Photos: Amy Gee
Dress: Maritza Ramirez
Model: Kara Nesvig
Hair: Caitlin Dvorak (HAUS Salon)
Makeup: Heidi Melena
Showing posts with label maritza ramirez. Show all posts
Showing posts with label maritza ramirez. Show all posts
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Maritza Ramirez' "Little Black Dress"
Up-and-coming Minneapolis photographer Amy Gee shoots local designer Maritza Ramirez' contribution to last fall's Little Black Dress event on friend and beauty blogger Kara Nesvig - and dare I say, the dress looks much better on her than the model in the show. The gown suits Kara's figure and old Hollywood look perfectly.
Photos: Amy Gee
Dress: Maritza Ramirez
Model: Kara Nesvig
Hair: Caitlin Dvorak (HAUS Salon)
Makeup: Heidi Melena
Photos: Amy Gee
Dress: Maritza Ramirez
Model: Kara Nesvig
Hair: Caitlin Dvorak (HAUS Salon)
Makeup: Heidi Melena
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Local designers Max Lohrbach & Maritza Ramirez dip their toes into costume design
Two local designers are turning their eye from fashion to theatrical design for the upcoming Alan Berks & Company theater joint production, How to Cheat. Maritza Ramirez and Max Lohrbach have shared some preview images of their costumes for the show, which runs December 1 through 10 at Gremlin Theatre, 2400 University Avenue West in St. Paul.
[All photos by Aaron Fenster]
[All photos by Aaron Fenster]
Friday, October 7, 2011
MNfashion Week in review: "Little Black Dress"
[Originally posted at Vita.mn with photos by Patrick Kelley]
Last night at the newly-opened Amsterdam Bar & Hall in downtown St. Paul, the humble little black dress got a makeover. A dozen of the Twin Cities' brightest fashion designers sent two new looks each - one, a little black dress; the other, a design of their choosing - down the runway, offering fresh, varied, and for the most part, well-executed takes on the classic LBD on perfectly poised Vision models chic-ly styled by HAUS Salon.
Conceived of by designers Emma Berg and Maritza Ramirez with the assistance of MNfashion's Emily Blanche and Sarah Colvin, the show was intended to challenge local designers to create wearable, retail-ready looks, and what better inspiration point is there than the LBD? As it would have certainly made for a good Project Runway challenge, I'll run down the looks one at a time and do my best Michael Kors/Nina Garcia/Heidi Klum impression.
As the looks came out, I had to do a bit of a guessing game to figure out which look was done by which designer. Apparently, looks went down the runway as listed on the program (in alphabetical order), but a screen listing the designer name as each look went out would have made things clearer. Another missed opportunity: a "where to shop" guide in the program to direct potential shoppers on where the one-of-a-kind dresses were available for purchase.
Unsurprisingly, Emma Berg's fabric choices were luxurious, lush and confectionery. Her looks were a lovely kickoff to both the non-LBD and LBD segments, and they moved beautifully. The ivory dress featured some thoughtful detailing, while the skirt of the not-to-little black dress was secured with a series of intriguing, sculptural tucks that is difficult to make out in photos. Unfortunately in both looks, the bust hung off the model loosely and did not fit as well as it should have, but Emma can always be counted on to bring new ideas and gorgeous fabrics to the table.
The two looks by Jenn Bratvold, a 2011 St. Kate's apparel grad, couldn't have been any more basic. A basic pink top, basic high-waisted short-shorts, a patterned jacket with ugly lavender satin lining, and a plain-as-plain-could-be LBD left little impact.
Jenny Carle turned out two vintage-inspired looks. Her first look was rendered in a striking color and pattern, and the longer length took the look out of Carle's more typical girly-little-vintage-dress stable. While I have a couple of minor quibbles with the sleeve length (shorter would have given this dress a more modern update) and the fit on the bust (a little loose), it was really a nice little dress. Carle's LBD, though, was as basic and done as it gets. You could find that dress at any department store circa 2009.
Amanda Christine is a master at what I'd call basics-with-a-twist, so this show was a no-brainer for her. She has always managed to infuse classic looks with just enough detail to make the looks appear designed. She nailed it with her slightly asymmetrical silk skirt and sequin bodice dress, which fit the model beautifully and went down the runway like a dream. Her first look was a bit forgetful on the runway amongst other more statement-making looks, but the printed wrap dress is a perfect little work-to-cocktail-party dress.
