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Showing posts with label St. Louis Fashion. Show all posts
Showing posts with label St. Louis Fashion. Show all posts

Sunday, October 6, 2013

St. Louis Fashion Week Project: Design

Cocktail hour, held in a room chock full of St. Louis Fashion's "who's who," was buzzing with excitement for Project: Design. A contest for emerging designers who would leave their guts on the floor of the runway upstairs.

I was lucky enough to tag along with Suzy Bacino backstage to meet all the designers while they pitched their collections to the judges before the show started. This was my favorite part. Not because I saw fashion I couldn't live without (although there are a few things I can't get out of my head), but because these courageous people were laying their hearts on the line as they described each collection, why they made it, what it represents, what inspired it and how they hope it makes us feel. The collections were wildly adventurous and unique. From thrift store clothes cut up and re-sewn to other vintage clothes to translucent coats to beautiful, bright African fabrics to dresses made from hand-molded felt and wool (seriously these were only one piece, no seams. Q Liu HAND MOLDED THE PIECES. It's actually called felting.), they were all making a statement. And the statement was, "Pick me!"

Miita (visit www.miitacollection.com) won 1st place. Their collection is incredibly cool, especially their coats. I want one. The coats are translucent vinyl, which is perfect for people who love their outfits because wearing a Miita coat means never leaving the house wearing only your coat. People do that, right?

my favorite of the whole show, the vinyl coat. wish you could feel it


meet Miita
Kristen Carsrud & Angela Brigioni

Q Liu, the designer gifted with felting, was awarded second place. Her collection is very impressive and unlike anything I've ever seen. Each peace is seamlessly molded by hand and portrays a bird on the front. The birds were not painted, but felted into shape as well. Unbelievable works of art.


my favorite piece in her collection
 

meet Qun Liu


Other designers at Project: Design were Abaya Drake, who won the people's choice award, Maria Silver, Lauren Bander, Elise Lammert and Spansen Files. It was a great night, full of things fresh and new. It's a rare and wonderful thing to find something new.


floating shoes -  Is this what heaven is like?


Before heading to the show. I know, I know, I'm ASOS obsessed.
Asos dress, Banana Republic booties, YSL clutch
necklace & bracelets: Stella & Dot

 
Quin loves the BR booties too











 

Saturday, September 28, 2013

More Than Once

The worst thing about dressing for a formal event, is buying a dress you'll only wear once. Let's face it, there aren't many dresses that can accomplish fancy-frock and shopping-with-the-girls. (No matter what your best friend, the bride, says) But this gorgeous floor-length dress will make you the belle of the ball and street chic!

More Than Once

Monday, September 16, 2013

Over the Wedding (guest) Dress Hurdle

I went right up and over it. I had to stretch myself, and push some people down (just the ones in my head telling me to get a new dress, crazy!), but I made it. And it wasn't that hard. (It actually turned out to be a perfect flowing choice given the menu: fried chicken, filet mignon, mac 'n cheese and some other green stuff.) I wore a dress I love from my closet, and I had the best time! I felt confident, comfortable and well-dressed. Take a peek:

Black Asos high-low dress
My hardware: Stella & Dot (for more info contact Suzy at www.stelladot.com/suzybacino)
Nude Delman pumps

 


The bride! Ms. Rachel Cannon was breathtakingly, tear-jerkingly (literally, I cried when she appeared), drop-dead gorgeous. She married Noah Engh in a custom design by Mark Zunino, who currently has a bridal line at Kleinfelds. Her beautiful gown featured vintage lace and beading on top with a plunging (did I mention PLUNGING?) neckline in front and back. The bottom was matte jersey with a 3-ft. train. Her hair piece was BHLDN and her sexy shoes were "Stingray" heels by Ralph Lauren. Rachel's diamond earrings and bracelets were on loan from Claude Morady in Beverly Hills. Hair and makeup by Rachel Stolte. Perfection.
 
 
 

 
 
 Fun in a Frame: Me, Rachel, Shawna
 
  Patrick & I at the wedding
 
 
Besides the main event, my husband, another couple and I crammed tons of fun into the wedding weekend, including a pre-wedding rooftop party and tons of shopping on Rodeo, at the Grove and on Abbot Kinney. This was challenging. I was shopping, but I wasn't buying. It was funny (and sweet) how my girlfriend, Shawna, and my husband felt sorry for me! Shawna suggested a caveat to my commitment, which would be that the entire challenge only applies when I'm in St. Louis. Love her, but no, that's cheating. My husband thought it would be okay if he bought me a gift while there...a gift I should pick out for myself and receive for no reason. A gift that would be paid for by our joint account...you get the idea. Love him, but no, that's cheating too. I'm definitely not saying I won't accept gifts (yes, you're reading that correctly, let me know if you need my address), it just can't be from our bank account and for no reason. I'll be desperate and encouraging the hubs to give me a fix by Christmas! In addition to shopping, the four of us rode TANDEM bikes from the Santa Monica pier to Venice Beach. This was an exercise in "team building" that we don't plan to duplicate. I kept telling my husband it was like "Three's Company" and he finally said, "they crashed that bike in the end!" (I'm not sure that's accurate, but you're feeling the vibe, right?) We ate tons of great food too, including lunch at one of my faves, Primitivo Wine Bistro. If you're ever in the area, don't skip it.
 
 
On the roof of the Avalon Hotel in Beverly Hills
 
 
Me & P having a pre-wedding drink
 

Our friends, Shawna and DeBray, me & P

 
 
 
My favorite find while there. Carter Leather Bodice Ball Gown by Alice & Olivia. (they styled it with a belt in the store) Somebody should buy this, STAT. *side note: when you go to www.aliceandolivia.com and sign up for emails, it says, "repeat after me: I deserve new clothes." Love it.
 
Don't forget to click "follow" by my picture or "subscribe by email" below. Until next time, smooches!