Frances Zerr releases Spring 2011 lookbook, moves to Chicago

Local designer Frances Zerr has finally posted the lookbook from her Spring/Summer 2011 collection. But better late than never, right? Select pieces from the sporty, modern line which was one of the highlights of Voltage 2011 will be available at Design Collective in coming days as well as an e-shop, opening in the next few days, and directly from the designer for custom orders. In other news, Frances has recently made the move to Chicago where she is searching for opportunities within independent fashion, and plans to manufacture her line in Chicago.

Here is the complete collection; click here for the full lookbook.









Photography: Katherine J. Photography at www.pointandblog.com
Styling: Lindsey Elyse Holmes at www.pointandblog.com
Model: Ali (Vision Management Group)

Minneapolis Affair shoots Frances Zerr F/W 2011 Collection

Fashion designer Frances Zerr just released line photos for her F/W 2011 line, as shot by street style blog Minneapolis Affair. The line is modeled and styled by Zerr's Voltage 2011 stylist Angel C. Yang of Secrets Fashion Agency. As usual, the collection looks to be a chic, wearable mix of separates with just enough detail to make each piece special - particularly the jackets. Click here for Minneapolis Affair's Q&A with the designer.






And finally, Zerr herself gets shot:

Behind the scenes: Angel C. Yang for Frances Zerr F/W 2011

Angel C. Yang, the director of upstart Secrets Fashion Agency and one of my stylists for Voltage: Fashion Amplified 2011, just posted some behind-the-scenes photos of the F/W 2011 shoot shot by street style blogging team Minneapolis Affair, in which she modeled and styled for Frances Zerr (the designer she happens to be styling for Voltage). Secrets was also covered in a recent story by the The Minnesota Daily. Here are some of her own photos:

Local fashion link roundup

[Designs by Frances Zerr. Photos by katherine j photography]

• METRO Magazine fashion editor Mary O'Regan spotlights 2011 METRO Keeper Award winner Frances Zerr for her blog Art of Wore.
• Knitwear designer Annie Larson is spotlighted in the latest issue of Mpls.St.Paul Magazine.
• Annie Larson designs laptop-sleeve sweaters.
• Cliche's Avoid the Grey inspiration explores spring 2011 trends.
• Fashion designer Mackenzie Labine tries on - and reviews - wedding dresses from local shops for her upcoming nuptuals.
• Minnesota-bred model Raina Hein has been offered a role in a short film.
• Sara Glassman profiles the home of a stylish local couple for Star Tribune.
• Ellen Dahl Lawson captures the stylish crowd at the final night of the 501 Club for Vita.mn.
• The ride blog interviews Jared Zachary of local men's neckwear line Freedom From Doubt.
• The Minnesota Historical Society offers a preview of RetroRama 2011.
• FairShadow Photography shoots local clothing line Blasphemina's Closet at the Landmark Center.
• Local jewelry designer Kristin Berwald of Bionic Unicorn previews her spring jewelry collections.
• Salon Takeover's Tabatha Coffey was in town this past weekend to sign copies of her new book at the MOA; Sara Glassman does a Q&A with the stylist on her haircut tips for Star Tribune.
• Mpls.St.Paul's Allison Kaplan hangs out with Tabatha Coffey at the MOA.
• Ellen Dahl surveys the crowd at last Thursday's "Recess" dance night at the Varsity Theater.
• Check out recaps of last Thursday's the Spring MNfashion Week Buyer Event by Sara Glassman for PopFizz Daily, Metromix, Examiner, and Stacey Tuthill Rammer (with photos by Emily Utne) for City Pages. My recap for Vita.mn is here.
• Sara Glassman spotlights local acrylic jewelry designer (and Voltage 2011 designer for Frances Zerr) Jennifer Merchant for PopFizz Daily.

Frances Zerr wins METRO Keeper Award

METRO Magazine just named local fashion designer Frances Zerr one of its 2011 Keeper Awards in its January 2011 issue. Here's the spread Zerr first debuted her designs in Fall 2009 at a joint show with Calpurnia Peach, and went on to snag a coveted slot in Voltage 2010 where she quickly made fans with her easy-to-wear, effortlessly chic basics-with-a-twist. Look for her next at Voltage 2011 on April 15.

Click the spread below, as photographed by Eliesa Johnson, to read the full text.

SCENEaSOTA short films released

For the annual SCENEaSOTA fashion show held on November 6 at Loft2, local filmmakers Elijah Chhum and Wesley Meirick collaborated on a series of short films, which were screened in between designer segments. If you're anything like me, you were too busy chatting with your seatmates and getting drinks to fully appreciate the work that went into these films. Today Elijah released the films, which feature clothing and accessories from local designers and models from Vision, on Facebook.

The first film features models Karen O'Bryan, Elle Williams, Wesley Meirick, Elijah Chhum and Nick Patnode, clothing by Jenn Bratvold and Britta Feuerhelm, and jewelry by Carrier Pigeon and Ann Lambrecht.

C'est as nous (It is ours) from Elijah Chhum on Vimeo.

The second film features models Ashlee Williams, Jonathon Sargent and Gail Lewis, clothing by Kathryn V and Jenny Carle, and accessories by Timmilyn and Tasha Rae.

