KCFW: Blogger Preview

This past Saturday, my fellow bloggers and I were invited to the ultra-glam Hotel Phillips for a sneak peak into a few of the Kansas City Fashion Week's designers' sketchbooks.  It seemed a rare treat indeed; I had thought that a designers' sketchbook was a bit more like a closely-guarded diary, and I felt honored to take a peek inside.

Michelle Kleineweber of Little Shell Designs, was humble enough to share her sketchbook, blushing and embarrassed when I asked her about some notations and doodlings in amongst the clothing designs.  While last fall brought us ready-to-wear, Michelle has a line-up full of gowns (inspired by semi-precious gemstones from around the world) in polka dots and chiffon (yeah, I'm excited to see what she does with the polka dots!)

Little Shell Designs, her inspiration, a peek into her sketchbook and a sampling of what we can expect to see at KCFW

New this season is Janay A., whose point of view includes edited and clean, yet tussled and with a vintage-throwback, wedding dresses.  Think outdoor weddings, burlaps and daisies (or boho-chic.)  She will be wowing audiences with her eco-friendly (she uses tea-dying and silk hemp,) beautiful dresses this season (based on her portfolio and sketches, she is an up and coming designer to keep an eye on!)  While satin and lace is nice, she uses varying textures and slight pops of colors to break up the traditional gown.

Janay's real-life pinterest board and a sketch from her portfolio

From Omaha Nebraska, Tiffany Headley of Haus of Donna Faye brings us Betsey Johnson with a touch of Chanel......in leather.  That's how she described her aesthetic.  While her professors may have discouraged her from this chosen profession, her sketchbook and choice of fabrics speaks ill of their opinions.  I can't wait to see the ready-to-wear line she's bringing to Kansas City!

Visit kcfashionweek.com for more information, schedules and tickets.

KCFW Student Designers and The Emmy Goes To.....

Best Dressed Emmy's goes to Alison Williams in a green (the most stunning shade of the evening, in my opinion) peplum and origami-esque Oscar de la Renta.  What dress(es) made your Best Dressed list?

Photos Courtesy of MSN WonderWall

Honorable mentions: Heidi Klum wins best color (Alexandre Vauthier), Tina Fey is on trend with oxblood, and only Padma could get away with this color. 

Photos Courtesy of MSN WonderWall

Worst Dresssed contenders include: Glenn Close' dress might be the most unflattering dress I’ve ever seen – it’s a still frame from Edward Scissorhands, with lace.  There was a time when it was absolutely imperative that your handbag match your shoes; there was never a time that it was imperative that your hair match your dress (cough*Kelly*cough) (Zac Posen)

MHMG (Most Horrid Maternity Gown) goes to Claire Danes.  She was quoted as terming this gown "bump- friendly."  She's right, and the bump is the only thing this dress is friends with!  Fire your stylist or hire one I say - it can be a long nine months.

 p.s. Is Kat Denning pregnant or is that another ill use of pleatery/gathering (J. Mendel)? The worst styles are the kind that ask the question, "Is she or isn't she?" 

Photos courtesy of MSN WonderWall

Speaking of best dressed (and worst), the last day of KCFW was the student designer Runway Show.  There were some amazing collections that made it down that runway.

Little Shell Designs, by Michelle Kleineweber used dramatic styling to feature her designs:

Kendra Morgan of AML Designs, gave us edgier more contemporary wedding apparel including this amazing pant-suit-jumper!

Designer Kaity Rathman brought architectural lines, varying textures and a feminine edginess to Kansas City with her line inspired by The High Line Park near the Hudson River.

Student designer Elise Lammert impressed attendees with a line full of attitude, creativity and what must have been pain-staking hours of sheer patience.

15 year old "student" designer Kate Walz (her age alone speaks volumes) brought us gowns suitable for prom and the Emmys.  Granted, these prom-goers would be the most fashion-forward in the country club.  Kate's dresses were both modern and feminine (and had me wishing I had one for my own prom years ago!)

