Just announced: April Showers Bring Bitch Flowers

The annual drag show and party put on by stylist/interior designer Richard Anderson's drag persona, Bitch Flowers, April Showers Bring Bitch Flowers is always a gay old time. Held in the decadent Varsity Theater, the show features bitchy drag queen comedy and performances from Bitch Flowers, Krystal Kleer and Camille Collins, with special guests Polly and the Hot Buttered Crackers and Esme Rodriguez with live music from Harley Wood and Wrecked Wheelhouse, and rounds out with a riotous dance party spun by DJ Shiek. In a stylish twist, this year's edition ups the glam factor with the inclusion of restyled spring lines from local designers Emma Berg (hot off a solo showing during MNfashion Week), Voltage 2011 designers Raul Osorio and Ivan Idland, and DIY-styled lingerie line Lollycopter. It should be a night of campy fun.

Raul Osorio's spring 2011 collection photos by Amy Miller

Emma Berg's spring 2011 collection runway photos by Stephen Stephens/Digital Crush

Ivan Idland's spring 2011 collection runway photo by Mordac.org

Lollycopter spring 2011 collection photos by Eric Snyder

Show details: 7:30 p.m. doors. Friday, May 27. $12 advance/$15 door. 18-plus. Varsity Theater, 1308 4th St. SE., Minneapolis, 612-604-0222.

Style diary: Sol Inspirations eco-fashion show

Last Saturday, I attended the Sol Inspirations eco-fashion show. (Read my review for Vita.mn here.) Since my old friend and longtime collaborator Ra'mon-Lawrence Coleman was one of the competing designers, I found it only fitting to wear one of his designs - a one-of-a-kind runway piece from his spring 2008 collection (borrowed from the closet of Emma Berg). I paired it with a bright yellow feather neckpiece by new accessory designer KR Designs (currently available at Cliche for about $64), a beaded silk baguette given to me by friend Teri, and blue silk ankle-wrap pumps by DKNY from Opitz Outlet.

Here I am with designer Raul Osorio and l'etoile creative director and founder Beth Hammarlund.

[Photo via Art of Wore]

Here I am with former Minneapolitan Hina Khan (who does a fun style blog), in town from L.A. for the weekend in a spring 2011 Needle & Black dress by Kerry Riley; Raul; Beth; and designer Emma Berg in Raul Osorio spring 2011.

Local inspiration: muses and lenses

Apologies to regular readers of my weekly muses and lenses photo feature - MNfashion Week took over my life (and blog) for the past couple of weeks so I haven't gotten around to posting until now. Here's a compilation of images culled over the past few weeks via Facebook, Twitter and the blogroll featuring local photographers and their subjects.

WERQ, Naures. Bitch knows how to pose. (Photo: Marissa Wetzel)

Danielle Morris gets her Nick and Eddie "mugshot", courtesy of Cindy Ivy.

Little Man's Chris Perricelli looks straight out of the '70s in this shot photographed and art directed by Emily Unte.


Hairstylist Jessie Quast ponders her reflection.

Photog Amy Gee snaps housemate (and beauty blogger) Kara Nesvig posing hard.

Local model Ashley Hawks updates her portfolio.

Photographer Sohail Akhavein shoots style blogger Kara Nesvig taking a glamorous shower.

Amy Gee shoots a sophisticated profile of designer Ra'mon-Lawrence Coleman.

Emily Utne goes behind-the-scenes at the Emma Berg promo video shoot with Vision model Mary Cann.

Lindsey Tauer poses for Mighty Swell Vintage.

Ignite Models Inc. debuts new talent Aja. (Photo: Billy Rood)

Photographer Louisa Podlich features the lovely singer-songwriter Haley Bonar as part of her .onethirtyfive. project with writer Christian Dahlager.

METRO Magazine fashion editor Mary O'Regan hangs out on the rooftop.

Photographer Eliesa Johnson does a road warrior-style test shoot, complete with motorcycles.

Style blogger Kitty Cotten wears neon Gojane pumps.

Song of the Exile style blogger Julia wears a blouse by Project Runway season 2 winner Chloe Dao.

