I love designer collaborations. From Target to Topshop, high-end designers have been successfully partnering with mass-market retailers for the better part of the past decade, delighting consumers with champagne taste and beer budgets (comme moi).

Designer Jodi Arnold, best known for her contemporary line MINT, is bringing her aesthetic to the masses with a line for The Limited. Known for interesting embellishments, unique prints, and attention to detail, her fall collection for the brand features appliqued tops, tailored skirts and trousers, and a black and white embroidered tunic that will surely find its way into my closet.

BOY by Band of Outsiders SKIRT, La Garconne; Ann Demeulemeester SANDAL BOOTIES, Brown’s Fashion; Noir EARRINGS, Shopbop; Comme des Garcons JACKET, Farfetch; Topshop TROUSERS; Louboutin HEELS, Brown’s Fashion.

So here’s the deal: I have a few ideas, but I need some more suggestions on how to wear the tunic. Thanks to Cincy Chic, I’m giving away a $25 gift certificate that can be used at any The Limited location. Leave a comment on this post with a suggestion for how to style the tunic to be entered into the drawing for the $25 gift certificate! I’m thinking it would be an easy piece to mix with other prints since it’s black and white–what do you think?

Comment entries must be received by midnight EDT on August 8, 2010. Jodi and her team will be at The Limited’s Kenwood Mall location on August 18th from 6-9pm, so maybe I’ll see you there!

Old school collabo?

This particular collaboration brings back a forgotten memory: years ago, back in my college days, I saw a lovely printed blouse in a vintage shop. I picked it up to check the label, and to my surprise, the tag read DESIGNER NAME for The Limited!

I can’t remember the designer’s name to save my life–I’m almost positive it was a female designer–but it was definitely a name I recognized. I’m guessing the blouse had to be from the late 80′s, possibly early 90′s… That was the first time I remember seeing evidence of a designer collaborating with a retail brand–before H&M, before Topshop, before anyone.

Was The Limited that far ahead of its time? Any ideas on who the designer might have been?

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The inaugural edition of Cincinnati Fashion Week ended on a high note last week, with a show for emerging designers at Suite at Blackfinn on Thursday and el grande finale (I like to mix French and Spanish—I call it Sprench*) fashion show Friday evening at the Hyatt.

I attended an AIGA event about the future of design on Thursday evening (possibly more on that later), but I arrived at the fashion show just in time to see the Lisa Malanij and Lindsey Lusignolo collections strut down the runway. There was a certain dichotomy on display: Lisa’s collection would surely look at home on the likes of punk-pop divas like Rihanna and Ciara, while Lindsey’s vintage-inspired flapper dresses and satin gowns practically cried out for Dita von Teese. Divergent styles, indeed.

I tried to keep going, but was so tired from a full day at work + the design event that I didn’t even bother to change out of my flats (me! in a club!)—I drank my Shirley Temple, took a few not-so-great photos, grabbed some Chipotle, and headed home.

Friday was the “big dog” event, complete with VIP section, an appearance by Cincinnati Mayor Mark Mallory, and runway finale by Cincinnati-bred designer David Meister.

I volunteered to work the VIP section, but things got a little wacky with the guest lists not being printed properly (was anyone else reminded of that “Kell on Earth” episode with the Chado dramz?), so I was recruited to man the VIP area in the main ballroom. I tried to focus on taking pictures and convincing myself that my shoes felt as good as they looked as I checked people’s wristbands, but it was all for naught.

Vendors were set up in the main lobby, and the line to get in was loooong.

The crowd waited (im)patiently for the show to begin, while the event hosts ham it up on stage.

I nabbed a seat early, but wound up spending most of the show on the floor at the foot of the runway with a few other photographers. People kept asking me if I was a photographer. I almost lied and said yes, but I figure I should at least get a real flash before I start telling that fib.

The show started with St. Louis-based TrashBiscuit and included 12 designers, including Cincinnati collective The Brush Factory (remember the article about Rosie in issue #5 of Style Sample?), Grace Mae, Arbitrage, Mila Pershyna, Daequan, Anne Pachan, Lisa Malanij, Amy Kirchen, Laura Dawson, Amy Longo, and David Meister.

This vest and dress were my favorite pieces from The Brush Factory’s collection–which received enthusiastic applause, though their music was apparently changed sans notification–and I’ve already checked into having a custom version of the dress made. Hey, they had the flats right there!

Trash Biscuit was fun, colorful, and raunchy–like Richie Rich’s wet dream.

Are you telling me that Lisa Malanij look isn’t perfect for a Ciara video? Emily, call her stylist stat!

David Meister’s collection was elegant and refined, as expected. My personal taste is much less so, but the dresses were lovely nonetheless.

