Weekend wrap-up: Local fashion links

[Amy Gee photographed by Ellen Dahl Lawson for Vita.mn]

Ellen Dahl Lawson of The Minneapoline snaps the stylish crowd at l'etoile magazine-hosted Project Runway premiere party and screening at Thom Pham's Wondrous Azian Kitchen's Caterpillar Lounge. Screenings continue weekly, including tonight. Click here for details.

I cover this weekend's Jenny Carle fashion show at Design Vertigo and the High Heel Dash in this week's issue of Vita.mn. For more fashion events and sales, check out l'etoile's Guide to Sales & Shopping.

Hairstylist Mark DeBolt of South Minneapolis salon HAUS has been named a finalist in the National Trend Vision Awards for hair product brand Wella. He'll be competing in Wella's national hair competition next month.

Check out behind-the-scenes images from a new shoot to be featured in local arts and fashion publication Crooked Teeth Magazine.

Photographer Eliesa Johnson posts behind-the-scenes and favorite images from her recent shoot for Anne Kristine Lingerie.

Local writer Coco Mault documents a talk from the writer of a new book In the Mood for Munsingwear: Minnesota's Claim to Underwear Fame, documenting Minnesota-born underwear company Munsingwear back in May at the Minnesota History Center, where a Musingwear exhibition is currently on display. It also includes a video featuring a former Munsingwear employee speaking about his time with the company.

Beauty blogger Kara Nesvig has kicked off her "30 days of red" lipstick project with Armani Rouge d’Armani in 400.

METRO Magazine's Mary O'Regan shares the weirdest, most hilarious and most unnecessary fashion products she's received in the mail.

Mpls.St.Paul Magazine's Allison Kaplan takes a sneak peek of the new Drama store at 50th and France.

Fashionasty's Jake Thompson waxes poetic about cropped tops and Clueless.

Recap: RetroRama 2011

On Thursday, the Minnesota History Center once again hosted RetroRama. In its fifth year (and my fifth year styling it), the show also served as the final time Voltage producer and MNfashion founder Anna Lee would direct and host the show. Every year, the show presents a handful of authentic vintage looks paired with retro-inspired looks by local designers. This year's theme, underwear - presented on burlesque dancers as models - was certainly a contributing factor in the show's sellout status, and was inspired by the Minnesota History Center's new "Underwear" exhibition highlighting the history of Minnesota-born underwear brand Munsingwear. Since I was involved with the show personally, I won't attempt to review it objectively, and instead am posting photos and descriptions.

[Photo via Scoundrelle's Keep]

Heather Luca of Scoundrelle's Keep has the theme of "restriction," Munsingwear's general theme in the '50s that harkened back to Victorian corsetry. The model wore jewelry by local line Bionic Unicorn.

[Photo via Art of Wore]

Sarah White of Jagress Intimates offered a humorous take on the garter belt with her underwear set that included a gartered skirt.

[Photo via Art of Wore]

Christopher Straub (who was out of town during the event) presented a look inspired by the machinery of Munsingwear's factory with screen-printed fabric featuring an original print by Straub and an external "caged" corset and headpiece. There was some criticism that the headpiece and look in general was too similar to Seth Aaron Henderson's SolarWorld collection presented at Sol Inspirations, but metal caged masks aren't exactly anything new. (Victor & Rolf featured them in their F/W 2006 show - which Gaga infamously donned at Sir Elton John's Ball in June 2010.) Either way, it's fun seeing the designer push himself in edgier directions with his fashions, though it's hard to detect a style that is distinctly Christopher Straub.

[Photo via Scoundrelle's Keep]

Danielle Everine continued on her sheer look she presented during Voltage last month with this look inspired by Munsingwear's push for active lifestyles in some of their 1940s ads. The sheerness of the garments allows the viewer to see every seam and stitch that goes into each piece - a really intriguing concept that is quite lovely and uniquely Danielle Everine.

[Photos via Scoundrelle's Keep]

Samantha Rei of Blasphemina's Closet played with her theme of "exposure" by exposing the knickers of her models via a sweet floral print against sorbet green.

[Photo via Scoundrelle's Keep]

Here I am backstage with some of the "authentic look" models. Unfortunately I haven't come up with any better photos of them, but the necklace on the model on the left is by Bionic Unicorn, and the flower hair clip is by Anna Lee's line Ruby3.