Twee Nguyen models a dress from Local Motion, as photographed by Minneapolis Affair.

Dirty Hair Halo blogger Shannon Licari is hippie chic in peach.

Designer spotlight: Emma Berg's hat designer

MNfashion got a taste of Chicago last Thursday at Emma Berg's MNfashion Week collection runway show, which featured hats by Chicagoan milliner Sarah Azzouzi, proprietress of Zzouzi Hats.

As I was meeting with Emma as stylist for the show, she mentioned the idea of wanting hats that would reflect the personality of some of the outfits. We ended up getting in touch with Sarah through The MNfashion Week Shows styling assistant Lizzie Bunting and were able to include some past designs by Sarah as well as a new piece.

[Photo by Stacy Schwartz/City Pages]

[Photo by Stacy Schwartz/City Pages]

[Photo by Stephen Stephens/Digital Crush]

[Photo by Stephen Stephens/Digital Crush]

Local fashion link roundup: MNfashion Week edition

I was Lead Stylist for Voltage: Fashion Amplified and the Emma Berg/Kevin Kramp show, which means I didn't have much time (not to mention the objectivity) to covering the shows. Fortunately, the local fashion contingency has devoted more coverage than ever for MNfashion Week. It's a sure sign of the continued growth of the Minnesota fashion industry. Here's a roundup of reviews, photos, video and more:

[A Max Lohrbach look from Voltage; photo by Mary O'Regan via Art of Wore]

"Ma Vie en Plastique" and Amanda Christine/K.Jurek Trunk Show, 4/7:
-I recap the "Ma Vie en Plastique" and the Amanda Christine/K.Jurek trunk show for Vita.mn.
-Señorita Susan reviews "Ma Vie en Plastique."
-Rhea Pappas shoots "Ma Vie en Plastique" for MNfashion.
-Cody Lidtke shoots the Amanda Christine/K.Jurek trunk show at Cliché for City Pages.

Envision: Artopia, 4/8:
-I review "Envision" for Vita.mn.
-I chat about the show with stylist/interior designer Richard Anderson for l'étoile magazine, with photos by Stephen Stephens of Digital Crush.
-METRO Magazine fashion editor Mary O'Regan recaps Envision: Artopia,
-Mpls.St.Paul Magazine's Allison Kaplan recaps her Envision favorites.
-City Pages has runway looks at "Envision" by Stacy Schwartz and crowd shots by Denis Jeong Plaster.
-Stephen Stephens of Digital Crush shoots the show for l'etoile magazine.
-Joan Erakit reviews Envision: Artopia for national blog Frank151, with photos by Rhea Pappas.
-Style blogger Kitty Cotten does a photo recap and review of Envision: Artopia.
-Minneapolis 2night has crowd and runway photos from the show.
-Photographer Rod Hasse posted a fun behind-the-scenes video of Envision: Artopia and the models of Ignite.
-Ignite Models has behind-the-scenes shots at Envision by Chris McDuffie.

The MNfashion Shows: CounterCouture & George Moskal, 4/13:
-I review the show for Vita.mn.
-L'étoile creative director Beth Hammarlund reviews the show for l'étoile magazine, with photos by Stephen Stephens.
-METRO Magazine fashion editor Mary O'Regan recaps CounterCouture and George Moskal's show with some great photography.
-METRO Magazine has runway photos by Cody Lidtke.
-Katie Dohman of Minnesota Monthly reviews the show.
-Joan Erakit reviews the George Moskal/CounterCouture show for Frank151.
-Metromix has crowd and runway photos at the CounterCouture/George Moskal show by Claire Molepske and a video recap.
-Rhea Pappas shoots the show for MNfashion.
-Jules Christman Photography shoots the show.
-Señorita Susan reviews the show with photos by Rhea Pappas.
-Tricia Khutoretsky reviews the show for basic-space.com.
-South of Canada reviews The Shows.

