Stephanie Colgan shoots backstage at Voltage

A lot of people took photos at last weekend's Voltage: Fashion Amplified (for which I was Lead Stylist), but none are quite as striking as that of official Voltage photographer Stephanie Colgan. Most of them are backstage, which seems to be Colgan's strong suit and point of interest. She does an amazing job of capturing the fluidity, the magic, and the moments behind-the-scenes of a fashion show.

[Designer Raul Osorio]

[Desigenrs Ivan Idland and Max Lohrbach]

[Lead hairstylist Catlin Weston]
[Arzu Gokcen of Pink Mink]
[Vision model Ashlee Walker in hair and makeup for Danielle Everine]
[Vision models Elle Williams and Mary Cann in hair and makeup for Danielle Everine]
[Raul Osorio's models wait backstage]
[Kathryn V's models wait backstage]
[Max Lohrbach's models wait backstage]
[A look by Raul Osorio]
[A look by Max Lohrbach]
[A look by Sarah M. Holm]
[A look by Raul Osorio]
[Vision model Ashlee Walker in a design by Terri Martin]

Click here for the full photo set.

Brad Ogbonna shoots Kathryn V S/S 2011

Up-and-coming photographer Brad Ogbonna just completed a photo shoot featuring S/S 2011 designs by up-and-coming designer Kathryn V, who is fresh off showing at the University of Minnesota senior show. The following collection appears to be a prequel to what she will be showing at Voltage 2011 in April - and some appeared at Cliche's Avoid the Grey show back in January. It stays true to her aesthetic - laidback, mix and match separates and casual dresses in earthy tones that would be at home at Anthropologie or Urban Outfitters. The designs are currently available at Cliche.

Avoid the Grey lookbook preview

Delayna Sundberg, co-owner of Cliché, just gave me the exclusive preview of next Saturday's "Avoid the Grey" fashion show at Old Arizona. The long-running annual show highlights the boutique's prolific roster of local fashion designers as well as their own well-edited selection of national lines. The lookbook features Ignite model Caitlin, hair and makeup by Kate Erickson, and photography by Josh Stokes. Click here for show details.

SCENEaSOTA short films released

For the annual SCENEaSOTA fashion show held on November 6 at Loft2, local filmmakers Elijah Chhum and Wesley Meirick collaborated on a series of short films, which were screened in between designer segments. If you're anything like me, you were too busy chatting with your seatmates and getting drinks to fully appreciate the work that went into these films. Today Elijah released the films, which feature clothing and accessories from local designers and models from Vision, on Facebook.

The first film features models Karen O'Bryan, Elle Williams, Wesley Meirick, Elijah Chhum and Nick Patnode, clothing by Jenn Bratvold and Britta Feuerhelm, and jewelry by Carrier Pigeon and Ann Lambrecht.

C'est as nous (It is ours) from Elijah Chhum on Vimeo.

The second film features models Ashlee Williams, Jonathon Sargent and Gail Lewis, clothing by Kathryn V and Jenny Carle, and accessories by Timmilyn and Tasha Rae.

Tentation (Temptation) from Elijah Chhum on Vimeo.

The third film features menswear by Raul Osorio with Freedom from Doubt bowties and womenswear by Carmichael Claith with Bionic Unicorn jewelry, with models Alice Walker, Joe Laue, and Wesley Meirick.

Abstract- Untitled from Elijah Chhum on Vimeo.

Part four features womenswear by Frances Zerr with Ruby3 accessories, and menswear by Kevin Kramp with Ferociter accessories.

Prendre (to take) from Elijah Chhum on Vimeo.

SCENEaSOTA previews

I'm very much looking forward to SCENEaSOTA tomorrow night at Loft2. Tickets are still available at Cliché, so be sure to pick yours up today.

[A look from Kevin Kramp, photo by Amy Gee]

Here's my (original, full-length) writeup for Vita.mn:

In its third annual edition, the SCENEaSOTA fashion show is set to continue its forward momentum for another year. Bolstered by an impressive lineup and perhaps an even more impressive lookbook (helmed by Voltage art director Chris Larson), the production of this year’s show is leaps and bounds from its humble beginnings, on a makeshift runway in a tiny bar only two years ago. It comes on the heels of September’s “Pale Rider,” an MNfashion-produced runway show featuring Raul Osorio and Danielle Everine that decisively raised the bar for locally-produced fashion shows. With its mix of up-and-comers (Britta Fueerhelm, Jenn Bratvold), returning designers (Jenny Carle, Kathryn V., Carmichael Claith), and more established names (Kevin Kramp, Raul Osorio, Frances Zerr) – coupled with some noted accessory designers (Carrier Pigeon, Ferociter, Ruby3) and Vision models – it’s clear the show owes a great debt to Voltage. In this case, rock and roll is traded out for some film segments by Elijah Chhum and additional visuals by Ken Hannigan. (8 p.m. Show at 9:30 p.m. Sat. $10-15. 21-plus. Loft2 (above OM), 401 1st Av. N., Mpls. 612-870-0420.)

Here's my writeup for Secrets of the City and l'étoile magazine:

In its third year running, the show that is all about homegrown talent is back with another fresh crop of emerging local fashion designers. If the lovely lookbook (art directed by the fantastic Chris Larson) is any indication, this year's SCENEaSOTA should be a smashing success. This year, producer Maritza Ramirez is throwing in some additional multi-media elements - audio/visual design by Anthem Heart and film segments by Elijah Chhum - that are sure to be a nice match to the fashions hitting the runway. This year's designers include fresh faces (Britta Feuerhelm, Jenn Bratvold), SCENEaSOTA vets (Carmichael Claith, Jenny Carle, Kathryn V.), Voltage alumni (Raul Osorio, Frances Zerr) and established designers (Kevin Kramp), with new accessory collections from the likes of Ruby3, Carrier Pigeon, Ferociter, and Bionic Unicorn. Drop in early to schmooze with other fashionable guests, sip on a cocktail, preview the designs in a pop-up shop, and mingle with the designers before the runway event. Afterward, stay for a bumpin' afterparty with DJs and dancing. Tickets are $10 general admission or $15 seated and available in advance at Cliché. Doors open at 8pm and the event is 21+. For more info visit Facebook.

And check out the SCENEaSOTA lookbook while you're at it:

Voltage 2011 designers announced

Exciting fashion news comes your way this morning via MNFashion: 2011 Voltage: Fashion Amplified, Minnesota's largest and most publicized rock fashion show, has just confirmed it's spring runway lineup. The designers are as follows:

Danielle Everine
Frances Zerr
Ivan Idland
Kathryn V
Max Lohrbach
Rachel Blomgren
Raul Osorio
Sarah M Holm
Terri Martin
Tim + Thom

Congratulations everybody!

Voltage: Fashion Amplified will be going down on Friday, April 15th 2011 at First Avenue in downtown Minneapolis as the close out of Spring MNfashion Week. In the meantime, check out this video from last year's show:

Voltage: Fashion Amplified 2010 from mn original on Vimeo.