Photo recap: Cliche's Crosswalk

Despite the rainy weather, Cliche's semi-annual Crosswalk fashion show went off without a hitch. As usual, the styling from store co-owner Delayna Sundberg and Cocoquette jewelry designer Andrea Oseland was inventive, seeming to take inspiration from Mexican brides.










[Photos by Marty & Shirley Andreasen]

Previews: Kevin Kramp Trunk Show + Cliche Crosswalk

I cover Kevin Kramp's trunk show at martinpatrick3 and Cliche's Crosswalk fashion show tomorrow night in this weekend's issue of Vita.mn:

[A look by Kevin Kramp. Photo by Robb Long]

Hot off his MNfashion Week runway show last month, knitwear designer Kevin Kramp hosts a rare trunk show. Click here to read more

Just announced: Cliche's Spring Crosswalk

It wouldn't be spring in Minneapolis without Cliche's semiannual Crosswalk fashion show. On May 20, the boutique will turn the crosswalk of 24th & Lyndale into a runway, with Ignite models wearing designs by local designers like Jenny Carle, Sydney Ilten and Ivan Idland, and national lines like Skunkfunk, Billabong and others. As usual, everything in the store will be 20 percent off during the event. Click here for the Facebook event invite.

[Photo by Cody Lidtke]

In review: MNfashion Week Preview

[Originally published at vita.mn]

On Tuesday evening, local designers, fashion writers, and the local fashion elite crowded into the swanky underground Honey Lounge in Northeast for a preview of the upcoming fall 2010 MNfashion Week. After an MNfashion video introduction from MNfashion director Anna Lee and designer Joy Teiken of Joynoelle, the crowd parted for a casual fashion show featuring a couple of looks from nearly every event happening during MNfashion Week.

Both Raul Osorio and Danielle Everine of the joint show "Pale Rider" (September 24 at MNfashion Atrium) showed two looks each. Osorio's black structured dress was a hit, and the styling by Molly Roark was spot on.

Danielle Everine's looks were ideal for autumn walks, and the fur stoles and riding boots were perfect additions. Her wool cream swing coat was the show-stopper of the evening.


We were surprised to find out the extremely sophisticated sage green print trapeze dress was by "Project Runway" alum Christopher Straub, who will be previewing more looks from his Spring 2011 collection at Envision: Artopia (September 17 at Graves 601 Hotel). The designer told us after the show he's been working on "cutting down on the frippery" on his designs, which seems to really be working for him.


Envision designer ArielSimone took a risk showing her edgy mini-skirt-meets-bodysuit one-shouldered look. But the construction was solid, and her point of view is clear. Designer Adrienne Yancy is making it clear she's one to watch.


A couple of looks from Cliche's "Crosswalk" show (September 23 at Cliche) included this layered look from hot up-and-comer Tender Cuts by Emily Bryngelson: a crisp, tailored jacket with a filmy, floral-print dress - perfectly on trend for fall.

A look from local line Of Venus and Gaia (September 23 at the Lab Theater) is said to be inspired by '80s dancewear - unfortunately, that was trendy about ten years ago and hasn't really come back. The mish-mashed outfits were trying to be eclectic and quirky but ended up coming off messy.


Another hiccup: the too-shiny, too bright and too-tight looks from the Sweet Life fashion show (September 26 at OM Restaurant). The look is defiantly clubwear and not exactly of-the-moment.


Overall, it was a great sampling of what's to come during MNfashion Week, running September 20-26. For more information on MNfashion Week, visit mnfashionweek.com.

All photos by Stacy Schwartz for MNfashion

Fall 2010 MNfashion Week highlights

The MNfashion Week calendar for Fall 2010 is online!

Some highlights:

September 17: Envision: Artopia at Graves 501 Hotel
This show is produced every season by Ignite Models Inc., and it's always a well-done, professional show. I'm excited to see new fall lines from Calpurnia Peach and Tender Cuts, plus newcomers YQY by Vivian and ArielSimone (all new to the show this year), as well as Envision regulars Jenny Carle, PFT Couture and Russell Bourrienne. Click here for details. (Envision Promo Photo: Sera Sauser)

September 19: Haste Sans Waste fashion show at Honey
I'm on the fence about this one until I hear what designers are involved, but it's definitely a cool idea: "Pantsuits transform to evening gowns, pajamas morph to workout gear and band uniforms transition to elegant bathing suits." Click here for details.

September 23: Crosswalk at Cliché
This was a cute concept when Cliché debuted it last spring - take three of their local designers, parade them through the store, and watch them transform the crosswalk outside onto a catwalk. Designers this time around include up-and-comers Tender Cuts (a personal favorite), Kathryn V. and Niki English. Click here for more details. (Photo: Tender Cuts S/S 2010 by studio kh]

September 23: Joynoelle fashion show at International Market Square
Joy Teiken is one of the more established designers to call Minneapolis home, and we're lucky to have her. Her craftsmanship is unparalleled, and her vintage-inspired design aesthetic continues to expand into edgier territory. This should be one of the more popular shows of MNfashion Week, so tickets should go fast. Click here for more details. (Photo: Joynoelle F/W 2010)

September 24: Pale Rider at MNfashion Atrium
Raul Osorio and Danielle Everine share a good deal aesethetically, but definitely have distinct styles on their own. Osorio is known for incorporating feminine, Grecian draping into tough, militaristic menswear; now we'll see his womenswear for the first time. Danielle Everine, on the other hand, is known for her menswear-inspired womenswear, while incorporating sculptural, fine art elements and highly conceptual garments that still manage to be wearable. Both are ones to watch. Click here for more details. (Photo: Danielle Everine F/W 2010 by Ingrid Werthmann)

September 24: SGMS: Full Fashion Panic at MCAD
The annual fashion portion of the weekend-long anime workshop Schoolgirls and Mobilesuits is produced by steampunk afficionado Samantha Rei (of Blasphemina's Closet), and the show always features the latest in steampunk/Lolita/anime-inspired fashion. It showcases the work of students as well as established designers like Rei. Click here for details. (Photo: Fashion by Blasphemina's Closet)

September 25: Split Personality Launch Party at The Hub Bike Co-Op
The "unusual materials" challenges are always my favorite on Project Runway, so this event featuring garments created with bike parts should be a fun one. Again, no list of designers has been revealed but it should be fun to check out. Click here for details.

And of course, you can get a taste of all of this at Tuesday's MNfashion Week Preview Party at Honey. Click for details (Free, but RSVP required).