By JACQUELYNN D. POWERS PORTRAIT: TOMAS MUSCIONICO

hen Christian Audigier first saw his name in lights on the Las Vegas Strip, he kept pinching himself. This long-time dream forthe French fashion designer came to fruition over the Fourth of July weekend with the launch of his nightclub at Treasure Island. Theatrically, Audigier arrived to the opening via the pirate ship from the resort's nightly act, The Sirens of T.I. It's only fitting thatthe charismatic style icon would choose a pirate to mimic: His clothes are just as colorful and outlandish as anything Blackbeard would have donned. Once inside, Audigier, 50, mingled with the likes of Nick Cannon, Jaime Pressly, Bai Ling, Damon Wayans and Mike Tyson. "Opening night was amazing," Christian recalls. "There were 1,000 people waiting in the front. I had fans from everywhere with banners. It was a blast."

Audigier's devotees range from fashionistas who adore his sexy "couture" minidresses to cool kids who wear his tattoo-inspired T-shirts and hats. His more famous supporters include Britney Spears, Angelina Jolie, Heidi Klum, Madonna, Jessica Alba, Sean "Diddy" Combs, Kanye West, Busta Rhymes and Pharrell Williams. And the Christian Audigier empire keeps growing: Under his Ed Hardy label, there are tank tops, T-shirts, hats, dresses, skirts, dog clothes, swimwear, jeans, belts, sneakers, sweaters, scarves and hoodies. He has more than 70 licenses for items ranging from cell-phone covers to vodka and skateboards. "It's a constant flow," acknowledges Christian, who works 10-hour days. "Every day, I have new licenses to work with. And I have my eyes on every single license."

Then there's his nightclub project, which marks his introduction to the Las Vegas market. The 10,000-square-foot space (including an oversized patio) has all of the Audigier hallmarks, like rhinestone-encrusted skulls and tattoo art. "It's about Christian Audigier," he explains. "Christian Audigier is about style and bling-bling. I like bling-bling." The décor features his trademark skulls, black glass chandeliers, crocodile banquettes and a red carpet; the photographs of body art were shot for the club, with Audigier's tatted-up customers posing a torso here and a thigh there. Another design feature is the two 1,000-gallon aquariums, which each hold up to 30 jellyfish. "In Japan, many artists do jellyfish tattoos," Christian explains. "The tanks are inspirational. It reminds me of the Rat Pack, with the huge aquarium; it's a touch of Ocean's Eleven." There's also a large terrace with panoramic views of the Strip and The Sirens of T.I., which plays nightly at 10 and 11:30 p.m.

Cocktail servers at Christian Audigier The Nightclub wear sexy outfits designed by Audigier. There are several variations, one for each of the four nights a week they are open. "The staff looks like they are in a runway show," Christian comments. They aren't the only ones in Ed Hardy apparel, either. "More than 60 percent of the customers wear my clothes," he says. "My dresses do very well in Vegas. My clothes celebrate that bling-bling lifestyle." And while most Strip nightclubs do not allow patrons to wear sneakers inside, Audigier encourages his partygoers to don his colorful, casual footwear. Audigier plans to be at the nightclub at least once a month to mingle, oversee the fun quotient and keep the quality consistent. Even though the club is a joint venture between Audigier, Treasure Island and Pure Management Group, it's his name on the marquee . . .

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