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.

KR Dezigns' feather chokers at Envision

It turns out that the brightly colored feather chokers that stole the show at last Saturday's Envision: Artopia fashion show were created by local designer KR Dezigns. I am debating which one to buy to wear during MNfashion Week. Here they are in Cliche's '70s-inspired, Marc Jacobs S/S 2011 runway-inspired showing at Envision (on Ignite models):

[Photos courtesy Cliche]

The feather chokers are available for purchase at Cliche.

In review: "Envision: Artopia"

This weekend, MNfashion Week fully kicked off. I review last night's "Envision: Artopia" fashion show for Vita.mn:

[A look from Cliche. Photo by Rhea Pappas for MNfashion]

Check out next weekend's issue of Vita.mn for more MNfashion Week coverage, or MNfashionWeek.com, and more reviews to come.

Just announced: Envision: Artopia Spring 2011

Envision: Artopia, one of the biggest shows of each local fashion week every spring and fall, has just been announced. The City Pages- and Ignite Models-produced show has always signed on to be a part of MNfashion Week, and Ignite co-owner Jessica Cunningham tells me that it will re-up again this year.


The show has been announced for Saturday, April 9 from 9 p.m. to midnight at the Graves 601 Hotel. Returning designers include Amanda Christine, Arwyn Birch, Dawson, Jenny Carle, K.Jurek, Niki Couture, Russell Bourrienne, Syd and YQY by Vivian with new designer Cece Vang joining the ranks, as well as returning boutiques Cliche, Drama, Karma, Local Motion and OPM. Tickets are $20 in advance, $25 at the door, and $50 for VIP runway seating. For full schedule and to purchase advance tickets, visit www.envisionmpls.com.

Photography: Peter Hunner
Model: Aja (Ignite Models)
Styling: Hollie Mae of HMStyling
Hair/MUA: Kate Erickson
Graphic Design: Tanya Watkins

Envision: Artopia video released

Check out this just-released vid of the Envision: Artopia Fall 2010 show, which took place this past September during MNfashion Week. It featured a whole slew of local favorites in the fashion world, including Calpurnia Peach, Tender Cuts, Christopher Straub, plus a bunch of fresh faces. If you missed the action, be sure to check out the highlights captured below by Anthem Heart A/V.

Envision: Artopia Fall 2010 from Anthem Heart A/V on Vimeo.

In review: Envision: Artopia Fall 2010

[Originally posted at Vita.mn online]

[Looks from Cliche]

Over the past few years, the Ignite Models-produced "Envision: Artopia" shows have become one of the most consistent (and well-attended) staples of MNfashion Week. As usual, it was packed with a who's who of the Twin Cities' independent fashion industry - and at 15 designers and five boutiques plus a live hair styling segment, it was the longest-running show to date. Though a bit light on the "Artopia" aspect (the lone efforts being a live painting by Jesse Draxler and Christopher Park and limp visuals from Anthem Heart), the show offered a wide cross-section of what's happening in local fashion in a clean, smoothly-run production, modeled on a solid roster of Ignite models.

As usual, Amanda Christine and Kimberly Jurek of K.Jurek presented highly wearable, retail-ready pieces (though a bit unimaginatively styled).

[Looks by Kimberly Jurek for K.Jurek & Amanda Christine]

So was the case with YQY by Vivian, whose lovely spring collection featuring coral prints would've been greatly helped by some (any) styling. Russell Bourrienne showed an exquisite collection of his signature men's outerwear in luxurious wool plaids with unique details (like overlapping buttons on an otherwise classic peacoat).

[Looks by YQY by Vivian & Russell Bourrienne]

Tender Cuts and Kathryn V. showed on-trend, well-styled separates fit for a chic Brooklyn boutique or the pages of Nylon. Local boutique Cliche also showed imagination with paper crown and paper necklace accessorizing.

[Looks by Kathryn V. & Tender Cuts]

But for the most part, the show was largely hit-or-miss - both Jenny Carle and Calpurnia Peach succeeded with when they stuck to their girlish looks and faltered when they went outside of their comfort zones.

[Looks by Calpurnia Peach & Jenny Carle]

Same went for Christopher Straub, who previewed his Spring 2011 at the close of the show. A hydrangea-print trapeze dress hinted at a different direction for Straub, and his signature "petal" work on a shrug and mini dress were both adorable, but the fabrications and fit were off elsewhere.

[Looks by Christopher Straub]

Newcomer Allilamodie showed some intriguing (if not exactly on-trend) knitwear, while PFT Couture brought the drama but proportions were off and fabrics were unsophisticated.

