Weekend link roundup: 5.9-5.15

[Photo via Hina Khan]

Hina Khan does a studio visit with local designers Needle & Black and Carrier Pigeon.

Local vintage shop Tatters was recently featured on national blog Chubstr.com, which focuses on men's plus sized clothing.

Secrets of the City does a studio visit with local jewelry designer Annika Kaplan.

Frank 151 contributor Joan Erakit profiles local stylist/writer Jane Belfry for her blog, The Brown Girl Files.

Teqen Zea-Aida and Vision model Megan McNierney get shot on the streets of New York by New York street style photographer William Yan.

I recap last Thursday's RetroRama fashion event, along with Mary O'Regan for Art of Wore and Coco Mault for MinnPost.

Minnesota Monthly's Katie Dohman reports on Northeast-based Rewind Vintage's expansion to South Minneapolis.

Nicholas Harper's portrait of me

I am extremely honored that my favorite local painter, Nicholas Harper, just painted a portrait of me, currently on display at Rogue Buddha Gallery in NE Minneapolis. In it I'm wearing a custom dress and leather belt by local designer Kerry Riley of Needle & Black, which I had commissioned for my friends Beth and Brian's wedding last fall.


Harper gained national notoriety for his award winning paintings and gallery, the Rogue Buddha, has has been featured in numerous local, national and international publications including CNN where he was named as an artist to watch and most recently in GQ Magazine. I spotlighted some of Harper's work in an earlier post on Le Petit here.

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.

Needle & Black x Carrier Pigeon

Local clothing and leatherworker Kerry Riley of Needle & Black commissioned jewelry designer (and her studio mate) Lauren Neal of Carrier Pigeon to create this custom pin for her. Come to think of it, it's about time those two did an actual collaboration. So cool.

MNfashion Week Buyer Event Recap

My latest entry in Vita.mn's ongoing review series, "Last Night," recaps last night's MNfashion Week Buyer Event:

[Look by Emma Berg, photo by Jahna Peloquin]

Last night I headed to MNfashion's Northeast studio for the MNfashion Week buyer event. Open to retail buyers and press exclusively, the event gathered all the runway and accessories designers from Voltage 2011 as well as other designers from spring 2011 MNfashion Week events - Emma Berg, Kevin Kramp, George Moskal, and CounterCouture - as they attempted to get their most retail-ready pieces into local shops. Click here to read more.

More recaps and photos from Thursday's MNfashion Week Buyer Event:

Sara Glassman for PopFizz Daily
Metromix
Stacey Tuthill Rammer with photos by Emily Utne for City Pages
Examiner

Voltage accessory designers announced

Voltage accessory designers have been announced. They include Needle & Black, Jennifer Merchant, Bionic Unicorn, Freedom From Doubt, and Lela Horst Baumann, among others. I'm the show's lead stylist (for the fifth year running!) and had a hand in selecting and pairing these designers. Here's a sampling of their past work and proposed designs from some of my favorites:

Acrylic jewelry by Jennifer Merchant (for Frances Zerr)

Leather accessories by Needle & Black by Kerry Riley (for Raul Osorio)

Leather and burlap bow accessories by Freedom for Doubt (for Danielle Everine)

Lingerie by Jagress Intimates by Sarah White (for Danielle Everine)

Ceramic skull buttons and accessories by Lela Horst Baumann (for Rachel Blomgren)

Jewelry by Bionic Unicorn by Kristin Berwald (for Max Lohrbach)

Local inspiration: muses and lenses

Another round of local fashion muses and fashion photography via Facebook uploads and the blogroll - a little taste of local inspiration.

Photographer Amy Gee does a dual self portrait in local designer Raul Osorio's high-waisted bow shorts from his Fall 2010 collection. Because two are better than one.

Raul Osorio photographed by Amy Gee (of course).

Sohail Justin Akhavein photographs Melanie Plucinski - and adds glitter.

Designer Kerry Riley debuted her new patent leather bow belt designs for Needle & Black at a sale on Saturday at her Thorp Building studio. The belts will be available at Cliché in red and black this week.

Kerry Riley hard at work.

Photographer Ben Fredrickson does a self portrait of himself working.

Filmmaker and Vision models associate Elijah Chhum visits India.

Stylish Swedish Max Armstrong shows an uncharacteristic display of aggression.

Jenny Carle posts this dreamy backstage shot of her holiday collection at SCENEaSOTA.

Carly Schoen posts a preview of her dapper baby clothes line that she'll be selling at the CO Exhibitions' First Annual World (craft) Fair next Saturday. This kid looks straight out of The Sartorialist.

l'etoile and mnartists.org scribe Juleana Enright shows off a (possibly black arts-induced) scrape.

Designer/curator Emma Berg shows off her Brian Lichtenstein for Blood Is the New Black t-shirt from ROBOTlove (while I look on) during an Auntie Mame movie night.

Stylist/muse Ines Kovacevic and photog assistant Cayla Caul Field get knifey for photographer Brad Ogbonna.

Local fashion link roundup

It's time once again for a local fashion link roundup!

[Annie Larson in her studio; photo courtesy Secrets of the City]

Secrets of the City visits (the amazing!) knitwear designer Annie Larson's adorable studio and has a great interview and slideshow from the visit.

Jay Gabler of Twin Cities Daily Planet has a new Q&A feature, "Who IS That?" Kicking it off is an interview with METRO Magazine fashion editor, the delightful Mary O'Regan.

Kerry Riley of Needle & Black has added new t-shirts and leather accessories to her e-shop.

