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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The #CFW saga continues…

Micah from PB&J PR invited me to “Inspired by Anne,” an exhibition honoring the work of fashion illustrator Anne Wainscott. Anne did a lot of work for Shillito’s Department Store (which became Lazarus before being purchased by Macy’s) back in the day, and many of her drawings look just as fresh today as they did then.

Micah was a sweetheart, and I would rock that suit from the illustration tomorrow if I could.

Anne was so cute and tiny (she’s 93 and claims she’s been shrinking since her 70′s!) and seemed really excited and humbled about all of the hullabaloo around her.

We chatted a bit and she gave me a tip that I’ve always thought was the cornerstone of realism: draw what you see. Not what you think you see or how your brain interprets what you see, but what’s right there in front of you. She may have inspired me to pull out my dusty collection of colored pencils and charcoals and give it a try.

While waiting for my glass of vino, I ran into the lovely ladies from Chicken Lays an Egg, whose site I’d discovered earlier that day. I also got a few photos of the window display, which were all creative interpretations inspired by P&G products. The entire event was extremely well put together and was obviously organized by creative professionals accustomed to making brands look good. Well played, Landor.

In full bloom

The same evening, I headed over to Future Blooms (I just learned what they do even though I’ve walked past their studio a skillion times) for the Cincinnati Fashion Week Merchant Fair and met some of the talented vendors there.

I fell in love with a pair of vintage mules–which are totally not my usual style–and a soft suede vintage-frame handbag.

I also met Catherine, who not only creates lovely jewelry, but runs the Future Blooms studio. She and her husband were really nice and just too cute for words.

While I was there, my spidey-sense started tingling and led me to the rear part of the studio, where lo and behold, there was food! Of course I stopped to check it out. You know, just to be polite.

This guy is a local Slow Food advocate and chef looking to open a restaurant in the area etc. That’s all great, but the real kicker?

He was making fresh mozzarella cheese.

Making it. Cheese. With his hands. Cheese, y’all! I didn’t even know you could do that.

I sampled a piece or eight and marveled at the taste and texture, which was especially yummy atop a slice of garlic-y, buttery Shadeau bread. Seriously, I could’ve eaten that all night. And today. Probably tomorrow, too…

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Monday marked the start of the very first Cincinnati Fashion Week, a 5-day extravaganza of parties and events designed to entertain and provide me with an excuse (finally!) to break out the Giuseppes.

It’s also the week of article submission deadlines for the upcoming issue of Style Sample, so posting will either be very heavy (if I manage to get my ish together), or very light (if I collapse into a quivering mass of nerves), depending on how much alcohol is involved.*

Monday started with a reception at The Brush Factory (if you recall, founder Rosie was featured in issue #5 of Style Sample). Genius that I am, I remembered my camera but forgot the battery, which it needs in order to, you know, function.  Obviously, I didn’t get any pictures at the event, so you’ll have to make do with photos of photos from their lookbook, which is about as bootleg as it gets.

On Tuesday night, I stopped by the designer meet-and-greet at FB (no, not Facebook–an actual bar) and, having remembered my camera and battery, took a bunch of random pictures under the guise of continuing my foray into photography.

Lesson of the night: do not attempt to take candid shots of fashion people.  They can detect when a camera is pointed at them with almost laser precision, and will invariably smile and pose as soon as the flash goes off. Seriously, every time.

Adorable guy whose name I forget with CFW founder Nathan

Stylish partygoers

A CFW volunteer with designer and model Ashley (right), who I recognized from the Rachel Rachel Roy spring lookbook. She said they randomly contacted her and asked her to fly to NY for the shoot!

Dude’s shoes were so cool, I took a picture. ‘Cause I’m shallow like that.

Cincy Chic founder Amy with Nathan

Designer Lisa Malanij was there with her publicist, who works for an agency but does freelance PR & design on the side. Now that’s what I like to see–get out there and make things happen!

*Likely not very much, because I drink maybe one glass of wine per month. However…I’m thinking this week may require a break from the norm.

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Yet another fashion month has passed without any need for participation from yours truly. Don’t they know I’m supposed to be running thangs?

The Spring 2010 shows kicked off with New York Fashion Week back in September, and the fact that I wasn’t a part of Fashion’s Night Out and didn’t get to attend Alex Wang’s after party (We used to hang out in gas station parking lots back in my college party days–who knew we were starting a trend?) doesn’t bother me at all.

The fact that Matthew Williamson and Luella Bartley showed in London for the first time in years even though I wasn’t there is fine.

The fact that MiuMiu and Marni and Missoni (oh my!) went off without a hitch in Milan senza me is irrelevant.

The fact that Tommy Ton wasn’t snapping close-ups of my imaginary Chloe thigh high boots in Paris means nothing to me.

It’s fine. I’m fine. It all looked dreadfully boring anyway.

So.

Here are some of my favorites in random order with frivolous yet thought-provoking commentary, all arranged in a completely haphazard fashion:
Can’t you see Amber Rose breaking out of her Cirque du Soleil-worthy-catsuit rut with this Tim Hamilton dress?

Parade enough Dries in front of me, and I start thinking I can successfully mix multiple prints a la The Glamourai. Alas, I cannot.

Isabel Marant (and by association, Emmanuelle Alt) can do no wrong when it comes to Left Bank flea market chic.

This Mark Fast frock is begging for Posh to jump into it perfectly manicured feet first. Don’t worry, I’ll take care of David while she’s busy…

Lanvin brought tears to my eyes. Bravo, M. Elbaz! I shall wear a bowtie and grow a round tummy* in your honor.

Some people are against knock-offs. I am not one of them (unless obvious branding/logos are involved). In this case, I’m gonna need someone to knock off these Wang booties stat. I’m looking at you, Steve Madden…

Images from Style.com

What did you think of Fashion Month? Any favorites?

