A NELLE Holiday Launch, Holiday Event & Cyber Monday Sale

Lots of big news in from local handbag designer Laura Nelli this weekend. The designer of NELLE handbags has announced a just-launched collaboration line of silk, screen-printed holiday skirts and clutches with textile designer Luci Kandler (who you may remember from Calpurnia Peach), called NELLE + OGGE. The print collection was inspired by the designers' shared appreciation for Frida Kahlo’s irreverent personal style. Priced from $150 to $190, the limited-edition collection can be found online at nellehandbags.com, ogge.bigcartel.com, or in-store at l’atelier couture (l’atelier couture, 219 N Second Street, Suite 404, Minneapolis, 651-602-9492 (appointments required), lateliercouturebridal.com) & Details Style Lab (Details Style Lab: 346 St. Peter Street, St. Paul, 651-251-8700, www.detailsmn.com).

[A NELLE + OGGE clutch]

What's more: on Monday, November 28, NELLE will host a Cyber Monday Sale at nellehandbags.com, offering 20% off plus free shipping on the entire NELLE Collection. And finally, December 1 marks the kick off of the NELLE & HAROLD Holiday Event at l'atelier couture. The month-long cash-and-carry event features NELLE's holiday assortment of handmade clutches and accessories.

Calpurnia Peach calls it quits

Hot off the news that Calpurnia Peach co-designer Ashley Wokasch has been spending time in New York and collaborating with designer Rachel Antonoff comes the announcement that Calpurnia Peach is officially no longer.

[A look from Calpurnia Peach's F/W 2009 collection. Photo: Nic Marshall. Styling: Eclecticoiffeur]

Co-designer Luci Kandler sent out the following message today from Calpurnia Peach's Facebook page:

Hello,

As of 2011 Calpurnia Peach has closed its doors. We thank everyone for your support over the years and have enjoyed being a part of the MN fashion community. It’s been a pleasure meeting all of you and working with some amazing groups, foundations and people!

Sincerely,

CP

Sad news to be sure - I was a fan since they first popped up in Voltage 2007 and had the opportunity to work with them over the years. But I'm excited to see what's next for both of these talented designers.

Former Calpurnia Peach designer makes tights for Rachel Antonoff

Sara Glassman just reported for the Star Tribune that former Calpurnia Peach co-designer Ashley Wokasch has been assisting New York designer Rachel Antonoff as of late. For her F/W 2011 collection at New York Fashion Week, Wokasch culled her screenprinting skills and printed tights with kitties and hearts. Elle Magazine recapped the show, saying, "Models bopped around in tween-appropriate drop waist frocks and plaid separates, complete with artistically printed tights featuring offbeat knee-patch designs." I want a pair! (Apparently, stylist/model Alexa Chung does too - Wokasch tells me she asked her to make her a pair!)

Photos via GreasyGuide.com

Recap of vitaminwaterZERO Flourish fashion show

[Photo courtesy Ray Shan]

Last month, I produced a fashion show for the first time in my career for vitaminwater's new ZERO brand. I did everything from coming up with the concept of the show (seven local designers create an avant-garde look based on one of the seven new flavors), to enlisting a graphic designer to create flyer art for the show (Caroline Royce), to finding the perfect location (the rooftop gardens of Crowne Plaza), to working with a DJ to come up with the perfect soundtrack to the evening (Jonathan Ackerman). Ray Shan captured the action on behalf of designer Laura Fulk.

Designer: Danielle Everine
Flavor: Green tea ("Rescue")

Designer: Ivan Idland
Flavor: Lemonade ("Squeezed")

Designer: Max Lorhbach
Flavor: Orange ("Rise")

Designer: Calpurnia Peach
Flavor: Peach mango ("Recoup")

Designer: Emma Berg
Flavor: Grape raspberry ("Mega-C")

Designer: Kerry Riley of Needle & Black
Flavor: Mixed berry ("Go-Go")

Designer: Laura Fulk
Flavor: Acai-blueberry-pomegranate ("XXX")

[Photo by Sohail Justin Akhavein]

As the evening's host and emcee, I wore a top and shorts by Tender Cuts by Emily Bryngelson (and vintage Hermes sandals). I chat with Laura Fulk and Calpurnia Peach's Luci Kandler about their designs:



View the full photo set here. Click here for designer sketches of their designs; here for a review from l'etoile's Juleana Enright and here for Mary O'Regan's review for METRO Magazine; and here for more on the show on Le Petit.

All photos courtesy Ray Shan with Laura Fulk unless otherwise noted.

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

EXCLUSIVE: vitaminwaterZERO fashion show announcement

I'm excited to announce a show I'm helping to produce with vitaminwater on Wednesday, August 11 at Crowne Plaza's Skygarden. I will also serve as the show's stylist and host.

[Flyer design by Caroline Royce]

vitaminwaterZERO presents…FLOURISH
7 flavors. 7 designers. 7 imaginative outfits sure to FLOURISH on the runway.
Seven local designers take inspiration from the seven new flavors of vitaminwater ZERO for a rooftop fashion show. The results will flourish at dusk on Wednesday, August 11 at the Skygarden rooftop outdoor atrium atop the Crowne Plaza Northstar Hotel in downtown Minneapolis. Each design will be critiqued by a panel of esteemed judges, as each designer offers insight into their creative process. DJ Jonathan Ackerman will be spinning tracks throughout the evening as attendees sip on vitaminwater ZERO cocktails.

The prestigious group of fashion designers includes:
Laura Fulk
Kerry Riley (Needle & Black)
Calpurnia Peach
Max Lohrbach
Emma Berg
Ivan Idland
and Danielle Everine
with jewelry from ROX by Robyne Robinson
as styled by local fashion writer and stylist Jahna Peloquin.

Get there early - the first 50 people will receive a swag bag (and the best seats on the runway). The show is free and open to the public; you must be 21 years or older for admittance. Doors at 6:30 p.m.; show at 7:30 p.m.

Sponsors include, MNfashion, METRO Magazine, Aveda Institute, Vision Management Group, and vitaminwaterZERO.

Calpurnia Peach Spring/Summer Collection

Local design duo Calpurnia Peach have posted some images from a recent test shoot by stylist Alisun Abbott and photographer Chris McDuffie featuring some pieces from their Spring/Summer 2010 collection.

Calpurnia Peach on mn original

Check out this adorbz video of local fashion designers Calpurnia Peach on mn original, a weekly series produced by Twin Cities Public Television.



And below for mn original's video from the duo's spring 2010 studio fashion show:

Calpurnia Peach pillow lookbook

Local design duo Calpurnia Peach has posted new promo images for their hand-printed pillow line. The images were shot by Hillary Berg, and stars Luci Kandler and Ashley Wokasch themselves, wearing designs from their Spring 2010 collection (available at Picky Girl in St. Paul and Design Collective in Minneapolis). The pillows were also Calpurnia Peach's contribution to the Walker's CSA (Community Supported Art) program.











[All photos by Hillary Berg]

Calpurnia Peach Spring 2010 lookbook

Local design duo Calpurnia Peach has posted images from their Spring 2010 lookbook, with photography by Nic Marshall and jewelry by Leetal Kelman. Select pieces are available at Picky Girl and Design Collective in Minneapolis. Check out my review of the salon showing back in February at Vita.mn. Here is the complete lookbook:








[All photos by Nic Marshall]