Katie McKenna of Pink Sheep Heiress made me wish for summer and the boardwalk with her sorbet colors  and polka dot patterns (not to mention my first love - stripes!!)  Youthful with a tinge of the 50s, I can't wait to see what Katie comes up with next.

CW Couture designer Caroline Williard showed pieces that were ultra-feminine with edgy details - like this softly draped velvet romper lined with sharp tooth-like details. 

LaTonya Jones of Senoj brought us street-punk style with feminine twists in shiny metallics and prints, and shoulder pad details.

To end the afternoon, we were treated to a show greater than any Toddlers & Tiaras yet.  I'm not sure where Hollie Hanash of Ruffled Runway found her models, but those girls could work it!  Surprisingly enough, the atmosphere was fun and playful, rather than tragic and heinous (come on, you know that's how you feel when you watch those pageant shows!)

There is some real talent here, and with a little bit of fine-tuning (we all get better with age, right?) and experience, these designers might make it big.  Kate Walz still has a ways to go (at least legally) but I wouldn't be surprised if all of America sees more of her in the future!  

Congratulations to all the student designers at Kansas City Fashion Week on a job well done!

More photos from the KCFW Student Designer Showcase can be found here.

Falling Off The Wagon (and the best photo ever!)

The beginning of September brought us fashion shows from around the world.  I've been lucky enough to attend Kansas City Fashion Week (and all its' parties,) and have gotten to experience the good, the bad and the ugly.  I've seen the KCFW team under stress and under the influence. 

What I remember most is how much fun they are.  They sing, they dance,

they strut their stuff on the runway..........

 

and that, my friends, is why I'm never tempted to take my turn on the catwalk, lol!

Photo courtesy of Kris Hanke, KCFW and DJ Preston Jeffrey Parsons.

Social KC - Fashion's Night Out

I was asked to style an outfit for Halls Kansas City, specifically for Fashion's Night Out.  Hmmmmmm.......a chance to create a look using anything from within Halls' four walls?  Yes please.  

Of course I couldn't resist this Oscar de la Renta sequin top, or these Alice + Olivia leather side-strip leggings.  Paired with this ultra-luxe Max Mara coat, Tory Burch cross-body, gorgeous necklace and chic flats, and I was more than happy to put my name on it.

Kelly of Twenty Six East and I snapped some pictures of our styled mannequins before meeting Halls' President, Kelly Cole:

Photo courtesy of East Second Street

Mr. Cole saw my mannequin and  joked, "This one must be yours.  You do like color."  I do like color.  Does anyone else feel that wearing black always looks........the same?  You can throw in some stripes, patterns, or polka dots, but those outfits stand out as.......black (and sometimes white.)

Met up with some of the lovely KC bloggers:

From top left: Megan, Emily, Kelly, me, Sandy, and Shea.

Halls kept the party atmosphere alive with drinks from Snow & Co.:

Chocolate chip cookies and Gucci (my conciliatory party since I don't drink alcohol):

Chanel pop-ups (and the lovely Louise LeMans):

Photo courtesy of Halls Kansas City

And we ran into Suzanne and her Charming Man (actually at J. Crew but this picture works):

Photo courtesy of  Halls Kansas City

I had to include a picture of my favorite Bobbi Brown make-up artist, Susan (on the left.)  I highly recommend her the next time you go in:

Photo courtesy of Halls Kansas City

I tagged along with some fellow bloggers to check out the other parties to be found on the Country Club Plaza.  We hit the red carpet:

I think we were supposed to be going for "funny" but I call this "awkward."  Gee, thanks Robbie ;) Photo courtesy of
J. Robert Schraeder  and Ink Magazine.

