Le Petit Connaisseur de la Mode

Thursday, June 17, 2010

Local fashion roundup: weekend edition

l'etoile has new fashion reviews up: Click HERE for Beth Hammarlund's review of "I Feel Love" and HERE for Tara Sloane's review of the Vita.mn Poolside Fashion Show.

[Look by Ra'mon-Lawrence Coleman; Image by Tara Sloane for l'etoile]

City Pages also has a review of the "I Feel Love" show by Jen Boyles.

FiveTwoSix Salon in St. Paul has announced that NAHA award-winning hairstylist and former Shear Genius contestant Faatemah Ampey is joining their ranks as a stylist.

Local design duo Calpurnia Peach post a preview of their shoot with Hillary Berg for their new line of screen-printed pillows.

Somehow I've never seen Christine Carmichael's Voltage lookbook photos of her adorable line until now. Check them out at her facebook page.

Vision model Ashlee Walker - a popular choice for editorial spreads throughout the Twin Cities this spring - has been signed an agency in New York. She was also recently a featured model on models.com.

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Local fashion roundup: mid-week edition

[Photo by Digital Crush from "I Feel Love"; fashions by Mackenzie Labine]

Digital Crush posts photos from "I Feel Love."

Be sure to check out Cliche this week - Mackenzie Labine is dropping off her adorable new designs from "I Feel Love" for purchase!

Now you can be the owner of an official Coco & Breezy t-shirt for a cool $55.

Photog Jenn Cress posts new photos from her “Red” shoot.

Ignite model Sarah Leistico is now working in New York; here are some recent shots of her in a NYC test shoot.

Alex B from Ignite has been signed to Factor (formerly Elite) in Chicago.

Check out some behind-the-scenes shots of Ignite model Raina Hein (now with Wilhelmina in Miami) from her shoot in Dubai for Symphony Style that will appear in the July issue of Harper's Bazaar Arabia.

Smashing Darling blog interviews CounterCouture proprietor Angie Arner.

Former Project Runway contestant Korto Momolu is part of the lineup of the Runway Africa fashion show at Epic on July 17.

And earlier this week on my blog:

Amanda Christine's Fall 2010 lookbook;
Danielle Everine's Spring 2010 lookbook;
Raina Hein in PFT Couture shoot;
Robb Long's Fashion Fight Night shoot;
Kevin Kramp gets more international press

And via Vita.mn online:

Macy Gray to headline Macy's Glamorama;
Cross Walk local designer show preview at Cliche

Kevin Kramp gets more international press

Locally-based avant-garde knitwear designer Kevin Kramp is definitely not shy to the national scene. After spending most of his post-high school years in London and New York, Kramp recently returned to his homestage of Minnesota, and quickly hit the Voltage stage in April and picked up a Jerome fellowship at the Textile Center (coming up this fall) and a high-profile gig as men's knitwear and collection designer for St. Croix Knits in Winona, Minnesota.

Now the designer has some new international press. London-based website www.notjustalabel.com is spotlighting last year's "most inspiring" graduates from European design schools, including Kramp himself. Read the article here. In other Kramp news, Nokia-sponsored, artist-run German publication Sounds Like Me has done a recent feature on his knitwork, along with other recent emerging knitwear designers. (But be warned, the article is only viewable in German.)

Just announced: Macy Gray to headline Glamorama

[Originally posted at Vita.mn online]

Grammy-winning singer Macy Gray - of the raspy voice and wacky fashion choices - has been announced as the headliner of Macy's Glamorama this summer. It's an interesting move for the Chicago-based retailer, provided the limited exposure the artist has received since her 1999 single "I Try" - but if initial reviews of her upcoming album The Sellout are any indication, she just may be a solid choice. The Minneapolis show will kick off what will be a four-city tour of the production including stops in L.A. and San Francisco - a sizable expansion for the long-running show, which previously had only taken place in Minneapolis and Chicago. The annual benefit for the Children's Cancer Research Fund will take place on August 6 at the Orpheum Theatre and include Fall 2010 runway fashions from Jean Paul Gaultier, Just Cavalli, Marc Jacobs, Philosophy di Alberta Ferretti, Sonia Rykiel, SportMax, Versace for men, and Issey Miyake in its Glamorama debut. -Jahna Peloquin

Robb Long's Fashion Fight Night shoot

Photographer Robb Long sent me a link (via Metro Mag) from a recent shoot he did using locally-designed, custom clothing for Fashion Fight Night earlier this year.

by Mary O'Regan

His stylist, Hollie Mae of HMStyling, decided to ask some local designers if they'd be interested in creating a single look — one for each of the three segments of the photography shoot-out. Her original plan was as follows:

"My vision of Fashion Fight Night was to collaborate with local designers and create wardrobe from scratch. This way we could style specifically to each round with never seen before fashion, but also give homage to the talents of local designers. I had ideas of hoop skirts, pointed shoulders, and high cut legs. I then found designers that were already using these elements in some of there previous work. The idea really was a blessing because the designers I asked to work with were experts at there craft, very professional, and contributed great enthusiasm to the team. I gave direction for each look with specific color and cut, then each designer took the idea, executed it perfectly and added there own twist. It was like the designers read my mind and followed through effortlessly. We even added a extra designer to build the hat for our first look. Everyone collaborated beautifully as a group and made a cohesive look to our wardrobe. The final styling of jewels and heels was icing on the perfect triple layer cake! The entire team was thrilled with the wardrobe and we felt well represented for our first time in the ring!"

The black look by Niki English of Niki Designs, above, might be my fave. It's paired with a hat by Hilary Hubanks. Don't you just love the shoulder treatment? The fabric almost looks like liquid. The gist of the event was to stand out; this dress does that and then some.

Next was a cheery dress by designer Jenny Carle.

I love the strikingly vibrant red and the fun, one-shoulder cut. It fits Tearra perfectly. Speaking of fun dresses, check out Jenny's website for her just-released summer collection.

And last but not least we have a super sexy leotard by Rachel deLange for j-fi Fashion.

This was the finale piece, which makes complete sense considering the goal was the shock and amaze the audience. Ignite model Tearra's killer bod and smooth moves did exactly that. I did the styling in this shot too — biker gloves and chunky jewelry. Navy and yellow is one of my fave color combos. Bravo to the team that put this together: Robb Long (photographer), Hollie Mae (stylist), Kate Erickson (hair and makeup).

Raina Hein in PFT Couture

Local designer Pafoua Thao of PFT Couture has just released a new test shoot showcasing her designs (past and present) on America's Next Top Model runner-up Raina Hein.

The reason Raina nearly took home the grand prize is apparent - she is clearly workin' it. And Pafoua showcases not only her design skills (the glittery black one-sleeved mini dress is killer, as is the white tie-neck blouse), but also her ability as a stylist. I'm loving the heavy cuffs worn on one hand.

Photographer: Wade Gunderson
Model - Raina Hein (Ignite), Cycle 14 ANTM Runner Up
Wardrobe - Pafoua Thao, PFT Couture
Hair and Make Up- Wendy Zarate