattoos and colorful gems.

Show standouts included a purple fleece skirt-and-hoodie set and a rose-printed dress with a corset waist and bell sleeves.

The spring collection also includes tattoo-emblazoned boots, sneakers, handbags and scarves — along with Ed Hardy bottled water and energy drinks — to go along with what Audigier calls "more a lifestyle than a brand."