Danielle Everine served up a couple of fresh looks that showed the former Project Runway contestant pushing her signature aesthetic forward to an increasingly sophisticated place. The designer typically plays with a muted, pastel color palette, so it was nice to see her pushed out of her apparent comfort zone with a couple of darker looks. The top look mimicked the look she recently created for l'etoile's "Bright Society" MNfashion Week event on Sunday, particularly the skirt (though appearing basic in the above photo), which featured a row of covered buttons at the back and had an interesting cut. Her LBD offering was the standout piece of the night: a silk chiffon overdress with a beaded high collar (reminiscent of her look for the stilt challenge on Project Runway), embedded with lace applique, paired with an underdress in a printed lace motif.
Laura Fulk made a bold return to the runway with a couple of looks that were signature Fulk - sci-fi-inspired design elements, asymmetrical lines, and strong silhouettes. The two looks were like the yin and yang of one collection - one that I'd really love to see from the obscure-as-of-late designer. They seem to show the designer making a move toward increasingly sophisticated, wearable garments that still showcase her trademark look.
Sarah M. Holm left me a little confused when she showed not one, but two LBDs. The first was a wool sheath dress that, from the front, had a gorgeous '40s sophistication to it, while the back featured some leather criss-crossing detailing on the back of the leg and neckline. It's pure Sarah Holm - vintage meets goth. Her second look had more asymmetrical details, this time a zippered jacket and a pencil skirt with a zipper winding around to the back. Again, Holm plays to her strengths - edgy yet chic and tailored.
I was surprised to find out both of the above looks were by Ivan Idland. The designer has always had a vintage-updated aesthetic, but these looks contained none of Idland's trademark details - sailor-style, asymmetrical collars; intricate piping and pleating; graphic, interweaving fabrics; and drop waists. These are the reasons I love Idland's work. Taken as designs out of the context of the designer, both looks were shocking for their incorporation of the very pot leaf emblem that Emma Berg featured (via hand-embroidered sequins) in her Spring/Summer 2011 line shown last spring at MNfashion Week. The ivory skirt was pretty, as was the shape of the LBD, but I can't help but be distracted by such an obvious similarity, particularly in the world of local fashion.
Typically one of the more over-the-top designers to hit the runway, Max Lohrbach showed two surprisingly sedate looks. The first featured a hand-embroidered tank top and a swingy skirt - a lovely spring basic. His LBD incorporated the heart bra design element from his Voltage 2011 line shown this past spring and sheer, asymmetrical bits of fabric. It was sexy without being vulgar - and if that's not the point of an LBD, what is? With these two looks, Lohrbach is making the statement that he's out to make more wearable, retail-friendly pieces than he has in the past - though ones that don't skimp on his vintage-infused, quirky and sometimes provocative stylings.
George Moskal's runway looks added a heady dose of glamour and sophistication, particularly the violet halter linen gown's addition of a welcome shot of color to the fairly muted runway. His black lace dress was oh-so-Audrey Hepburn in 2011, with a deeply jutting neckline and backline rendered in lacquered soutache lace layered over sheer lace.
Another designer opting for black-on-black was Raul Osorio, who's been MIA on the local design front since he moved back to Honduras over the summer. (He's returning this November.) His two looks were easy to identify as Osorio pieces - classic and feminine with a dose of femme fatale sexiness. But on their own, each piece was relatively safe and been-there-done-that. Osorio has a knack for creating dresses girls want to wear, but it'd be nice to see him push his designs forward a bit more.
Newcomer Nicole Larson offered two of the more eye-popping looks of the evening with her billowy red tiered red gown with lace-up back and black faux-fur mini-dress. She needs to get the construction down, and source out better-quality fabrics. That "leather" bustier looks awfully shiny, and the structure of the red dress made her model look ridiculously hippy and pear-shaped. But it's great to see a new face on the local design front who has a clear point of view, and she really lucked out with that model's red hair (obviously a holdover from last weekend's Aveda Congress hair workshop).
Maritza Ramirez is another designer struggling with fit. Her black gown was so tight on the rear that it forced her model to waddle uncomfortably down the runway. Her pant look was, quite frankly, just plain odd. The proportions were off, the sheer jacket looked unfinished, and the pants fit oddly around the abdomen. But it must be said that Ramirez isn't short on taste for gorgeous, luxurious fabrics and sophisticated silhouettes with an eye for detail.
