Coco & Breezy model Nous Sommes pendants

Minneapolis natives now based out of NYC, eyewear/accessories designers Coco & Breezy model Nous Sommes necklaces in a new photo shoot. The popular French accessory line turns pop culture idols into iconography for your neck. Their six-piece collection includes busts of Terry Richardson, Karl Lagerfeld, Lady Gaga, Spike Lee, Grace Jones and Michael Jackson. Perhaps Coco & Breezy will get their own faces on a pendant one day? (Via cocoandbreezy.blogspot.com.)

Spring 2011 MNfashion Week announced

L: Photo courtesy Ignite. C: Voltage 2011 by Mordac. R: Photo courtesy KOKOON

Spring MNfashion Week has officially been announced for April 11-17, 2011. Since 2007, MNfashion Week has given independent designers, boutique owners and other industry professionals a chance to showcase their work and their brands, and has been a key part in helping to evolve the Twin Cities' fashion industry.

New this year is a formal application process for potential event holders. It should work to ensure that all events reach high standards, support the local fashion community, and contribute to industry growth in the Twin Cities - as well as be sure there is not overlap with events on particular days. Registration runs now through March 11 at www.mnfashionweek.com. Questions can be directed to Nicole.MNfashionWeek@gmail.com.

Anne M Cramer previews spring designs

Here's a little cheer for a gloomy January day. Local designer Anne M Cramer popped onto my radar this past fall with her delectable confectionery, ultra-feminine pieces. Anne's focus appears to be more about a few key pieces in a variety of fabrics and colors, rather than one-offs, as well as on classic pieces with a slightly vintage appeal.

She's just previewed a new design, The Flynn Skirt, for Spring 2011. The bold striped a-line skirt comes in a variety of colors against white: moss, sunshine, cherry, nautical (navy) and ink (black), retailing for $160. They'll be available beginning February 1 at select retailers nationwide. Check www.annemcramer.com then for a complete list.

Local inspiration: muses and lenses

Another round of local fashion muses and fashion photography via Facebook uploads and the blogroll - a little taste of local inspiration.

Christian Erickson snaps his wife, singer Janey Winterbauer, looking ethereal.

Photographer assistant Cayla Caul Field gets smoke in her eyes.

Wynona Grey shoots stylish duo Carlin and Madison Van Holmes in Uptown for street style photography blog Minneapolis Affair.

Brad Ogbonna shoots Emily Kapsner getting iced.

Vanessa Meade shoots her latest muse, Marjorie Braddock.

Vision model Ashlee Walker, as photographed by Jenn Cress.

Dirty Hair Halo blogger Shannon Licari makes the best of the chilly weather.

Geisha Pearl Vintage owner/blogger Kitty Cotten celebrates the New Year.

Lovepower booker Garrison Grouse captures his lady Cecily Groves in a state of swoon.

Hannah von der Hoff (also the stylist for the shoot) whips her hair. Photo by Filipe Marques.

Fairshadow Photography posted this masquerade-inspired image of Rin Schwartz.

Hollie Mae creative directed this promo shoot featuring Ignite model Jessica for the Crystal Ball: Masked Affair NYE party. Photo: Ellie Bryan.

Local fashion link roundup

[Photo: Louie Aguila]

Minnesota native model Raina Hein (of America's Next Top Model fame) is gets dreamy in this shoot by Pasadena photographer Louie Aguila.

Local photographer Eliesa Johnson shoots fall fashions from haute men's shop BlackBlue.

Ellen Dahl Lawson shoots the crowd at the Shanghaied New Year's Eve party at Graves 601 Hotel for Vita.mn.

METRO Magazine fashion editor Mary O'Regan details her favorite product photography for her blog Art of Wore.

Mary O'Regan also lists the Twin Cities' best-kept shopping secrets for METRO.

Sohail Akhavein, a frequent fixture of my weekly "muses and and lenses" feature, just announced he will be having a photography exhibition (with l'etoile and Voltage project manager and painter Natalie Gallagher) at Umber Studios on January 22.

Crooked Teeth Magazine (a new, local, crafty-cool style publication) just announced their release party on January 15 at the Coffee Shop NE.

Fairshadow Photography's "Whimsical Red" shoot

As previewed in an earlier post, Carla Hagland of Fairshadow Photography has posted her full "Whimsical Red" photo shoot - complete with some lovely, snowy outdoor shots. It features a dress by neo-Victorian designer Megan Maude, who has a local connection through the Minneapolis-based Libertine Asylum.

Here's a selection; the full set is viewable here.







Photos: Fairshadow Photography
Model: Cristina Peterson
Makeup: Lucinda Connaker
Hair: Carla Hagland

NYE style: Emma Berg's Mongolian goat hair coat

I had to post this picture of the Mongolian goat hair coat Emma Berg created for her New Year's Eve ensemble. She originally order the goat hair from Mongolia for her MIA mini-collection, but it didn't come in time. Fortunately she was able to make it into something much more wearable, and of course, très chic.

Emma's also wearing sheer organza pants from her Voltage 2010 collection and a Tallulah sequin bustier. I'm wearing a friend's vintage rabbit fur coat and Emma's Yigal Azrouël sequin dress. We both had our hair and makeup done by Julie Swenson at Smart & Chic Beauty Lounge.

UPDATE: Emma also made a Mongolian goat hair collar for Kate Iverson (of l'etoile and Secrets of the City):