[Looks by Allilamodie & PFT Couture]

But despite the largely impressive roster of talent involved, the unstyled look of the show gave it a hurried, unfinished feel, as if it was too much spread too thin. It's clear the producers have a great product on their hands and know how to put on a show; here's hoping next spring, they'll rein in their ambitions, whittle down the lineup (and altogether eliminate the live hair styling segment), and fine tune what's working.

All photos by Josh Stokes

Jenny Carle Fall 2010 lookbook

Now that Envision: Artopia is under her belt, Local designer Jenny Carle has posted her Fall 2010 collection lookbook on her website, shot by Stephanie Hynes with Ignite model Rikki and hair/makeup by Bethany Brihn. I adore how it's styled with "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" hats in matching fabrics, as well as the washed-out feel.

Local fashion roundup

[Envision photos by Chris McDuffie]

Check out Envision: Atopia photo sets from Chris McDuffie and City Pages.

Rhea Pappas did a photo shoot on Nicollet Mall (with one of my favorite models, Lily) to promote MNfashion Week. The models wore pieces from Christopher Straub and YQY by Vivian.

Ellen Dahl Lawson shot some stylish peeps for Vita.mn this week from the vitaminwaterZERO "Flourish" fashino show I produced/styled, including the lovely Keisha Harris and Rachel Thompson, style writer/Brown Girl Files blogger Joan Erakit, and designer Danielle Everine.

Katie Dohman at Minnesota Monthly highlights the fall cape trend with a design by native Minnesotan Anna Hovet, available at Picky Girl in St. Paul.

Local America's Next Top Model runner-up Raina Hein arrives at Macy's Glamorama in L.A. wearing Joynoelle's OfficeMax dress.

Check out model Raina in the America's Next Top Model alumni photoshoot on YouTube.

Voltage: Fashion Amplified 2011 runway designer applications are now available.

St. Paul men's boutique BlackBlue recovers from a break-in.

Preview: Jenny Carle Fall 2010

Over the past few years, it's been a treat for me to watch local designer Jenny Carle go from a fresh design school grad to a seasoned designer. She started off with a clear aesthetic - girly, vintage-inspired, sweet - but was a bit rough around the edges in execution. Today, with impeccable, I-can't-believe-it's-handmade construction and substantial, expensive-feeling fabrics, Carle has really come into her own. We used one of her new fall pieces in a recent spread for l'etoile (images coming soon), but for now feast your eyes on these lovely images previewing her fall 2010 collection, and photographed by Stephanie Hynes.

On her fall collection, Carle says, "For fall I continue to explore feminine and playful silhouettes while featuring fabrics in wool, pointelle knits and fun prints. This collection is based on an imagined photo diary, and was inspired by travelogues, vacation photos and personal family photos. My collection is for the woman who loves to combine early 1960s silhouettes with a modern twist."

You'll be able to see Carle's full collection at Envision this coming Friday at Graves 601 Hotel, with photos on her website immediately following at jennycarle.com and for purchase at Cliche.

All photos: Stephanie Hynes Photography

Style shot: YQY by Vivian at Attitude City Yacht Club

I was so in love with this chevron jumper by new local designer Vivian Aronson, I just had to have it to wear to the annual Attitude City Yacht Club boat party last Saturday.

Look book image (featuring the lovely Lily of Ignite Models):


Me on a boat in the jumper:

[Image by Angie Hanson]

You can see Vivian Aronson's line YQY by Vivian at the Envision: Artopia Fall 2010 show on September 17 at Graves 601 Hotel.

Envision: Artopia Fall 2010 Designers Announced

The designers for Envision Fall 2010 have been announced by event producers Ignite Models Inc. Kicking off Fall MNfashion Week early, the show is rivaled by none as far as the sheer amount of local designers and boutiques on display. (I'll be a guest judge helping to pick the best line of the show.)


In alphabetical order, they are:

Allilamodie
Amanda Christine
Ariel Simone
Calpurnia Peach
Cliché
Drama
James Reilly
Jenny Carle
Karma
Kathryn V
Kjurek Couture
Local Motion
OPM Boutique
PFT Couture
Sydney Ilten
Tender Cuts
yqy by vivian

With a finale segment featuring designs by Christopher Straub.

Event details:

Friday, September 17
9 p.m.-midnight (VIP Entry at 8 p.m.)
Graves 601 Hotel, 601 1st Ave. N., Mpls.
Tickets: $20-75

For more info, visit the Facebook event invite

Hot Photo(s): Envision Fall 2010 Promo

Hot teaser photos for Ignite Models' Envision Fall 2010 have just been released. The show slated for Friday, September 17 at Graves 601 Hotel.




Model: Kristina for Ignite
Photographer: Sera Sauser
Styling: Hollie Mae of HMStyling
Hair/MUA: Kate Erickson