[All photos: Patrick Kelley]
Last night at the newly-opened Amsterdam Bar & Hall in downtown St. Paul, the humble little black dress got a makeover. A dozen of the Twin Cities' brightest fashion designers sent two new looks each - one, a little black dress; the other, a design of their choosing - down the runway, offering fresh, varied, and for the most part, well-executed takes on the classic LBD on perfectly poised Vision models chic-ly styled by HAUS Salon.
Conceived of by designers Emma Berg and Maritza Ramirez with the assistance of MNfashion's Emily Blanche and Sarah Colvin, the show was intended to challenge local designers to create wearable, retail-ready looks, and what better inspiration point is there than the LBD? As it would have certainly made for a good Project Runway challenge, I'll run down the looks one at a time and do my best Michael Kors/Nina Garcia/Heidi Klum impression.
As the looks came out, I had to do a bit of a guessing game to figure out which look was done by which designer. Apparently, looks went down the runway as listed on the program (in alphabetical order), but a screen listing the designer name as each look went out would have made things clearer. Another missed opportunity: a "where to shop" guide in the program to direct potential shoppers on where the one-of-a-kind dresses were available for purchase.
The two looks by Jenn Bratvold, a 2011 St. Kate's apparel grad, couldn't have been any more basic. A basic pink top, basic high-waisted short-shorts, a patterned jacket with ugly lavender satin lining, and a plain-as-plain-could-be LBD left little impact.
Jenny Carle turned out two vintage-inspired looks. Her first look was rendered in a striking color and pattern, and the longer length took the look out of Carle's more typical girly-little-vintage-dress stable. While I have a couple of minor quibbles with the sleeve length (shorter would have given this dress a more modern update) and the fit on the bust (a little loose), it was really a nice little dress. Carle's LBD, though, was as basic and done as it gets. You could find that dress at any department store circa 2009.
Amanda Christine is a master at what I'd call basics-with-a-twist, so this show was a no-brainer for her. She has always managed to infuse classic looks with just enough detail to make the looks appear designed. She nailed it with her slightly asymmetrical silk skirt and sequin bodice dress, which fit the model beautifully and went down the runway like a dream. Her first look was a bit forgetful on the runway amongst other more statement-making looks, but the printed wrap dress is a perfect little work-to-cocktail-party dress.
Danielle Everine served up a couple of fresh looks that showed the former Project Runway contestant pushing her signature aesthetic forward to an increasingly sophisticated place. The designer typically plays with a muted, pastel color palette, so it was nice to see her pushed out of her apparent comfort zone with a couple of darker looks. The top look mimicked the look she recently created for l'etoile's "Bright Society" MNfashion Week event on Sunday, particularly the skirt (though appearing basic in the above photo), which featured a row of covered buttons at the back and had an interesting cut. Her LBD offering was the standout piece of the night: a silk chiffon overdress with a beaded high collar (reminiscent of her look for the stilt challenge on Project Runway), embedded with lace applique, paired with an underdress in a printed lace motif.
Laura Fulk made a bold return to the runway with a couple of looks that were signature Fulk - sci-fi-inspired design elements, asymmetrical lines, and strong silhouettes. The two looks were like the yin and yang of one collection - one that I'd really love to see from the obscure-as-of-late designer. They seem to show the designer making a move toward increasingly sophisticated, wearable garments that still showcase her trademark look.
Sarah M. Holm left me a little confused when she showed not one, but two LBDs. The first was a wool sheath dress that, from the front, had a gorgeous '40s sophistication to it, while the back featured some leather criss-crossing detailing on the back of the leg and neckline. It's pure Sarah Holm - vintage meets goth. Her second look had more asymmetrical details, this time a zippered jacket and a pencil skirt with a zipper winding around to the back. Again, Holm plays to her strengths - edgy yet chic and tailored.
I was surprised to find out both of the above looks were by Ivan Idland. The designer has always had a vintage-updated aesthetic, but these looks contained none of Idland's trademark details - sailor-style, asymmetrical collars; intricate piping and pleating; graphic, interweaving fabrics; and drop waists. These are the reasons I love Idland's work. Taken as designs out of the context of the designer, both looks were shocking for their incorporation of the very pot leaf emblem that Emma Berg featured (via hand-embroidered sequins) in her Spring/Summer 2011 line shown last spring at MNfashion Week. The ivory skirt was pretty, as was the shape of the LBD, but I can't help but be distracted by such an obvious similarity, particularly in the world of local fashion.
