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.

Eliesa Johnson shoots Vision's Michael Elmquist

Local photographer Eliesa Johnson was recently in New York and managed to fit in a quick test shoot with Vision model (and current New York resident) Michael Elmquist. The results are smoldering and stunning in their simplicity.

Local inspiration: muses and lenses

The best in local street fashion, portrait and fashion photography from local muses and lenses, gathered via Twitter, Facebook and blog uploads from the past week.

Julia of style blog Song of the Moon Child wears a plague mask made by her sister. (Photo by A.M. Fisher. More photos at Song of the Exile.)

Stephanie Colgan captures a moody shot of fashion designer Raul Osorio.

Ignite model Kelly Streigel is keeping busy in China. (Photo: M. Lien. Click here for more.)

Dirty Hair Halo blogger Shannon Licari shows off her DIY talon earrings.

Web developer/Trnds.com blogger Corey Tenold shoots his gorgeous gal, Vision model Ashlee Walker.

Minneapolis Affair captures Fashionasty blogger Jake Thompson on the street.

Minneapolis Affair shoots Urban Tease style blogger Chloe Alf at the Guthrie Theater.

Cayla Caul Field goes to boot camp.

Ellie Schurter channels Shannyn Sossamon for lensman Brad Ogbonna.

Local designer Amanda Christine previews a F/W 2011 look from her forthcoming lookbook. (Photo: Rod Hasse.)

Naures Sager simply smolders.

Photographer Amy Gee posted this cool video she made while she was in Dallas earlier this year.

Ines Kovacevic makes a dead ringer for PJ Harvey.

The Minneapoline's Ellen Dahl Lawson shoots a fur collared look at the Vita.mn Are You Local? show at the Varsity Theater on Friday.

FairShadow Photography shoots new designs by Irregular Pearl.

Eliesa Johnson does a test shoot featuring Ignite models Gemma and Melissa. (Click here for the rest of the photo set.)

Photosynthetique shots the looks at the Blasphemina's Closet fashion show last Thursday, with jewelry by Bionic Unicorn and hats by Apatico.

Behind the scenes: Eliesa Johnson spring test shoot

Eliesa Johnson is one of those photographers whose behind-the-scenes shots are nearly (if not as) good as her final results. Here is a selection of her behind-the-scenes images from her latest spring test shoot. Dying to know where she found that first look...

Frances Zerr wins METRO Keeper Award

METRO Magazine just named local fashion designer Frances Zerr one of its 2011 Keeper Awards in its January 2011 issue. Here's the spread Zerr first debuted her designs in Fall 2009 at a joint show with Calpurnia Peach, and went on to snag a coveted slot in Voltage 2010 where she quickly made fans with her easy-to-wear, effortlessly chic basics-with-a-twist. Look for her next at Voltage 2011 on April 15.

Click the spread below, as photographed by Eliesa Johnson, to read the full text.

Local fashion link roundup

[Photo: Louie Aguila]

Minnesota native model Raina Hein (of America's Next Top Model fame) is gets dreamy in this shoot by Pasadena photographer Louie Aguila.

Local photographer Eliesa Johnson shoots fall fashions from haute men's shop BlackBlue.

Ellen Dahl Lawson shoots the crowd at the Shanghaied New Year's Eve party at Graves 601 Hotel for Vita.mn.

METRO Magazine fashion editor Mary O'Regan details her favorite product photography for her blog Art of Wore.

Mary O'Regan also lists the Twin Cities' best-kept shopping secrets for METRO.

Sohail Akhavein, a frequent fixture of my weekly "muses and and lenses" feature, just announced he will be having a photography exhibition (with l'etoile and Voltage project manager and painter Natalie Gallagher) at Umber Studios on January 22.

Crooked Teeth Magazine (a new, local, crafty-cool style publication) just announced their release party on January 15 at the Coffee Shop NE.