Stopped by The Parlor (coming soon to the Country Club Plaza!) pop-up shop, where I got my make-up re-touched and my hair de-frizzed (note: how is it not supposed to be insulting when you ask someone, "Oh, would you like me to add some de-frizzer to your hair?"  I mean, what are you trying to say?  Is my hair frizzy or something?? Just kidding, I know my hair is frizzy.......) and was too busy to snap a picture.

We hit J. Crew which was, honestly, very quiet compared to Halls.  Halls had the best environment for shopping, socializing and fun, hands down.

I headed to the Power & Light District and caught the tail-end of the party at The Garment District Boutique (which was an another great party), where I ran into model Jasmine Moore and new friend DeAundre Kurney:

Next we headed over the The Gallery for the Kansas City Fashion Week FNO party.  Photographer Kris Hanke's "photo booth" idea was a huge hit (really, who doesn't like having their picture taken, especially after a few cocktails??"

This guy, who also happened to be the official KCFW DJ. Photo courtesy of Kris Hanke and KCFW.

Kansas City Fashion Week: Saturday Designer Showcase

Night four of Kansas City Fashion Week, my feet were still intact, the atmosphere was still kinetic and my fellow bloggers and I were wearing white blazers (see previous post.)

The show started with Garbiela Arslanoglu, a Peruvian tigress - full of personality and well, on the prowl - lol!  If ever there were a way to start off an evening of runway shows, it's with buff men in speedos (found on facebook.)  I'm not kidding.  There was an overt admiration from the crowd.........

But I really thought this was what made me want to be lounging poolside in a tropical paradise:

and I have to give a shout out to this girls' hair and make-up:

Up next was Courtney Perry for House of Cochon.  I always look forward to her runway shows - dramatically well choreographed models who really strut their stuff (and their attitudes.) 

Ola Hawatmeh of Ola Style introduced here collection with a darling girl in a black taffeta (at last that's what I think it is) and sequin dress, replete with tulle bow in hair.  It was the black in her collection that caught my eye (do you know what an advocate for color I am??)

The last designer before intermission was Whitney Manney.  Let me start with the quote from her biography, "My job is not done until everybody in the world believes that fashion is art."  Now, if you've seen some of my own outfits, you would probably (without hesitation) describe my style as preppy.  Really preppy.  Whitney Manney's designs are not something I would usually look at when shopping for an outfit.  No.  Whitney Manney's outfits are the kind you wear when you have a statement to make.  The art of an outfit that reminds me of John Galliano's statement couture or Alexander McQueen's startling masterpieces, but without the painstaking tailoring, leaving you with a bit of Madonna's early styles and Betsey Johnson's girly tulle.  This is not the stuff that ready-to-wear is always made of.  This requires you to wear your personality (and your platform, whatever it may be) on your sleeve.  

I have no idea how she did this, but yes!  Those are tie-dyed legs.  

I hope to see more of Whitney Manney, and watch out world - she will take us by storm!

After the brief intermission, we were presented with Conjetta.  When reviewing these shows, I only want to be positive.  Can I be one of those critics Isaac Mizrahi fears?  Yes.  And no.  I won't lie - the first look was bewildering.  The colors (and I've mentioned before how much I like color) were more reminiscent of fall....or winter or the dead of summer in the midst of a long drought.  Keep in mind that over the past few days I've been inundated with colors of spring and summer.  However, not unlike a football team who ends the first half of the game down by 24 points, she came back from half time to win the game 35-24.  With these perfectly-tailored adorable, floral-print shorts:

With a similarly demure color palette, Tara Kloeppel (and Handmade by Sara Cramer) spoke to my preppy and 60s style heart with shift dresses and stocking-clad loafer combinations:

Not to be outdone in the preppy department, Brittany of BMDesigns (another sweetheart you can't help but like) brought us stripes and colors that have me anxious for Spring and the Seaside.

The show ended on a note of pattern, color, and texture from Janie G. Couture:

Oh look!  It's my favorite male model - Thomas Schubert!

Saturday's shows were exceptional, the designers and models did such a fabulous job!