Typically one of the more over-the-top designers to hit the runway, Max Lohrbach showed two surprisingly sedate looks. The first featured a hand-embroidered tank top and a swingy skirt - a lovely spring basic. His LBD incorporated the heart bra design element from his Voltage 2011 line shown this past spring and sheer, asymmetrical bits of fabric. It was sexy without being vulgar - and if that's not the point of an LBD, what is? With these two looks, Lohrbach is making the statement that he's out to make more wearable, retail-friendly pieces than he has in the past - though ones that don't skimp on his vintage-infused, quirky and sometimes provocative stylings.
George Moskal's runway looks added a heady dose of glamour and sophistication, particularly the violet halter linen gown's addition of a welcome shot of color to the fairly muted runway. His black lace dress was oh-so-Audrey Hepburn in 2011, with a deeply jutting neckline and backline rendered in lacquered soutache lace layered over sheer lace.
Another designer opting for black-on-black was Raul Osorio, who's been MIA on the local design front since he moved back to Honduras over the summer. (He's returning this November.) His two looks were easy to identify as Osorio pieces - classic and feminine with a dose of femme fatale sexiness. But on their own, each piece was relatively safe and been-there-done-that. Osorio has a knack for creating dresses girls want to wear, but it'd be nice to see him push his designs forward a bit more.
Newcomer Nicole Larson offered two of the more eye-popping looks of the evening with her billowy red tiered red gown with lace-up back and black faux-fur mini-dress. She needs to get the construction down, and source out better-quality fabrics. That "leather" bustier looks awfully shiny, and the structure of the red dress made her model look ridiculously hippy and pear-shaped. But it's great to see a new face on the local design front who has a clear point of view, and she really lucked out with that model's red hair (obviously a holdover from last weekend's Aveda Congress hair workshop).
Maritza Ramirez is another designer struggling with fit. Her black gown was so tight on the rear that it forced her model to waddle uncomfortably down the runway. Her pant look was, quite frankly, just plain odd. The proportions were off, the sheer jacket looked unfinished, and the pants fit oddly around the abdomen. But it must be said that Ramirez isn't short on taste for gorgeous, luxurious fabrics and sophisticated silhouettes with an eye for detail.[All photos: Patrick Kelley]
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Maritza Ramirez's "Avoid the Grey" mini-collection
Local designer Maritza Ramirez just posted some images of her mini-collection she created for last weekend's "Avoid the Grey" fashion show. Maritza notably created these looks out of upholstery fabric, and the result is overall wearable and chic. The images were shot at Spinario Design vintage interior shop. Notably, the hair was done by HAUS salon owner and former Juut creative director Charlie Brackney, photography by Amy Gee, and fashion styling by Jane Belfry. Let's take a look, shall we?
Fantastic shot. Perfect dress on the perfect girl, lovingly lit. Love how the light reflects on the fabric of the dress. And the hair is perfectly whimsical - the bow was a nice touch.
Nice shot, nice lighting, model looks good. I have to take issue with the skirt though - the weird pinching at the sides just looks, well, weird. I would have preferred a perfectly executed pencil skirt. I know Maritza was going for detail here, but it just doesn't work for me. The little top is cute though - here the scrunching on the shoulders works.
Kind of a flat shot, dontchathink? And why is the framing so narrow? It almost clips the cape at the shoulders. I would've preferred they show the cape in a more dynamic way. But the skirt shows some detail and yet is perfect in its simplicity. Love the shoes.
Designs: Maritza Ramirez
Photography: Amy Gee
Styling: Jane Belfry
Makeup: Kirsten Solie
Hair: Charlie Brackney
Model: Alison Bengston (Vision)
Fantastic shot. Perfect dress on the perfect girl, lovingly lit. Love how the light reflects on the fabric of the dress. And the hair is perfectly whimsical - the bow was a nice touch.
Nice shot, nice lighting, model looks good. I have to take issue with the skirt though - the weird pinching at the sides just looks, well, weird. I would have preferred a perfectly executed pencil skirt. I know Maritza was going for detail here, but it just doesn't work for me. The little top is cute though - here the scrunching on the shoulders works.