The MNfashion Shows: Emma Berg and Kevin Kramp, 4/14:
-L'étoile creative director Beth Hammarlund reviews the show for l'étoile magazine, with photos by Stephen Stephens.
-METRO Magazine fashion editor Mary O'Regan recaps and shoots fashion shows by Kevin Kramp and Emma Berg and also shoots the crowd.
-METRO Magazine has photos from the Kevin Kramp/Emma Berg show by Cody Lidtke.
-Mpls.St.Paul Magazine's Allison Kaplan does an excellent review of the Emma Berg/Kevin Kramp show.
-Katie Dohman of Minnesota Monthly reviews the Emma Berg/Kevin Kramp show.
-City Pages has an behind-the-scenes image slideshow of the video shoots for Emma Berg and Kevin Kramp's show, plus photos from the show by Stacy Schwartz.
-Metromix has crowd and runway photos from the Emma Berg/Kevin Kramp show by Claire Molepske.
-Joan Erakit reviews the Emma Berg/Kevin Kramp show for national blog Frank151, with photos by Christina "C-Rocka" Rimstad.
-Tricia Khutoretsky reviews the show for basic-space.com.
-Style blogger and Voltage stylist Kitty Cotten reviews and shoots the Emma Berg and Kevin Kramp runway shows.
-Stephen Stephens of Digital Crush shoots the show for l'etoile magazine.
-Ellen Dahl Lawson snaps a couple of gorgeous pix at Emma Berg's show for The Minneapoline.
-Downtown Journal highlights the MNfashion Week shows, including a Q&A with Kevin Kramp.
-MNfashion has a photo set from the show.
-South of Canada reviews The Shows.
-MNfashion has a photo set from the show.

StevenBe Knitwear Runway Rockshow, 4/14:
-Rhea Pappas shoots the show here and here for MNfashion.

Voltage: Fashion Amplified, 4/15:
-L'étoile creative director Beth Hammarlund reviews Voltage for l'étoile magazine, with photos by Stephen Stephens of Digital Crush.
-Vita.mn editor Simon Peter Groebner reviews the show and offers a poignant look back at the show's seven years.
-Cake in 15 has the most detailed, extensive review of the show out there, with photos by Stacy Schwartz and words by Carl Atiya Swanson.
-Star Tribune has a slideshow of photos from Voltage, as well as an exclusive look at the lookbook photos from Voltage by Stephanie Colgan.
-METRO Magazine fashion editor Mary O'Regan reviews Voltage with some artful photography and reviews and recaps the stylish crowdgoers.
-Metromix has runway and crowd photos plus a review from Voltage.
-Check out MPLS.TV's Voltage edition of "What the F**k Are You Wearing?", with video by Dan Huiting.
-City Pages reviews Voltage. Click here for their Voltage photobooth shots by Cody Lidtke, here for runway photos by Stacy Schwartz and here for behind-the-scenes shots by Stacy Schwartz.
-Official Voltage photographer Stephanie Colgan shoots an amazing photo set from Voltage.
-Stephen Stephens of Digital Crush shoots the show for l'etoile magazine.
-Sarah Heuer reviews the show for Twin Cities Daily Planet, with photos by Jay Gabler.
-Ellen Dahl Lawson of The Minneapoline shoots the crowd's most stylish for Vita.mn.
-Joan Erakit does a studio visit with Voltage designer Terri Martin. Look for a review and photos to come at frank151.com.
-Tricia Khutoretsky recaps the show for her blog, Basic Space.
-Kevin Walker has a set of behind-the-scenes photos.
-HowWasTheShow.com has a video clip of Pink Mink's Voltage performance and a Voltage photo set.
-Style blogger and Voltage stylist Kitty Cotten offers some behind-the-scenes shots from Voltage (for which she styled lines by Kathryn V and Max Lohrbach).
-Mordac.org has a photo set from the show.
-Joan Erakit recaps the show for national blog Frank 151.
-Jules Christman Photography shoots the show.
-Style blogger Señorita Susan reviews the show.
-Matt Porath shoots the show here and here.
-Minneapolis 2night has crowd and runway photos from the show.
-Kevin Walker shoots backstage photos at the show.
-Secrets of the City does a studio visit with Voltage designer Danielle Everine.

