Just announced: Minneapolis-St. Paul Fashion Week Events Calendar

MNfashion released the Minneapolis-St. Paul Fashion Week calendar today, bringing back The Shows and introducing a curated and streamlined calendar for the week, running February 18 to 25. Highlights look to include the Wednesday night designer showcase featuring Emma Berg, Kimberly Jurek and Amanda Christine; the Red Dress Collection, which features designs by Berg, Max Lohrbach, Maritza Ramirez and more; and the l'etoile-produced Emerging Designer Showcase. I'll let the press release fill you in on the rest of the details:

A look by Emma Berg from Spring 2011's The Shows; photo via The Minneapoline

In addition to the new name, MNfashion has created a schedule with no overlap so that MSPFW attendees won’t have to miss a single show or event.

All events fall under one of three categories: The Shows, satellite runway shows and retail events. The Shows, which were voted best local designer showcase by Minnesota Monthly, are making a triumphant return on Wednesday, Feb. 21 with Emma Berg, Kimberly Jurek and Amanda Christine. These designers represent the best of best in local fashion and will share their Autumn/Winter 2012 collections. Produced by MNfashion, The Shows have raised the bar for local runway shows and will continue that tradition this season.

Four satellite runway shows bring a variety of runway events. The University of Minnesota presents the 44th Annual Senior Fashion Show: Twelve, featuring the work of 12 graduating seniors. The Red Dress Collection, pairs designers with local celebrities to create - you guessed it - red dresses, in a runway show to benefit women’s heart health. The Emerging Designers Showcase features the brightest up-and-coming talent in the local design scene and power duo Tim and Thom Navarro of You and Me boutique in Uptown will present their show, Resurgent.

Retail events will bookend MSPFW starting with Style for Smiles benefitting Project Healthy Smile on Saturday, Feb. 18. On Saturday, Feb. 25, there’s something for the ladies and the gents. Parc Boutique will host their Third Annual Local Jewelry Designer Trunk Show at their Northeast boutique. The stylish minds behind the successful NorthernGRADE Men’s Market are back with SnowGRADE pop-up market, and this year they will introduce vendor workshops in addition to great menswear shopping.

Press passes are available for ticketed events by emailing Amy.Overman@mnfashion.org. Seating at The Shows is limited, so please let us know by Feb. 11 if you would like to attend. General admission tickets for these events are available at MNfashion.org.

Coco & Breezy reveal how they got their shades on Gaga & Beyonce

A couple days before their in-store appearance and pop-up shop at Minneapolis' Studiiyo23 on Thursday, eyewear-designing twins Coco & Breezy got interviewed for C.J.'s Star Tribune column today, revealing how they got their shades on Lady Gaga and Beyonce:

Photo: Allen Cooley

Coco said they have no idea where Gaga got a pair of the dark glasses they make, which are being sold through their online store and in boutiques all over the world, as in Japan, Germany, France and Bermuda. But Breezy said they recognized a pair of their dark glasses on Gaga, in the quick scene where the egregiously dramatic singer is holding a piano keyboard in her "Marry the Night" video. (I'll take Breezy's word for this since I can't stand to watch Gaga.)

The designing twins know exactly how Beyonce got hip to their eyewear, and it's some memory.

"We've been good friends with Beyonce's stylist for two years, but we never asked about Beyonce. About six months ago," Coco said, "he wanted to put Beyonce in one of our bracelets for a video they were doing. He told her about our brand, and wanted us because the whole style of it [her video] was [Coco and Breezy] fashion inspired. Six hours before the [shoot for another video] we got a phone call: Beyonce wants you guys on set. Can you guys make it?

"I was like, 'Oh, my God! Yes! We can make it!' Beyonce sent a car to come and pick us up and we spent like the whole day with her," said Coco. "She's so humble, so sweet."

