San Diego's Auto Fashion VIP Fest 12
Daily Slideshow: Auto Fashion VIP Fest is in its twelfth year and brings together Lexus and Infiniti VIP fans as well as some Honda's, Mercedes, Audi's. But Toyota's luxury brand still proves to be the most popular.
Very Internet Polarizing
VIP Styling, you either love it and get it, or you despise its very existence. There is one thing that cannot be denied though, Lexus and VIP culture have been intertwined from the beginning. VIP may be always changing, but Lexus is still dominant in the genre.
Photos Courtesy of Super Street
VIP in the USA
This dominance was made very clear at VIP Fest held by Auto Fashion USA at Green Flash Brewing Co. While there were many other brands in attendance at the show, like that very nice Mercedes W210 Sedan, Lexus was still the top dog. The go to make for VIP builds has not changed, but the way these cars are built certainly has.
Photos Courtesy of Super Street
>>Join the conversation about Auto Fashion VIP Fest 12 right here at ClubLexus Forum!
Evolving Style
Originally VIP cars followed Henry Ford's famous quote. "They could be any color you wanted, as long as it was black." That was then though, and as with all style trends, things change. Today, bright colors are in and you are more likely to find a car like this baby blue GS than traditional boring colors.
Photos Courtesy of Super Street
>>Join the conversation about Auto Fashion VIP Fest 12 right here at ClubLexus Forum!
Width over Function
Another thing that has changed is the extreme lengths camber will be pushed to "fit" wider wheels. This Infiniti Q45 showed just how insane it can go. Most will scoff at this, saying it's unusable. While that may be true, so are most other show cars like low riders, bro trucks, and donks.
Photos Courtesy of Super Street
>>Join the conversation about Auto Fashion VIP Fest 12 right here at ClubLexus Forum!
Camaraderie
As car enthusiasts, we all need to look past our style differences and remember it's the people behind the builds, and the people we meet at these events that bring us all together. You may like building "usable" track cars, but is that really any more useful than a cambered out VIP build? At the end of the day if it wasn't for the people we meet at any of these events we would all just be a bunch of folks driving around with no sense of community.
Photos Courtesy of Super Street
>>Join the conversation about Auto Fashion VIP Fest 12 right here at ClubLexus Forum!
Everyone Welcome
VIP Fest has taken that idea of camaraderie among car enthusiasts to heart. Twelve years ago it may have been only over the top luxury builds, but these days all others are welcome to join in on the fun. This does lead to some interesting sights, like the contrast between this classy GS and bright yellow Integra.
Photos Courtesy of Super Street
>>Join the conversation about Auto Fashion VIP Fest 12 right here at ClubLexus Forum!
Big and Tall
There were even a couple trucks there like this lifted Chevy parked next to a very tidy big body LS. It's nice to see people coming back around on the idea of tucking wheel. Of course, I am talking about the Lexus here not the truck, there is no tucking those giant Generals under any fender!
Photos Courtesy of Super Street
>>Join the conversation about Auto Fashion VIP Fest 12 right here at ClubLexus Forum!
Back to Basics
VIP is always changing, people are always finding ways to push the style farther. Sometimes though, going traditional is just as good a way to further the style as change is. This very traditional LS is a great example of that, combining paint and bodywork with a more modern stance.
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>>Join the conversation about Auto Fashion VIP Fest 12 right here at ClubLexus Forum!
Roots
Remembering your roots and the basics of what drew you to something in the first place is a great way to inspire creativity. This LS goes way back with the black on black look and extreme wheel tuck.
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>>Join the conversation about Auto Fashion VIP Fest 12 right here at ClubLexus Forum!
Soaring Above
The SC300 is not a car that gets a ton of love here in the States outside of the drift scene. It's always nice to see a clean well put together one at a show like this. Its one of the few cars that can blend VIP and Drift styling so nicely.
Photos Courtesy of Super Street
>>Join the conversation about Auto Fashion VIP Fest 12 right here at ClubLexus Forum!
Sport Coupe
Speaking of unloved, the SC430 is usually a car you see driven by middle-aged realtors and insurance salesmen. This purple example shows they can be so much more than that though and really flexes the "Sport" side of the Sport Coupe designation.
Photos Courtesy of Super Street
>>Join the conversation about Auto Fashion VIP Fest 12 right here at ClubLexus Forum!
Overfender Everything
One thing that stood out at this show was the lack of overfenders. Some Japanese VIP builds have been going mental with the over fender designs lately but America seems to be sticking with metal fenders. Not this Lexus IS though, instead, going for some of the widest overfenders possible.
Photos Courtesy of Super Street
>>Join the conversation about Auto Fashion VIP Fest 12 right here at ClubLexus Forum!
Luxury First
VIP Fest did a great job of showing off all sides of VIP culture. The one thing that ties all of them together is the idea of radiating an air of luxury. This Toyota Century is the epitome of that kind of class. Why Toyota never offered this car overseas as a Lexus is anyone's guess.
VIP may be changing, but in doing so it only seems to be getting more popular. What do you think of VIP styling? A welcome addition and here to stay, or a trendy fad destined for the back pages of automotive history?
Photos Courtesy of Super Street
>>Join the conversation about Auto Fashion VIP Fest 12 right here at ClubLexus Forum!
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