The guests were also super stylish:

[Photo via Art of Wore]

[Photo via Art of Wore]

[Max Sparber and Coco Mault. Photo via Art of Wore]

Here I am with designers Ivan Idland and Maritza Ramirez. Maritza and I are both wearing Ivan Idland designs, Maritza's having been from 2010's RetroRama.

[Photo via Art of Wore]

See more photos from the show via Art of Wore, Scoundrelle's Keep, and the Minnesota Historical Society, and Coco Mault recaps the event for MinnPost.

"Underwear: A Brief History" shows MN connection to the underwear industry

The history of modern underwear can be traced to none other than Minnesota's own Munsingwear. The Minnesota History Center's new exhibit "Underwear: A Brief History" (opening today) offers an in-depth look at the history of the underwear manufacturing industry via the Center's extensive collection of Munsingwear, a company that revolutionized the underwear industry as we know it. The exhibit showcases 50 pieces from more than 100 years of Munsingwear product samples (which were donated to the museum by the company).

[Munsingwear Merry Widow Corset, 1960]

The exhibition also comes just in time for the release of Susan Marks' new book, In the Mood for Munsingwear: Minnesota's Claim to Underwear Fame, which details the history of the brand and its lasting impact on textile manufacturing.

The MHC's annual RetroRama fashion show and event on May 12 will also feature an underwear theme, with burlesque dancers-as-models wearing vintage lingerie and vintage-inspired looks by Christopher Straub, Sarah White of Jagress Intimates, Samantha Rei of Blasphemina's Closet, Danielle Everine and Heather Luca of Scoundrelle's Keep.

Exhibition opens today and runs through September 11, 2011. Museum admission is $8-10. RetroRama takes place 7-10 p.m. Thursday, May 12. Tickets are $12-15. Minnesota History Center is located at 345 Kellogg Blvd. W., St. Paul, 651-259-3000, www.mnhs.org

Tonight: History of Hip presents "Minnesota Naughty"

Bet you didn't know the art of the pinup was born in Minnesota - not to mention the lingerie industry. The naughtier side of Minnesota history is getting exposed (pun intended) tonight at the Minnesota History Center's ongoing History of Hip series.

Visit the651.com to read more...

RetroRama 2010 announced

RetroRama, the annual retro-meets-modern fashion show and event, returns to the Minnesota History Center on Thursday, May 13. I'll be returning as the show's fashion stylist, joined by MNfashion (producer) and DJ Jake Rudh.

[Image by Nic Marshall, styling by Eclecticoiffuer, courtesy Minnesota Historical Society]

The show takes the decades of the 1920s through 1960s, and each of six local designers offer their modern spin on the styles of that era. This year's designers include Max Lohrbach, Ivan Idland, George Moskal, Joy Teiken of Joynoelle, and Kerry Riley of Red Shoe Clothing Co.

More from the press release:

Guests can also pick up retro accessories at the Minnesota History Center stores, and unearth unique finds at vintage boutiques, courtesy of Blacklist Vintage, Spectacle Shoppe, and Spinario Design.

Belt out favorite oldies with Joel Stitzel in the karaoke lounge, and make throwback specs, courtesy of the Spectacle Shoppe. Who knows more about specs than Ben Franklin? Learn about the man who invented bi-focals in the History Center exhibit “Benjamin Franklin: In Search of a Better World.” Visit with chef Dan Ritter as he shares a few tips on mid century cuisine and bartender Ryan Eklund from Psycho Suzi’s Motor Lounge and Tiki Garden will be on hand to demonstrate a few delicious cocktail recipes. Members of Dark Dark Dark provide a musical backdrop to the evening.

Vintage attire is encouraged. For inspiration, visit www.mnhs.org/retrorama and check out past RetroRama evenings with an online video showcasing some of the most fashion-forward vintage looks. Plus, explore a timeline of fashion history from the 1920s through the 1960s.

RetroRama is May 13, from 7 to 11 p.m. The fee is $15 or $12 for Minnesota Historical Society members. Parking is $5. Cash bars will be available and snacks can be purchased. Advanced tickets are recommended; for more information, call 651-259-3015 or purchase tickets online at www.mnhs.org/retrorama.