Kind of a flat shot, dontchathink? And why is the framing so narrow? It almost clips the cape at the shoulders. I would've preferred they show the cape in a more dynamic way. But the skirt shows some detail and yet is perfect in its simplicity. Love the shoes.Designs: Maritza Ramirez
Photography: Amy Gee
Styling: Jane Belfry
Makeup: Kirsten Solie
Hair: Charlie Brackney
Model: Alison Bengston (Vision)
Thursday, January 27, 2011
More "Avoid the Grey" previews
All three shows for Saturday's "Avoid the Grey" show are sold out. But if you were lucky enough to nab tickets to Cliché's annual runway show, here is a preview of what to expect:
My spotlight in today's print issue of Vita.mn.
My preview of the show's lookbook for Vita.mn online; and
The Minnesota Daily spotlights two new Cliché designers, Sarah M. Holm and ArielSimone.
"Avoid the Grey" designer Maritza Ramirez wasn't in the lookbook, but she was nice enough to share a sketch with me from her spring 2011 line - her first since last summer's "I Feel Love" show:
Also in today's Vita.mn, I spotlight Grethen House's 70% off sale and local designer Anne M. Cramer's adorable spring skirt. Read it here.
My spotlight in today's print issue of Vita.mn.
My preview of the show's lookbook for Vita.mn online; and
The Minnesota Daily spotlights two new Cliché designers, Sarah M. Holm and ArielSimone.
"Avoid the Grey" designer Maritza Ramirez wasn't in the lookbook, but she was nice enough to share a sketch with me from her spring 2011 line - her first since last summer's "I Feel Love" show:
Also in today's Vita.mn, I spotlight Grethen House's 70% off sale and local designer Anne M. Cramer's adorable spring skirt. Read it here.
Monday, November 29, 2010
Local inspiration: muses and lenses
Here is a new feature I'd like to introduce - local fashion muses and fashion photography via Facebook uploads. A little taste of local inspiration.
This appears to be an outtake from Maritza Ramirez's fall 2010 lookbook shoot, featuring Vision model Elle Williams (a muse herself). Clothing by, Maritza Ramirez, photography by Amy Gee, styling by Jane Belfry, hair by Charlie Brackney, makeup by Amber Brenke.
Here's another muse of mine, Ben Fredrickson - recently relocated to New York. He's also a mean photographer. This one is subtitled "Trying to get clean in a dirty bathtub with the help of a Pentax SMC P 67 - Soft focus lens - 120 mm - f/3.5."
This hot shot is of musette Miss Cayla Caul Field; photo by Dominic Taylor.
Now based out of New York, Minneapolis native (and my former partner in my Eclecticoiffeur styling collective) Kelsy Osterman uploaded some new men's hairstyle images to her portfolio. (Click here for more.)
Photography Amy Gee uploaded some photos of local fashion muse Sohail Akhavein wearing Raul Osorio garments from the MNfashion-produced Third Thursday show at MIA. (Click here for one more.)
Love this chic shot of Vision Management Group owner/founder Teqen Zéa Aida.
Fashion photographer Vanessa Meade shoots her longtime muse, Tiffany.
This appears to be an outtake from Maritza Ramirez's fall 2010 lookbook shoot, featuring Vision model Elle Williams (a muse herself). Clothing by, Maritza Ramirez, photography by Amy Gee, styling by Jane Belfry, hair by Charlie Brackney, makeup by Amber Brenke.
Here's another muse of mine, Ben Fredrickson - recently relocated to New York. He's also a mean photographer. This one is subtitled "Trying to get clean in a dirty bathtub with the help of a Pentax SMC P 67 - Soft focus lens - 120 mm - f/3.5."
This hot shot is of musette Miss Cayla Caul Field; photo by Dominic Taylor.
Now based out of New York, Minneapolis native (and my former partner in my Eclecticoiffeur styling collective) Kelsy Osterman uploaded some new men's hairstyle images to her portfolio. (Click here for more.)
Photography Amy Gee uploaded some photos of local fashion muse Sohail Akhavein wearing Raul Osorio garments from the MNfashion-produced Third Thursday show at MIA. (Click here for one more.)
Love this chic shot of Vision Management Group owner/founder Teqen Zéa Aida.
Fashion photographer Vanessa Meade shoots her longtime muse, Tiffany.
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