Ballet of the Dolls' Fashion Ball, 4/15 & 4/16:
-Mpls.St.Paul Magazine's Allison Kaplan recaps Saturday's Fashion Ball.
-Ed Neaton shoots the event for City Pages.
-Style blogger Señorita Susan reviews the show.
-Rhea Pappas shoots the show for MNfashion here and here.

Scrubbed Into Fashion, 4/16:
-Mpls.St.Paul Magazine's Allison Kaplan recaps the Scrubbed Into Fashion show (featuring Christopher Straub).
-The Minnesota Daily recaps the show.
-Minneapolis 2night has a review and photos from the event.

Jagress Intimates Runway Show, 4/16:
-I recap the show for l'étoile magazine, with photography by Stephen Stephens of Digital Crush.
-Stephen Stephens of Digital Crush shoots the show.
-Photographer Rod Hasse posts a photo set.

The Secret Garden Fashion Show, 4/16:
-Tara Sloane reviews and shoots the show for l'étoile magazine.

Styles for Smiles, 4/17:
-Rhea Pappas shoots the show for MNfashion.

Of Venus And Gaia Spring Celebration, 4/17:
-Rhea Pappas shoots the show for MNfashion.

Follow @mnfashion on Twitter for more MNfashion Week recaps.

Style diary: My MNfashion Week looks

Part of the fun of MNfashion Week is gussying up in looks by local designers for the slew of fashion shows that take place.

[L: Pictured with Richard Anderson, photo by Mary O'Regan. R: Amanda Christine lookbook]

For Envision: Artopia last Friday, April 7, I wore this red cotton Amanda Christine dress with puff sleeves and cutout details. She showed the same dress in blue during the show that evening. If you're interested, the dress is available for purchase in a full size run in both colors at Cliche. I paired with a stone and chain necklace by newcomer KR Dezigns, also available at Cliche, and black glitter pumps from Forever 21.

[Pictured with Robyne Robinson and Kate Iverson, photo by Mary O'Regan via Art of Wore]

[L: Photo by George Moskal. R: Photo by Nicholas Marshall, styling by Eclecticoiffeur]

For George Moskal and CounterCouture's show last Wednesday, I wore my own hot pink silk cropped top from George Moskal's fall/winter 2009 collection and a silk cocoon skirt by Katherine Gerdes I had commissioned her to make for a Nicholas Marshall shoot back in spring 2007. I paired them with Steve Madden platforms, a feather/flower clip by Ruby3 by Anna Lee and a clutch from Target.

[L: Pictured with Richard Anderson, photo by Mary O'Regan. R: METRO Magazine]

[Photo courtesy Robyne Robinson]

For Emma Berg and Kevin Kramp's show last Thursday, Emma lent me her blue draped dress she designed for a METRO Magazine commission. I felt like a goddess in the dress, which was draped entirely from one piece of fabric. I paired it with my own custom brushed gold link chain necklace with fire agates, bronzite and heishi pearls by Robyne Robinson of ROX Jewelry. (Excuse my lack of hair/makeup, it was a crazy busy day!) I'm a little bummed that I'm not taller, from some angles it looked like I was swimming in the dress.

[L: Pictured with Voltage producer Anna Lee, photo by Kristin Berwald. R: Photo by Mary O'Regan]

For Voltage, I brought out the big guns - a custom dress designed by my all-time favorite local designer, Max Lohrbach. He said that he loved this version more than the one he was showing in his collection, but what can I say, I'm selfish when it comes to Max. Here I am in my version, which I paired with custom jewelry by Bionic Unicorn (a collaboration with Max Lohrbach, who drew the kitty heads) and a purse and wedges from Opitz Outlet. I'm having a better hair day here, thanks to the amazing Julie at Smart & Chic Beauty Lounge (which offers hair and makeup styling). The jewelry will be available for purchase on Bionic Unicorn's Etsy shop later this week. Here's a closeup of a similar design:


Click here for my link roundup of this spring's MNfashion Week coverage.