Via C.J. for Star Tribune

Editorial: Kevin Kramp in UK's SID Magazine

At long last, the full editorial from the debut issue of UK's SID Magazine is now available for your viewing pleasure. The exciting new men's fashion/arts quarterly features Minnesota-based knitwear designer Kevin Kramp alongside such internationally-known names as Henrik Vibskov, Bernhard Wilhelm, Jeremy Scott, Walter Van Bierendonck, and more. Here are the shots featuring Kramp's designs; visit sid-magazine.com for the full editorial (begins at page 105).







Photography: Reno Ranger
Styling: Fredo
Grooming: Sonja Roberts
Models: Julien Quevenne, Colt Maldonado, Eric Puzio

Minneapolis talent contribute to Aveda's Charcoal Suite Collection

Minneapolis-based beauty brand Aveda has released its latest editorial collection, the Charcoal Suite for Red Chocolate hair color training organization in Minneapolis, and a slew of local talent contributed to the shoot - including Red Chocolate co-founders and directors David Adams and Peter Gray, and the amazingly transformative Vision model Rachel Weiher.







From the press release:

“At a recent hair show, I created a segment that was based on imagining a world without color,” says David Adams, co-founder and president of Red Chocolate hair color education, “so I began with coloring a group of models in blacks and grays, and then in the second part of the presentation I did multicolored hair. But when I stepped back and really looked, I realized that the blacks and grays were just as beautiful as the colors. And that’s where the idea for Charcoal Suite came from.” Add in the brilliant collaboration of talent, including photographer Robert Lobetta, and the Charcoal Suite collection was born, showcasing the stunning results of an inspired fusion between London and New York, beauty and fashion, technique and art.

Photographer: Robert Lobetta
Hair: David Adams and Peter Gray
Makeup: Rudy Miles
Makeup Assistant: Julie Swenson
Model: Rachel Weiher/Vision Management Group

Local inspiration: muses and lenses

The latest in local inspiration from Twin Cities photographers and their muses runs the gamut - a mix of fresh and crisp, to hazy and sultry, to dark and moody.

Vision model Ashlee Walker gives good face in a shoot by Peter Holme styled by Jane Belfry with earrings by Stephanie Lake Design, with makeup by Andrea Holton and hair by Charlie Brackney of HAUS Salon.

Local photographer and makeup artist Alice Berman snaps a pretty portrait of fashion stylist Anna Woodling.

Former Minneapolis model Raina Hein (of America's Next Top Model fame) smolders in the desert. (Photo: Ari Abramczyk. Styling: Jacqueline Lavaun.)

Minnesota native model (and Nina Dobrev doppelganger) Whitney Fransway gets glitter everywhere in a shoot by L.A. photographer Nicole Hill.

Graham Tolbert posts some behind-the-scenes images of singer Channy Leaneagh from the recent Poliça video for "Lay Your Cards Out."

Chicagoan photographer Lauren Wuornos comes home to Champlin to snap some outdoor shots of her pal Kate Offerdahl.

Musician Liam Watkins goes into the haze, courtesy of Instagram.

Former METRO fashion editor Mary O'Regan dons her grandmother's mink coat for her last Minneapolis outfit post before moving to Seattle.

Local e-retailer Ship&Shape launch their Valentine's-themed collection "Be Mine" with an adorable lookbook.

Photographer Winona Grey gets gorgeous in this self portrait.

Former Minneapolis photographer Brad Ogbonna talks his favorite New York spots for File Magazine.

Rachel Palmer gets ready for winter.


Wonderblood blogger Julia snaps her pal Lyz.

Ignite model Kara rocks the classic combination of faded denim and lipstick. Photographer: Madison Dube. Styling: Davee Ek and Melinda Guajardo. Hair and Makeup: Masha Chebotayeva)

Minneapolis model Kouwai Potocnik rocks a leather jacket, Jack Daniels tee and cutoffs on the street.

Mplstyle.com spotlights menswear-inspired looks on Ignite model Kara.

Photographer Peter Holme gets Hitchcockian.

More one-of-a-kind pieces for sale by Danielle Everine

Local designer Danielle Everine of Project Runway fame has added some new pieces to her collection over at e-retailer One-Offs Yippee! (which I always cringe upon typing). As much as I hate the name of the site, it does a great job of giving designers the opportunity to sell their one-of-a-kind pieces, which are typically a hard sell in a more traditional brick-and-mortar retail setting.

