Recap: RetroRama 2011

On Thursday, the Minnesota History Center once again hosted RetroRama. In its fifth year (and my fifth year styling it), the show also served as the final time Voltage producer and MNfashion founder Anna Lee would direct and host the show. Every year, the show presents a handful of authentic vintage looks paired with retro-inspired looks by local designers. This year's theme, underwear - presented on burlesque dancers as models - was certainly a contributing factor in the show's sellout status, and was inspired by the Minnesota History Center's new "Underwear" exhibition highlighting the history of Minnesota-born underwear brand Munsingwear. Since I was involved with the show personally, I won't attempt to review it objectively, and instead am posting photos and descriptions.

[Photo via Scoundrelle's Keep]

Heather Luca of Scoundrelle's Keep has the theme of "restriction," Munsingwear's general theme in the '50s that harkened back to Victorian corsetry. The model wore jewelry by local line Bionic Unicorn.

[Photo via Art of Wore]

Sarah White of Jagress Intimates offered a humorous take on the garter belt with her underwear set that included a gartered skirt.

[Photo via Art of Wore]

Christopher Straub (who was out of town during the event) presented a look inspired by the machinery of Munsingwear's factory with screen-printed fabric featuring an original print by Straub and an external "caged" corset and headpiece. There was some criticism that the headpiece and look in general was too similar to Seth Aaron Henderson's SolarWorld collection presented at Sol Inspirations, but metal caged masks aren't exactly anything new. (Victor & Rolf featured them in their F/W 2006 show - which Gaga infamously donned at Sir Elton John's Ball in June 2010.) Either way, it's fun seeing the designer push himself in edgier directions with his fashions, though it's hard to detect a style that is distinctly Christopher Straub.

[Photo via Scoundrelle's Keep]

Danielle Everine continued on her sheer look she presented during Voltage last month with this look inspired by Munsingwear's push for active lifestyles in some of their 1940s ads. The sheerness of the garments allows the viewer to see every seam and stitch that goes into each piece - a really intriguing concept that is quite lovely and uniquely Danielle Everine.

[Photos via Scoundrelle's Keep]

Samantha Rei of Blasphemina's Closet played with her theme of "exposure" by exposing the knickers of her models via a sweet floral print against sorbet green.

[Photo via Scoundrelle's Keep]

Here I am backstage with some of the "authentic look" models. Unfortunately I haven't come up with any better photos of them, but the necklace on the model on the left is by Bionic Unicorn, and the flower hair clip is by Anna Lee's line Ruby3.

The guests were also super stylish:

[Photo via Art of Wore]

[Photo via Art of Wore]

[Max Sparber and Coco Mault. Photo via Art of Wore]

Here I am with designers Ivan Idland and Maritza Ramirez. Maritza and I are both wearing Ivan Idland designs, Maritza's having been from 2010's RetroRama.

[Photo via Art of Wore]

See more photos from the show via Art of Wore, Scoundrelle's Keep, and the Minnesota Historical Society, and Coco Mault recaps the event for MinnPost.

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.

"Underwear: A Brief History" shows MN connection to the underwear industry

The history of modern underwear can be traced to none other than Minnesota's own Munsingwear. The Minnesota History Center's new exhibit "Underwear: A Brief History" (opening today) offers an in-depth look at the history of the underwear manufacturing industry via the Center's extensive collection of Munsingwear, a company that revolutionized the underwear industry as we know it. The exhibit showcases 50 pieces from more than 100 years of Munsingwear product samples (which were donated to the museum by the company).

[Munsingwear Merry Widow Corset, 1960]

The exhibition also comes just in time for the release of Susan Marks' new book, In the Mood for Munsingwear: Minnesota's Claim to Underwear Fame, which details the history of the brand and its lasting impact on textile manufacturing.

The MHC's annual RetroRama fashion show and event on May 12 will also feature an underwear theme, with burlesque dancers-as-models wearing vintage lingerie and vintage-inspired looks by Christopher Straub, Sarah White of Jagress Intimates, Samantha Rei of Blasphemina's Closet, Danielle Everine and Heather Luca of Scoundrelle's Keep.

Exhibition opens today and runs through September 11, 2011. Museum admission is $8-10. RetroRama takes place 7-10 p.m. Thursday, May 12. Tickets are $12-15. Minnesota History Center is located at 345 Kellogg Blvd. W., St. Paul, 651-259-3000, www.mnhs.org

Christopher Straub announces new underwear collection

[Originally posted at Vita.mn]

Last night via his Twitter account, local designer and Project Runway alum Christopher Straub announced a return to his roots. He'll be debuting an all-new underwear collection for beginning this summer, with a women's collection to follow. Straub infamously got his start selling men's underwear crafted from vintage t-shirts under the name Cricket Syndicate out of his backback in Minneapolis nightclubs in the early 2000s, and the relics are now considered by many a collectible form of pop art. No word yet on whether this new collection will be made from recycled tees, but that was the underwear's main appeal so let's hope he does.

[Photo via Craftstravaganza.com]

You can see new underwear designs from Straub on May 12 at the underwear-themed Retrorama 6 at the Minnesota History Center.

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