Emma Berg and Kevin Kramp release promo videos

During last Thursday's MNfashion Week Show featuring Emma Berg and Kevin Kramp, each designer showed a preview video to kick off their respective collections. The videos were both created by local video guru Isaac Gale, who's behind the videos for P.O.S.'s "Never Better" and Sims' "Burn It Down," and producer Kristoffer Knutson (a creative director at design agency PUNY), with art direction by Gale and David Jensen and music by composer Alex Berglund.

Kevin Kramp's video:

Kevin Kramp MNFashion Intro April 2011 from Isaac Gale on Vimeo.

Emma Berg's video, which features rising star Mary Cann of Vision Models:

Emma Berg MNFashion Intro April 2011 from Isaac Gale on Vimeo.

MNfashion Week kicks off

MNfashion Week officially kicks off tonight with its first event, "Ma Vie En Plastique," a show from the minds of hairstylist Pearson Knight and Smart & Chic Beauty Lounge. I preview the show as well as Envision: Artopia and the MNfashion Week-produced Shows from George Moskal, CounterCouture, Emma Berg and Kevin Kramp, in this week's issue of Vita.mn.

[A look by Emma Berg. Photo: Robb Long]

I spotlight MNfashion Week designer Kevin Kramp and talk his recent feature in Vogue Italia for Vita.mn.

I also cover the Amanda Christine and K.Jurek trunk show tonight at Cliche for Vita.mn.

Look for future issues of Vita.mn for more MNfashion Week coverage to come.

Also check out l'etoile's weekly shopping guide for more MNfashion Week coverage.

METRO Magazine highlights MNfashion Week designers

In its April issue, local publication METRO Magazine showcases four of MNfashion Week's designers - Emma Berg, Kevin Kramp, George Moskal and CounterCouture - all of whom are participating in the MNfashion-produced "Shows" happening on April 13 and 14 at the Grainbelt Building in Northeast. Click mnfashionweek.com for details on the Shows.

[Photo: Marshall Franklin Long. L-R: Looks by CounterCouture, Kevin Kramp, George Moskal & Emma Berg. Click image to enlarge]

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

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.

Local fashion designer/arts curator/mplsart.com director Emma Berg
gets painter Nicholas Harper's study treatment via this piece entitled "Beau Monde."

Singer Sarah Bischoff gets photographed, Stevie Nicks style, by Daniel Cordell in this Claudette Gacuti-art directed shoot after she sang at the recent Fleetwood Mac tribute at the Turf Club. (Click here for more images.)

Now based out of L.A., Ignite model Whitney Fransway gets shot by Jeffrey Baum.

Local style blogger Julia of Song of the Exile visits New York. (Click here for more photos.)

Ignite model Kristina Lezepekova springs into spring. (Photo: Heather Talbert. Click here for more photos.)

Dirty Hair Halo style blogger Shannon Licari gets shot by her new partner in crime, fellow style blogger Kitty Cotten. (More at Dirty Hair Halo)

In turn, Shannon Licari photographs Kitty Cotten. (More at Dirty Hair Halo)

Ellen Dahl Lawson captures this retro cutie in the Turf Club photo booth for The Minneapoline.

Ignite model Rikki shops for vinyl at Shuga Records. (Photo: Stephanie Colgan. Styling: Alison Hoekstra. Makeup: Kate Erickson. Hair: Susanne Huber.)

Local street style blog Minneapolis Affair shoots Doreen Hoff's '80s shoulders on the streets of Minneapolis. (Click here for more recent Minneapolis Affair posts.)

Chloe Ahlf of personal style blog Urban Tease gets into the supporting Japan movement with style.

Emma Berg and Kevin Kramp release promo image

MNfashion Week just released the promo image for The MNfashion Shows presents Emma Berg (SS 11) & Kevin Kramp (AW 11), happening April 14 at the Grainbelt Building in Northeast Minneapolis. Photographed at new martinpatrick3/I.D. (inside design) space, the shoot was concepted by Emma Berg and Kevin Kramp, with photography by Robb Long and hair/makeup by Charlie Brackney and Heath Bryant of HAUS Salon. The female model is Mary Cann from Vision Management Group, INC.