LOS ANGELES (AP) – Rock & Republic touted the success of its hometown’s top trend – premium denim – at a star-studded bash at the new nightclub Area during Los Angeles Fashion Week.

In L.A., denim certainly is something worth celebrating.

Rock & Republic actually debuted its spring collection – with skinny jeans, short shorts and micro minis – at New York Fashion Week last month. But the company wanted to acknowledge its roots with the Wednesday night party, said designer and chief executive Michael Ball. Highlights from the New York show played on big-screen TVs throughout the venue.

“Premium denim was born in L.A.,” he said. “We want to make sure we always do something here during fashion week.”

Among the denim-clad celebs at the event were Jeremy Piven, Jonathan Silverman, Nick Cannon and Natasha Henstridge.

Besides Rock & Republic, Los Angeles is home to some of today’s hottest denim designers, including True Religion, 7 For All Mankind and Frankie B. They make jeans that are more than just jeans: they’re luxury items coveted by celebrities, fashionistas and regular Janes alike. They can cost upward of $200 a pair.

The “awesome fit” makes it worth it, said Rock & Republic reveler Irina Yakubchuk.

And compared with some other designer fashions, “a $250 jean doesn’t seem so bad,” said Sally Singer, Vogue’s fashion news director.

“It’s better than the $750 trouser. And for $250, you might look really hot.”

Levi Strauss, father of the denim jean, couldn’t have imagined that the durable workpant he developed in 1873 would have gone so glam.

It’s L.A.’s dressed-down-yet-get-noticed vibe that makes it the perfect place for premium denim, Singer said. “You look foolish in L.A. if you’re too dressed up. Jeans are where people define themselves.”

Daniella Clarke, founder of Frankie B., paid homage to denim’s rock ‘n’ roll spirit with her spring 2007 collection, which she previewed Monday at L.A. Fashion Week headquarters, Culver City’s Smashbox Studios. The jeans were sleek and skintight, some striped and others with snakeskin prints.

High-end denim “became big faster here than it did anywhere else because (L.A.) has been known to be a casual town,” Clarke said.

And, apparently it’s staying one, even if designers in the other fashion capitals signaled a shift away from denim – and even away from pants – and into draped dresses instead.

Japanese denim-maker Evisu chose opening day of L.A. Fashion Week for its first U.S. showing. Known for pricey, handmade designs, Evisu’s spring line featured slick, skinny jeans and a strapless black denim jumpsuit.

Other denim-heavy lines on display during L.A. Fashion Week included Hollywood-based Morphine Generation and William Rast, the year-old clothing company founded by Justin Timberlake and his friend Trace Ayala.