I was too pooped to hit the after party (getting old…), so I finished** my wine, hopped on my bike (probably not the best idea since I was operating on an empty stomach), and wobbled my way home.

Any other Cincinnati Fashion Week attendees out there? What did you think?

*Or should it be Franish?
**By “finished,” I mean I drank half of the glass and left the rest behind. I’m kind of a lightweight.

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We talked about the design process and product line from Nati Evolvement in Part 1 of the interview. Now it’s time to find out who’s buying their stuff and what else the guys are up to.

Who’s a Nati?
So who’s buying Nati Evolvement gear (and getting the possibly naughty notes)? People all across the country and around the world who wear Nati on their sleeve as an outward display of their pride for their hometown.

“It’s amazing to see our online orders come in from San Fransisco, Philadelphia, New York and other places around the country as people still want a way to connect with home and show their pride in our city.”

They get a lot of emails, texts, and MySpace messages with stories about people connecting away from home because they recognize the Nati line and realize they have something in common–something they never would have known about otherwise.

Part of the Community
It’s those types of stories that feed their interest in community outreach.

“…In many ways we still pride ourselves on our involvement in community events and partnerships. That’s really what we’re about, promoting the positive things taking place in our city and helping to spread the gospel.”

They’re also passionate about providing small businesses with the tools they need to succeed.

“We also get really excited about those companies who help to change the landscape of things in the community, from a neighborhood restaurant to a community festival and anything in between.”

They do other stuff, too
The guys do more than t-shirts, you know. From logo design and business cards to uniforms and menus, they offer full branding services, and say they especially enjoy working with people who are passionate and focused on their business objectives.

“Building off of their passion for what they do and their vision we get almost as excited about the project as them and take that energy into the design process.”

Much of their design business has come from word-of-mouth referrals and people who have seen their t-shirts. I speculate that each time someone walks down the street in a Nati Evolvement tee, it’s almost like a walking advertisement for their work!

“We’ve had the great fortune to work with some great new restaurants including Lavomatic and The Rookwood Bar & Restaurant and a new place called Senate that you should see this fall.”

They’ve also created designs for the Midpoint Music Festival, the local Unicef chapter’s TAP Project, the Eco Go Go fashion show–anything that helps them connect with people dedicated to improving the community.

What’s next
So what’s next for Nati? In addition to web design, Adam is also a videographer and they plan on expanding that side of the business, which will be increasingly important as more mobile devices support video. There’s a new website in the works with two sidAdd New Post ‹ The Style Sample — WordPresses–one for design, one for clothing–which should launch by the end of the month, and they’ve been working on launch splashes with Tyler from MTV’s Taking the Stage. They also want to expand the children’s clothing line.

“Cincinnati’s a great place for young families and we want to ensure that even the little ones have some sweet Nati gear.”

You can get your Nati Evolvement at Denim and Park + Vine in Cincinnati, or online at www.GetNati.com. Stop by and say hello on MySpace or on their blog at getnati.blogspot.com.

Read these, too:
Interview with: Nati Evolvement Part 1
Style: A Lovely Day
Red, Pink and Blue Fashion Show

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Last week, I received an email from Cincy Chic about a trunk show at Cincy Designer Shoes in Hyde Park. Naturally, my raging shoe obsession compelled me to make my way over there to check things out.

The trunk show was for LaDuca, a line of shoes created by Phil LaDuca, who has designed shoes for everyone from Penelope Cruz to Uma Thurman. The man knows his stuff–I’d been there less than two minutes before he determined my shoe size and correctly picked the most Tamia-ish pair of shoes from his fall line!

Thanks to the graciousness of Phil and the wonderful staff at Cincy Designer Shoes, I tried on shoe after gorgeous shoe and was consistently surprised and delighted at how comfortable they were.  And I mean seriously comfortable, not just “yeah, I could walk a few blocks in these” comfortable. As it turns out, LaDuca also produces a line of dance shoes, so the built-in shock absorption and arch support dancers need translates nicely to the fashion line.
It didn’t hurt that the lovely staff at Cincy Designer Shoes is just as helpful as they are stylish. Pictured here (all wearing LaDuca shoes, of course) from left to right: Flora Schwartz, boutique owner Carrie Cameron, Jamie Shugarman, and Rae Cameron (Carrie’s mom!).

If you’re ever in the neighborhood, be sure to stop by. If you go this week, you might see me picking up the free pair of LaDuca shoes I won in their raffle! Free shoes = happy me!

Read these, too:
Fantasy Shopping: Shoes
Style Psychology 101: Ugly But Cool Shoes
Shoe Yearning: Got ‘Em!

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