Windowpane wool intimate shorts

Plaid wool intimate shorts

These are from Danielle's collaboration mini-line with local lingerie designer Sarah White of Jagress Intimates last spring (which I reviewed for l'etoile). Though designed as lingerie, they'd be super cute paired with some dark opaque tights and boots.

Silk organza grey sheer trousers

Silk organza black sheer trousers

These pieces from Danielle's all-sheer Spring/Summer 2011 collection, shown at Voltage 2011, are a little trickier to wear, but would be great worn with some short-shorts or contrasting leggings underneath.

Click here for more of Danielle's one-of-a-kind looks for sale on One-Offs Yippee!

Voltage: The show will not go on

Annual fashion-and-rock show Voltage: Fashion Amplified has been a staple of Twin Cities fashion since it debuted in 2004 at First Avenue. With creator and producer Anna Lee's widely unreported announcement at last year's show that it would be her last time producing the show and, in effect, the "last Voltage as we know it," it has proven to be the case. The show will not go on, MNfashion representatives told Jay Gabler of Twin Cities Daily Planet this week.

[Pictured: A look by Ivan Idland from Voltage 2011. Photo by Mary O'Regan/Art of Wore]

On a personal note, I had been with the show every year as Lead Stylist, helping curate the lineup of fashion designers, accessories designers, and overall styling since 2007. I, along with nearly every other crew member (most of whom had been with the show since the beginning) had also resigned from the show, so this came to no surprise to me. If Voltage were to continue, it'd continue in a different format with a completely new team. The door is open for Voltage to return, but it's safe to say it's the end of an era.

On the upside, MNfashion has decided to focus their energy on the newly-rebranded Minneapolis-St. Paul (MSP) Fashion Week (formerly MNfashion Week), happening February 19-26. Visit mnfashion.org for forthcoming lineup to be announced, and Twin Cities Daily Planet for the full story.

Editorial: My cover spread for Minnesota Bride

I had the opportunity to style two of three covers and a spread within the Spring/Summer 2012 issue of local print glossy Minnesota Bride. Under the direction of the magazine's former editor Mary O'Regan (who recently relocated to Seattle), I styled looks that married bridal with a grunge/rocker feel - an unlikely combination, but I think it was a successful attempt. As an added bonus, I got to work with one of my favorite Twin Cities models, Vision Management Group's Ashlee Walker, who recently got signed by New York agency DNA.









Photos: Lena Lakoma
Hair/makeup: Fatima Olive

Coco & Breezy announce Minneapolis personal appearance & pop-up shop

Eyewear designers Coco & Breezy are showing their hometown some love when they make their way back to Minneapolis next week for an in-store appearance and pop-up shop. The identical twins - who started their accessory line in Minneapolis before making it big in New York - had a big year last year, getting their eyewear on the face of Lady Gaga, appearing in a Beyonce music video, and racking up tons of international press, thanks to their edgy designs and unique personal style. Swing by Studiiyo23 (2319 Hennepin Av. S., Mpls.) on Thursday, February 2 between 6 and 8 p.m. to get the chance to meet the designers and shop their shades, which they'll be discounting during the event: 50 percent off from 6 until 7 p.m., and 25 percent off from 7 to 8 p.m.

Coco & Breezy in New York Magazine

Prolific eyewear designers Coco & Breezy get interviewed in the latest issue of New York Magazine:

Click here to read the full interview.

Editorial: Raina Hein for Harper's Bazaar Hong Kong

Minnesota native model Raina Hein shot to international fandom with her stint on America's Next Top Model a couple of years ago, moving to L.A., landing high-profile campaigns, and starring in a Bon Iver music video.

The model, represented locally by Ignite, also apparently been nabbing some pretty high-profile editorial work. I just stumbled across this gorgeous spread featuring Raina from a fall issue of Harper's Bazaar Hong Kong: