Madame Butterfy-inspired fashions at Minnesota Opera kickoff

For most, the opera conjures ideas of old, white-haired rich folks tottering around with noses in air, and performers singing in Italian for hours about who-knows-what. Not exactly the most glamorous, exciting to-do in the world. But with last night's splashy fashion and art-infused kickoff event for the Minnesota Opera's upcoming eight-night run of Madame Butterfly hosted by the opera's young patrons membership group Tempo, held downtown Minneapolis at Seven Sushi Ultralounge, it was clear that this wasn't your grandma's opera. Puccini's classic tragedy clearly offered a depth of inspiration for local designers, who crafted impressively constructed looks in rich, sumptuous fabrics in a runway show impeccably styled by Grant Whittaker, who himself is known for a penchant for the theatrical. (His credits include costuming Ballet of the Dolls and styling fresh-from-New-York-Fashion-Week looks at the annual Macy's Glamorama blowout). As guests sipped on complimentary TEMPO-tinis, singers from the upcoming production previewed songs from the opera. Perfectly poised models provided by Vision Management Group walked in looks by Emma Berg, Russell Bourrienne, Samantha Rei Crossland (Blasphemina's Closet), Anna Lee (Ruby3), Kerry Riley (Needle & Black), and Jared Zachary (Freedom from Doubt), alongside newcomers Caroline Hayden, Tony Eliason, Lauren Mayhew, Sina Yi, and Hitomi K. It was an incredibly well-executed and realized showcase, only marred by the difficulty in seeing the looks as they whipped past at eye level. (At one point, I mistakenly thought the opera singers were a recording.) An elevated runway, or seating, could have helped. But the event was a beautifully executed one that made the point clear - that the opera could be not only stylish, but - dare we say - sexy.

Look by Emma Berg

Look by Anna Lee

Look by Jared Zachary

Look by Kerry Riley
Look by Samantha Rei Crossland

Look by Sina YiLook by Sina Yi

For tickets to the upcoming run of Madame Butterfly, visit the Minnesota Opera's site.

[Originally posted at Vita.mn.

Minneapolitans spotted in December's Glamour magazine

A couple of locals - fashion designer and curator Emma Berg and myself - were spotted in the December 2011 issue of Glamour magazine. It came as a surprise to all of us. It turns out the images are leftovers from a street style shoot Glamour did in Minneapolis last December. It's sort of funny to be calling our hairstyles current - I totally got over my Blair Waldorf phase long ago. But it's still pretty fun. Oh, and I just noticed Emma is wearing a hairpiece by local designer Anna Lee's line Ruby3 - way to represent local fashion

[Emma's at the bottom left; I'm right above her.]

Local fashion link roundup

Here's my weekly roundup of fashion links and news of all things local.

[Dearling Physique in Kevin Kramp designs]

City Pages posted and extended interview with one of their Artists of the Year, local knitwear designer Kevin Kramp.

You can see Kevin Kramp's knitwear designs (along with that of fellow local designer Hilary Falk) in Dearling Physique's music video "Discipline Your Hands," debuting this Friday, January 7 at the Uptown Apple Store.

In even more Kevin Kramp news, the designer just announced he'll be showing at Paris Fashion Week at the end of January in an emerging menswear designer showcase.

AOL interviews Anna Lee, founder of Voltage: Fashion Amplified and MNfashion.

Local personal style blog Dirty Hair Halo interviews national style blog icon Tevis Swain.

Dirty Hair Halo is also unloading her well-edited closet and filling up a e-shop with her finds.

Voltage 2011 designer Rachel Blomgren shares her sketches and inspiration (part one, part two, part three)

Local style blogger Hina Khan tries the ombre hair trend thanks to Mark Dolan of Evolution Salon.

Ellen Dahl Lawson shoots stylish show-goers at the Rock Your Frock fashion show a couple of weeks back for Vita.mn.

Sara Glassman covers local up-and-coming fashion and beauty lines HAROLD by Laura Nelli, Galen Labs, Daub and Bauble, and BlackBlue for Star Tribune.

City Pages offers highlights from the ongoing Mao to Now Chinese fashion exhibition at the Goldstein Museum of Design.

Local jewelry designers Heads Twogether do a how-to guide on how to make a jewelry charm necklace.

Meghan McAndrews of High Plains Thrifter does a Budget Beauty Gift Guide for Beauty Bets.

Stylist/blogger Ines Kovacevic has tons of great photo inspiration updates on her blog, Merci Beaucoup, as does stylist/blogger Jane Belfry's new blog Couture et Cuisine.

The Mall of America has a new blog; add it to your blogroll for updates on trends, sales and shopping ideas.

Fashion’s Night Out Fashion Sketch Contest

[Image courtesy Neiman Marcus]

Calling all fashion designers (and illustration novices): MNfashion just announced the Fashion Sketch Contest it's sponsoring as part of the festivities at the Fashion's Night Out event at Neiman Marcus on September 10. Click here for details on the event.

Sketch your inspirations for the Fall 2010 season and you could win a $500 gift card to Neiman Marcus.

Here is what to do:

1. Get yourself a nice sheet of paper that is 11”x14” in dimension.
2. Become inspired by at least 3 of the Fall 2010 Fashion Trends (listed below)
3. Show us your skills and sign your work.
4. Fill out the application
5. Mail or drop off your sketch and application to address listed below.

The sketches should be submitted on paper sized 11”x14”. Fabric swatches may be added, but keep in mind that these sketches will be hung on the wall and will need to be strong enough to support additions. Submissions will be received on a limited basis (30 total per category) so be sure to get your sketch submitted before the deadline. Limit one 11x14 page per person.

All fashion sketches will be on display during Fashion's Night Out on Friday, September 10th, 2010.

There will be 6 total winners: 3 fashion students and 3 emerging designers.

The top 6 winners will have their work displayed in the windows on Nicollet Mall during the Neiman Marcus Art of Fashion Event the week of September 13 - 18.

1st Place = $500 Neiman Marcus Gift Card
2nd Place = $300 Neiman Marcus Gift Card
3rd Place = $200 Neiman Marcus Gift Card

Judges- Joy Teiken- Designer, Joynoelle--- Kat Dalager- Manager of Print Production, Campbell Mithun, and MNfashion Board Chair--- Anna Lee- Executive Director, MNfashion

Deadline for submission is Wednesday, September 8th.

Neiman Marcus Fall 2010 Trends
Green
Military Influences
The Pant Suit
Capes, Ponchos and Vests
Fur
Lace
Feathers
A Wardrobe of Boots
The Structured Handbag
Pearls

Mpls.St.Paul's Shops issue goes online

The brand-new issue of Mpls.St.Paul Magazine's Shops issue is on newstands - digital ones, at least. The annual issue has made its way to a slick, page-turning digital format this year. There's tons of great stuff to read, including a mini history of Minneapolis shopping, local boutique profiles, fashion spreads, and a handy shops guide.

Arts curator/mplsart.com director/fashion designer Emma Berg (in a George Moskal skirt) shares the cover with some other local fashion ladies: Mall of America trend specialist Sara Rogers (in Joynoelle), ShopNBC host Wendi Russo, WCCO-TV anchor Amelia Santaniello, CW Television producer Kristen Aldridge, and Nash Avery Foundation co-founder Angie Wicka. (Is it just me, or do they look awkwardly Photoshopped together?)

Here's Emma in the spread inside, wearing a corset top by Max Lohrbach, pants she designed herself, and Chloe Sevigny for Opening Ceremony shoes from locally-based ShopFatal.com.



Here's Vision model Elle Williams modeling fall fashions, as styled by Mpls.St.Paul fashion editor Melissa Colgan:


MNfashion director and Voltage founder Anna Lee is also profiled in the issue:


It's great to see local fashion getting such great exposure in the mainstream mag. View the complete issue here.