Designer Laura Fulk has made her F/W 2010 collection available at her newly-launched e-shop. Read my review and see images of the collection at Le Petit.

City Pages' Stacey Tuthill Rammer asks leading local hairstylist Jen Hughes about the latest fall hair trends.

Fashion link roundup: Weekend edition

[Photo by Kiah Brasch]

My Lady Gaga costume review from her show last Monday is up at l'etoile magazine, with photos by Kiah Brasch.

John James Wallace has concert & crowd photos from the Lady Gaga show for l'etoile magazine.

LOL/OMG! has a clip of local pals chatting about meeting Lady Gaga at the Turf Club on Fox 9 News.

Ellen shoots some stylish Gaga oufits at the Lady Gaga show.

Model/blogger Hina Khan and I take in the Needle & Black/Carrier Piegon studio opening last Thursday.

Jane Belfry does a Q&A with designer Danielle Everine on her upcoming "Pale Rider" show with Raul Osorio for City Pages.

Tila Tequila is spotted wearing Coco & Breezy shades. Their eyewear also just got picked up by an online boutique based in Paris.

Local model and ANTM runner-up Reina Hein was purportedly mobbed by paparazzi in Florida.

Fashion/art photographer Benjamin Fredrickson Emily Cm for his femalebenjaminfredrickson blogspot.

Hair Plains Thrifter reviews Savers on Lake Street.

RetroRama at the Minnesota State Fair

[Photo by Nic Marshall]

Miss RetroRama 2010 the first time around? Or just looking for a second dose, with a State Fair twist? You're in luck! RetroRama is back and minaturized as part of the Minnesota History Center's Minnesota History Day at the Fair.

Step right up, ladies and gentlemen, for history-inspired designs by five of the Twin Cities' most talented, imaginative and skillfull fashion designers:

Ivan Idland (providing his take on the 1920s)
Joy Teiken of Joynoelle (offering 1930s Old Hollywood glamour)
George Moskal (a vision of 1940s beachwear)
Max Lohrbach (1950s prom reimagined)
Kerry Riley of Needle & Black (lingerie-meets-the-pool via the swingin' 60s)

MINGLE with other retrophiles in your vintage finest;
WATCH as the designs hit the runway, via lovely Ignite Models;
APPLAUD as the designers take their bows;
and grab a corn dog while you're at it!

The Minnesota Historical Society will also be presenting its other programs throughout the day at Carousel Park, including the Nine Nights of Music, Global Hotdish Variety Show, a Minnesota History Trivia Smackdown, and more: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=102909659768450

A presentation of Minnesota Historical Society and MNfashion.

Styled by Jahna Peloquin with additional accessories from Lula's Vintage Wear and Ignite Models Inc, hair by Catlin Weston, and makeup by Ashley Kilcher.

Sunday, September 5
2-2:45 p.m.
Minnesota State Fair Carousel Park
1265 Snelling Ave N
Saint Paul, MN

Kerry Riley debuts Needle & Black designs

Now that Kerry Riley has re-launched her brand as Needle & Black, she's making it known with a shoot featuring her newest designs. From the looks of it, Riley's not making any grand departure from her work under the name Red Shoe Clothing Co., but with the added variety and color, it's fun to see Riley stepping outside of her comfort zone just a bit.

You'll be able to see these designs (including the above garment I commissioned from her to make for the recent vitaminwaterZERO "Flourish" fashion show), new screen-printed Needle & Black t-shirts, and jewelry by Lauren Neal's Carrier Pigeon at next Thursday's Studio Launch Party for the studio they share at Thorp Building in Northeast.

Loving the Parisian-style print of this top - and the easy-chic fit of it.

This is the dress (minus the train) Riley created for Laura Bennett of Red Pens for Voltage 2010 this past April. It's hard to see in this picture, but the bleaching is quite lovely. Riley says she plans to incorporate more of the bleached-out look in her t-shirts and future designs.

A lovely, simple little dress that is ultra-wearable. It's a silhouette Riley first debuted in January at Cliche's Avoid the Grey show, but looks so much different with this print.

This spy coat was part of Riley's "The Death of Red Shoe" show in May. The epaulet chain design is by Carrier Pigeon.

Photographer: Brian Bradshaw
Model: Kristina Lezepekova / Ignite Models.

vitaminwater ZERO presents FLOURISH: Designer Preview

Tonight I'm very excited to present the first show I've had the pleasure of producing, vitaminwaterZERO presents FLOURISH. I was approached by vitaminwater to help produce a fashion show around their new "ZERO" no-calorie beverage line, and I thought the best - and most exciting! - way to do this was to ask 7 of my favorite local designers to create a high-fashion look based on one of each of the 7 flavors.

[Flyer design by Caroline Royce]

To preview tonight's show, I wanted to share with you the original sketches by the designers.

"Rise" (orange): Max Lohrbach

"Recoup" (peach mango): Calpurnia Peach

"Mega-C" (grape-raspberry): Emma Berg

"Go-Go" (mixed berry): Kerry Riley (Needle & Black)

"Squeezed" (lemonade): Ivan Idland

"XXX" (acai-blueberry-pomegranate): Laura Fulk

"Rescue" (green tea): Danielle Everine

Show details:
Wednesday, August 11
Doors 6:30 / Show 7:30
Crowne Plaza Hotel 8th floor rooftop Skygarden
618 2nd Ave. S.
Minneapolis, MN
FREE / All Ages
Click here for the facebook invite