Tentation (Temptation) from Elijah Chhum on Vimeo.

The third film features menswear by Raul Osorio with Freedom from Doubt bowties and womenswear by Carmichael Claith with Bionic Unicorn jewelry, with models Alice Walker, Joe Laue, and Wesley Meirick.

Abstract- Untitled from Elijah Chhum on Vimeo.

Part four features womenswear by Frances Zerr with Ruby3 accessories, and menswear by Kevin Kramp with Ferociter accessories.

Prendre (to take) from Elijah Chhum on Vimeo.

SCENEaSOTA previews

I'm very much looking forward to SCENEaSOTA tomorrow night at Loft2. Tickets are still available at Cliché, so be sure to pick yours up today.

[A look from Kevin Kramp, photo by Amy Gee]

Here's my (original, full-length) writeup for Vita.mn:

In its third annual edition, the SCENEaSOTA fashion show is set to continue its forward momentum for another year. Bolstered by an impressive lineup and perhaps an even more impressive lookbook (helmed by Voltage art director Chris Larson), the production of this year’s show is leaps and bounds from its humble beginnings, on a makeshift runway in a tiny bar only two years ago. It comes on the heels of September’s “Pale Rider,” an MNfashion-produced runway show featuring Raul Osorio and Danielle Everine that decisively raised the bar for locally-produced fashion shows. With its mix of up-and-comers (Britta Fueerhelm, Jenn Bratvold), returning designers (Jenny Carle, Kathryn V., Carmichael Claith), and more established names (Kevin Kramp, Raul Osorio, Frances Zerr) – coupled with some noted accessory designers (Carrier Pigeon, Ferociter, Ruby3) and Vision models – it’s clear the show owes a great debt to Voltage. In this case, rock and roll is traded out for some film segments by Elijah Chhum and additional visuals by Ken Hannigan. (8 p.m. Show at 9:30 p.m. Sat. $10-15. 21-plus. Loft2 (above OM), 401 1st Av. N., Mpls. 612-870-0420.)

Here's my writeup for Secrets of the City and l'étoile magazine:

In its third year running, the show that is all about homegrown talent is back with another fresh crop of emerging local fashion designers. If the lovely lookbook (art directed by the fantastic Chris Larson) is any indication, this year's SCENEaSOTA should be a smashing success. This year, producer Maritza Ramirez is throwing in some additional multi-media elements - audio/visual design by Anthem Heart and film segments by Elijah Chhum - that are sure to be a nice match to the fashions hitting the runway. This year's designers include fresh faces (Britta Feuerhelm, Jenn Bratvold), SCENEaSOTA vets (Carmichael Claith, Jenny Carle, Kathryn V.), Voltage alumni (Raul Osorio, Frances Zerr) and established designers (Kevin Kramp), with new accessory collections from the likes of Ruby3, Carrier Pigeon, Ferociter, and Bionic Unicorn. Drop in early to schmooze with other fashionable guests, sip on a cocktail, preview the designs in a pop-up shop, and mingle with the designers before the runway event. Afterward, stay for a bumpin' afterparty with DJs and dancing. Tickets are $10 general admission or $15 seated and available in advance at Cliché. Doors open at 8pm and the event is 21+. For more info visit Facebook.

And check out the SCENEaSOTA lookbook while you're at it:

Preview: Frances Zerr F/W 2010 lookbook

Designer Frances Zerr (a Voltage 2010 alum and confirmed for Voltage 2011) has posted a preview of her F/W 2010 lookbook on her Facebook page. You can see the collection's debut tomorrow night at SCENEaSOTA.


Clothing: Frances Zerr
Photo: Katie Workinger
Styling: Lindsey Holmes
Model: Dahlia Brue

Voltage 2011 designers announced

Exciting fashion news comes your way this morning via MNFashion: 2011 Voltage: Fashion Amplified, Minnesota's largest and most publicized rock fashion show, has just confirmed it's spring runway lineup. The designers are as follows:

Danielle Everine
Frances Zerr
Ivan Idland
Kathryn V
Max Lohrbach
Rachel Blomgren
Raul Osorio
Sarah M Holm
Terri Martin
Tim + Thom

Congratulations everybody!

Voltage: Fashion Amplified will be going down on Friday, April 15th 2011 at First Avenue in downtown Minneapolis as the close out of Spring MNfashion Week. In the meantime, check out this video from last year's show:

Voltage: Fashion Amplified 2010 from mn original on Vimeo.

SCENEaSOTA lookbook released

I'm a little slow on this, but over the weekend producer Maritza Ramirez released the lookbook for the annual SCENEaSOTA fashion show. It was art directed by Chris Larson, with photography by Amy Gee. Runway designers including Kevin Kramp, Raul Osorio, Frances Zerr, Carmichael Claith, Jenny Carle, Britta Feuerhelm, Kathryn V., and Jenn Bratvold, plus accessories by Ruby3 (Anna Lee), Ferociter (Aimie Dukes), Carrier Pigeon (Lauren Neal), Ann Lambrecht, Freedom From Doubt (Jared Zachary), Timmilynn Johnson, Tasha Rae, and Bionic Unicorn (Kristin Berwald). Check out the facebook event invite for more details, and click through below to view the lookbook.

Open publication - Free publishing - More sceneasota