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CULVER CITY — Nicky Hilton stood in a corner, surrounded by cameras. But no bodyguard pressed for her escape.
The 23-year-old designer was holding court backstage Sunday at Smashbox Studios, where she unveiled her spring Chick by Nicky Hilton collection on the opening night of L.A. Fashion Week.
After making her New York Fashion Week debut last month with her high-end Nicholai line, Hilton was poised and demure as she gave interview after interview about Chick, the casual-wear label she launched in 2004.
"It's my first clothing line," she said. "So it's my baby."
Aimed at girls and named for Hilton's childhood moniker ("My parents thought I looked like Tweety Bird"), the line features flirty minidresses, floaty tops, playful patterns and super-high hemlines.
"It's very cute, very girly, very feminine. It's very reflective of the L.A. lifestyle — laid-back, casual," she said. "Nicholai is definitely for the mature, sophisticated customer ... whereas Chick is just fun pieces."
Still, the line has evolved over its three years. "Before it was a lot of sweat suits, T-shirts and tank tops, but now I'm doing more denim and tops and dresses."
Punchy prints — delicate swans, glass slippers and bright red apples — define the spring collection. An apple-covered A-line dress is topped with a black belted trench coat. Swans decorate sundresses and slim-fitting shifts. Printed halters and tanks float over tiny shorts.
Solids also make a statement in swingy T-shirt dresses, high-waisted "sailor trousers" and skinny jeans. Some of the best offerings came in black, including a knee-length dress with ruffle sleeves, a scalloped hem and a white Peter Pan collar and an airy voile top worn with wide-leg pants.
Hilton's parents took a front-row seat for the show, as did actress Jamie Pressly and Petro Zillia designer Nony Tochterman, who is set to close Fashion Week with her Thursday night show. Hilton's older sister, Paris, did not make an appearance.
Though Sunday marked Hilton's second fashion week in as many months, she's not done yet. She is set to show Nicholai in Mexico City and Moscow in the coming weeks.
The cameras are coming along, too. A crew from MySpace.com has been documenting the designer's work and plans to follow her on her international adventure for its fashion feature, "The Fit."
Still, Hilton seems humble about her international success.
"I'm excited," she said. "I've never been to Mexico City or Russia, so just for me to be able to go there is fun."
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