Cliche announces Local Jewelry Bazaar this Sunday

Local boutique Cliché just announced its first-ever Local Jewelry Bazaar. Taking place this Sunday in conjunction with the Minneapolis Open Streets Event, the store will be hosting a broadened selection of handmade jewelry from over 20 designers based in the Twin Cities, Chicago, Iowa, Los Angeles, and Brussels. Meet the designers and see new work for Summer 2011 displayed inside and outside of the store, and snag 20 percent off everything during the opening. Click here for details. Here's a preview:

NUNU Collection, Chicago


Play by Marly, Minneapolis

Cocoquette by Andrea Oseland, Minneapolis

KR Designs, Minneapolis

New designer spotlight: Hackwith Design House

A new local clothing line quietly surfaced last fall in local shops around the Twin Cities. The St. Paul-based Hackwith Design House offers an easy-to-wear selection of lightweight cotton tops, dresses and skirts for ladies, plus tanks and tees for guys - perfect for the muggy, hot summer days of the Minnesota outdoor festival season. The line is available locally at Design Collective and Parc Boutique, plus shops in Atlanta, Pittsburgh, Cleveland and more, plus Netherlands-based e-shop Frou Frou's, and Etsy.

Local photographer Eliesa Johnson just posted this gorgeous new portfolio editorial piece on her website, and it features clothing by new local line Hackwith Design House, styled with jewelry by Cocoquette, on Ignite stunner Whitney Fransway, and Abe Reddy.











Credits:
Photography: Eliesa Johnson
Clothing: Hackwith Design House
Jewelry: Chris Chookiatsirichai
Talent: Whitney of Ignite Models, Abe (independent)
Hair: Micah Savage
Makeup: Dayo
Assistants: Liz Hardt, Josh Anderson

Click here for behind-the-scenes images from the shoot.

Amanda Christine S/S 2011 Collection

I posted earlier this week about local designers Amanda Christine and Kimberly Jurek selling their F/W 2011 collections at the POOL Tradeshow in Las Vegas, but I had yet to have seen their S/S 2011 lines until now. Helpfully, Amanda Christine has posted both this cute promo video and images of all of her looks on her website. I'll get to Kimberly Jurek's collection next.

Amanda Christine S/S 11 from Rod Hasse on Vimeo.

Love the trampoline shot at the end. Now, let's judge the collection. As with all her work, it's immaculately-sewn, with fabrics that are inexpensive but don't look it. It's basic sportswear with enough detail and edge to make them smartly-designed. Though it's nothing ground-breaking, it's clear that Amanda Christine is onto something - she's a local designer selling her line in over 30 stores across the country, and making a living doing it.

Love the color. It's a chic little sporty dress and perfectly on-trend.

The blouse is the same shape as the above dress - I approve. Not sure about the silhouette of those shorts. They seem like they would make a woman's hips look bigger.

This dress drapes on the model's body beautifully. The shoulder cut-outs are a nice touch. It's sort of basic with some nice details - a good going-out-to-the-club dress.

I'm sort of over the one-shoulder look - it's just starting to look a few seasons old by now. But print + color is always welcome.

I really don't like this sleeve silhouette. It's just not flattering on most shapes and it doesn't feel very fresh.

Strapless, short and white... it's pretty basic but the tie detail at the back is cute.

It's a pretty floral dress with just enough of an edge. The lace-up detail is a nice-touch.

Same top as the green in black. It adds an edge/masculine touch what could be a very girly skirt.

A lovely drape, but we've seen this be done a million ways since fall 2009. It just doesn't feel very fresh now.

What a chic little white dress. I could see this working for the day job and going to lunch, dressed up and dressed down.


Hm. Kind of basic. Nothing here is all that interesting besides the print and color, and it's not that fabulous of a print.

Cute racerback silk tank top. The pleated, cuffed shorts are all right. Would be a cute summer look if work with a big hat, big purse and flat sandals.

Cute enough, but don't love the print.

Cute jacket, but I like the version she showed at "Avoid the Grey" better, with pleather lapels and minus the ruched sleeves.

Cute, cute dress. Love the color, and it manages to have an edge despite the puff sleeves. In fact I am on pre-order for this to wear it at the Envision: Artopia show in April. I like the cutout at back, but I'm not thrilled about the Velcro closure.

The black color-blocking is a nice detail, but this is pretty standard.

Standard. Not in love with the print.

Pretty dress, picking up on the ballet trend for spring. But it doesn't really fit with the edgier, sportwear feel of rest of the collection.

The line is available locally at Cliche, Karma and Parc Boutique.

Photography: Rod Hasse
Model: Ali Thompson-Stucky from Vision
Hair/Makeup: Allison Jean AuBuchon
Jewelry provided by Bionic Unicorn and Cocoquette from Cliche

Cocoquette Jewelry featured in Topin F/W 2010 lookbook

Nationally-sold clothing line Topin used local jewelry line Cocoquette by Andrea Oseland to accessorize their Fall 2010 lookbook. Topin is a young contemporary knitwear collection for women that utilizes natural fibers and happens to be sold at Cliché (where Cocoquette is exclusively sold).

[Vintage rings necklace]

Here's the rest of her featured looks:

[Onyx single-strand necklace]

[Onyx single-strand necklace]

[Anja pyrite necklace]

[Vintage rings necklace]

[Vintage rings necklace]