*Already in progress

You’ll like these, too:
Shop the Couture
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Though it’s almost the complete opposite of the fierce Xena Takes Manhattan looks we saw on the Fall runways, I was drawn to this softly feminine ensemble at Louis Vuitton. By using draping and ruching instead of ruffles and frills, toning down candy-sweet shades of pink with neutral beige, and adding glossy black accents via accessories, it’s a modern take on femme fatale that’s easy to duplicate:

You’ll like these, too:
Runway Copycat: Marc Jacobs
Show Nuff: London Fashion Week
Wear it Now: Fall 2009

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Dynasty reruns notwithstanding, I think we can safely say 80′s fashion has been in full-on revival mode since the surprisingly persistent return of the legging. Though early 90′s-era grunge has been threatening to take over for the last few seasons, the multitude of shoulder pads on the Fall runways indicated that, at least ’til next February, the 80′s are still the retro decade of the moment.

Images, Style.com

To get in on the bold shoulder action, I of course turned to vintage. Why pay oodles of cash for new Armani when old JC Penney will do just fine?

While thrifting, I found this linen blazer as part of a two-piece set that included a dress I still haven’t had altered due to the fact that I keep convincing myself “I can take it in my darn self.”  Months later, this has proven to be extremely unlikely, so I figured I’d take the jacket for a spin on its own.  Already armed with puffed shoulders, a nipped waist, and an exaggerated peplum, I paired the jacket with simple pieces–skinny black pants, a simple gold camisole–and added a vintage belt and earrings and snakeskin Zanotti heels for interest.

I think the trick to making these jumpin’ jack flashback pieces work is to stick to one retro item and keep the rest as modern as possible.

What do you think? How do you mix your vintage pieces with the rest of your wardrobe?

Read these, too:
You don’t have to watch Dynasty
Got ‘em!
Easter Style: Suited Up

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The major designer’s 2010 Cruise Collections made their rounds last week. Cruise collections (also called resort) are pre-season lines designed for the time between January-March when well-heeled wealthy folks traditionally went on luxurious cruises to tropical locales–the better to avoid the bitter cold, my dear.

As I am obviously not one of those trust-funded types, my reason for following the cruise collections is a bit different and clearly self-serving: designers are showing clothes meant for warmer weather when the weather is actually warm!

This means I can take inspiration from the looks created and immediately apply them to my wardrobe, as opposed to having to watch Spring shows in February and wait for the weather to warm up. Which means I’m actually a season ahead! Ha! Take that, fashion industry!

Here are a few of my favorites:

You can integrate these key pieces into your wardrobe and have the look down pat in no time:

From left: Crispin & Basilio skirt, Revolve Clothing; skinny jeans, Forever21; Print dress, Kate Moss for Topshop; Cuffed shorts, Gap; Dramatic necklace, Forever21; Alexander Wang slouchy tee, LaGarconne; Bally strappy heels, Intermix; Boy by Band of Outsiders tailored blazer, Oak NYC.

Just because the only “cruise” I’ll be going on depends on traffic on I-75 doesn’t mean I can’t participate in the fashion fun!

Read these, too:
Wear it Now: Fall 2009
Style: Philip Lim Copycat
Show ‘Nuff: Paris Fashion Week

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The crazy schedule of the fashion industry (Spring shows in September, Fall shows in February) has thrown off my seasonal sensibilities for years. As a result, I usually start craving Fall items around the beginning of July or so. It’s kind of ridiculous–in the midst of watching fireworks on Sawyer Point in 90-degree weather wearing short-shorts and a tank top, I’m daydreaming about boots and sweaters!

This year, the craving has set in a bit early and it’s much more specific: I can’t stop thinking about thigh-high boots. If you recall, they were all over the Autumn/Winter runways:

Images, Style.com

I keep thinking about wearing them with a floaty romper, dangly earrings, and a brightly printed shawl, sort of like a cross between Talitha Getty and a YSL-clad Veruschka with a little Pretty Woman thrown in for good measure. Definitely a 70′s vibe.

1. Diane Yang earrings, Max & Chloe 2. Warehouse playsuit, asos.com 3. Jamawar shawl, Shawls-scarf-stoles.com 4. Sunglasses, Forever21 5. Two Lips boots, Zappos

However…it is June after all, and thigh high boots aren’t necessarily warm-weather friendly.  Am I being ridiculous? How do you wear things that are technically out of season?

Related Posts:
Show-Nuff: New York Fashion Week
Show-Nuff: London Fashion Week

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I remember buying this top on a thrifting adventure a few years ago, but I don’t remember why. Most likely, I figured I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to buy what was basically a tee shirt made out of gold sequins. Really, what self-respecting thrift-loving fashionista could?

Only, I haven’t really worn it. A crazy halloween costume doesn’t count (I was Rick James, bitch). Neither does dress up around the house, which happens just as often as it did when I was five. So, inspired by the 3.1 Philip Lim fall show, I tried to figure out a way to make it work.

Shirt, blazer & belt, vintage; trousers, Luxe.

Have you ever figured out a way to wear the unworn items in the back of your closet? What did you do with them?

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The opening look for the Spring 2009 3.1 Philip Lim show was one of the most popular of the season–and really, what’s not to like?  However, if you look closely, you can see that the pieces that make up the look are fairly common: slouchy black pants, short sleeved white blouse, cropped vest (okay, the gold Sargeant Pepper styling is pretty special), and black open-toe shoes.

It can be interpreted in a number of ways! Here’s mine:

You probably have most of these items in your closet, but just in case…

Were there any runway looks that caught your eye? How are you interpreting them?

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