JOIN THE CLUB; MUSIC-DRIVEN FASHIONS FOR DRESSING ON THE WILD SIDE.

Byline: Barbara De Witt Daily News Fashion Editor

Glitter girls blowing bubbles, urban cowboys packing plastic pistols, utility-chic freaks with ski hats.

They're club crawlers, the latest bunch of music-driven fashion renegades who pose, parade and party in outrageous get-ups at such L.A. nightclubs as the Conga Room, Atlas and the Derby. They are what they wear, and they work hard at creating their Mom-would-hate-it ensembles.

But underneath all that plastic and faux fur, club crawlers are just like you and me. They know there are trends to follow, and they embellish them with abandon.

But they get a tad defensive when accused of playing ``dress-up.'' After all, many club crawlers are into their 30s.

``Dressing for nightclubs may seem like a fashion parade or costume party, but it has a lot to do with self-expression. It is its own subculture, and the clothes define it,'' says Lisa Leighton of the North Hollywood-based Naughty Puss company, one of the many participants in the recent Look Show held at the CaliforniaMart in downtown Los Angeles.

Tina Sibulkin, fashion director for the CaliforniaMart, which houses hundreds of designer showrooms, adds that some of the club scene fashion statements are based purely on current fashion trends, while others reflect our changing culture.

Regardless of their roots, all of those fashion statements collided in an explosion of color and style on the Look Show catwalk last week, providing a dazzling (and sometimes racy) preview of what we'll be seeing in nightclubs in the coming months.

The event showcased fashions for the year 2000 by L.A. designers with sassy names like Peep Show, Snotty Brat and Cheap Thrills. And as the names suggest, these are rock frocks with an attitude.

For instance, says the British recording artist and disc jockey called the Angel, ``No self-respecting utility type (that means cargo pants with lots of zippers) would be caught dead in a pink dress or rhinestone-covered cowboy hat.'' Angel, who headlined the Look Show, is a utility-chic diva with painted black toenails and umpteen tiny pigtails, but she admitted that she might have favored that space-age Barbie look when she was younger.

Utility-chic? Rockabilly-lounge? Space-age Barbie?

They're style terms you'll hear on fashion's wild side, says Look Show fashion coordinator Michelle Vielma, who gives a quick lesson backstage by pointing to various roller racks representing each segment in the show.

Utilitarian is the easiest to understand, she explains. It's plain and simple, in neutral colors, perhaps inspired by futuristic films and military khakis. But the look is held together with metal zippers. Lots of them up and down the pants, on the vest and parka, and also unisex utility bags that hang over the shoulder or around the waist.

Says Sibulkin, ``It's the look we've seen this past year that started with the cargo pants and protective fabrics such as nylon and is continuing through the summer.''

A newer look at the opposite end of the fashion spectrum is tribal-bohemian, which Sibulkin describes as a cross of '70s bohemian and influences from tribal countries such as Tibet. ``It's noted for knits, fur, fleece and also peasant tops. The color range includes pinky-oranges and yellow-green, plus black and gray,'' she adds.

And then there's space girls, a futuristic-but-fun style with lots of bright colors, including hot pink and electric blue teamed with silver metallic.

A close cousin, Sibulkin continues, is the Barbie look that's heavy on the plastic - like the Mattel doll it's named for. It's very girlie, with pink, white and silver ensembles topped with glittery cowboy hats and accented with Hello Kitty-style accessories from stores such as Sanrio Surprise.

The most dramatic look is the darker side of gothic, which consists of black, red or purple velvet dresses with empire waists and maybe puffed sleeves, snake-print coats, leather pants and faux fur wraps. It's also the fashion category where you'll see tulle ballerina skirts worn over capri pants teamed with bustiers and glittery mules.

For guys, it's rockabilly-lounge, which is big on '50s-style club shirts (think Ricky Ricardo) and bowler hats worn with cargo pants. But it's sort of similar to the urban (also called urban cowboy) look, with Hawaiian (new or retro) or plaid shirts, ski vests and parkas worn over cargo or drawstring-style pants, also topped with a hat.

Hats, says Vielma, are an important accessory in all of the nightclub fashion looks. Worn primarily by young men, the styles include knitted ski hats, khaki fisherman's hats, bowlers and bandanna scarves tied in a pirate fashion.

But all of the fashions are grounded with look-at-me shoes.

According to Sibulkin, ``Shoes are the icing on the cake in fashion, especially the club scene. They make up half of the look, with all kinds of styles from platforms to mules with futuristic heels to aerodynamic sneakers.''

Other details?

For her, it's sparkles in the hair, pink and green eye shadow, and silvery lipstick and nails. And for him, it's long, narrow sideburns, goatees, body piercing, wrap-around ``Men in Black'' sunglasses and hair bleached blond on the tips.

CAPTION(S):

9 Photos

Photo: (1--Cover--Color) On the cover: World Domination recording artist and star of the CaliforniaMart's Look Show, the Angel does the club crawl in a fuzzy daisy print vest by Private Circle, worn under a glittery sweater by Jane Doe, with skirt by Flygirl. Photographed at Mass'Mo in Los Angeles.

(2--Color) Clubby cowgirl dress by G.O.D., with rhinestone hat and metallic sneakers, were among the friskier fashion statements made at CaliforniaMart's fashion preview, held over the weekend for retailers.

(3--Color) Accessories such as Hair Gems by Fairy Dust and tubular plastic jewelry give this vest and dress by Waxed added club appeal.

(4--Color) Club clothes with the all-black gothic inspiration were offered by a. babe.

(5--Color) Utility-chic cargo pants fashions are still going strong on the campus and club scene. His are by Dr. Martin, hers by Suburban and Third Rail.

(6--Color) Rockfrock versions of a Cinderella ball gown included this tulle ballerina skirt over a plum-colored bustier and skirt with matching faux fur stole by Peep Show.

(7) Groovy guy fashions include a monochromatic statement in green, left, by DB Clothing, and a basic black ensemble by Rommel Menswear.

(8--Color) no caption (Conga room)

(9--Color) no caption (ATLAS)

Photos by Charlotte Schmid-Maybach/Special to the Daily News