Gilded Summer: West 18th Street Fashion Show (My Picks.)

I was invited to attend the West 18th Street Fashion Show this year, and the theme for 2013 was Gilded Summer.  And what a gilded event it was (right down to the traffic cones.)

A few of my favorite picks from the evenings artwork*:

Margie Hogue & Heidi Herrman for Awava 

I thought I loved it from the front, then she turned around.....

I love everything about this look!

Chante Gossett

I can't get enough of the cognac leather shoes and accessories!

That skirt!

Emma Lammers & Kate Nickols

Exode - Clemence Lawson & Elodie Auvray

Not all suits can be pulled off without lapels, but this one is amazing.

Lana Leavens 

Better than tights, I loved this styling

*While more pictures can be found on my facebook page, check out these photos from Landon Vonderschmidt Photography.

A huge congratulations to each of the 18 designers who showed their impressive collections this year!  A special congratulations to the producers of the show (and everyone behind it, as well.)  The West 18th Street Fashion Show is an amazing event patronized by generous supporters of the Kansas City Art District (and art in general,) the hip young crowd always on the city scene (wanting to see and be seen,) those who eschew society and its' rules, and everyone in between.  There's an air of excitement mingled with artistic snobbery, and if you've never experienced that........well, this is the time and place to do it.  

Stay tuned for an upcoming interview with Anastasia Rendina, one of the designers inspired by Shibari (it's amazing, trust me.)

One last shout out to the amazing sponsors of the show:

That's what I call a Swag Bag!

Baron Mini
Hammerpress
The Pitch
Birdies Panties (think Miss Hannigan in Annie - then replace Miss Hannigan with Grace Ferrel - keeping the lingerie and pearls of course - and you get Birdies.  You will love it, guaranteed.)
Sporting KC
Hotel Philips
Tannin
Berg Event Space
Kansas City Dental Works
Sterlinghouse LLC
Missouri Bank
The Guild
Lamar
The Nicholson Group
Kissick Construction
Donna's Dress Shop (another must shop.)
The Westside Local
Artist Craftsman
Foot Traffic
Asheer Akram
Aron Real Estate
Stage Port
Pizza Bella (now I'm hungry.)
The Jacobson
Paws Around the Plaza
The Rieger Hotel Grill & Exchange
Luminopolis
360 Architecture
Inner Space Yoga
Milk & Honey
The Farmhouse
The Local Pig
Grunauer
Etiquette
Natasha's Mulberry & Mott (love this patisserie)
Jamie Miller Hair Parlour
The Bride and the Bauer
Cigi's Makeup Studio
The Filling Station
Firestone Walker Brewing Co.
Ladybird Styling
Fishtank
Boulevard Brewing Company
Cosentino's Market
Mercy Seat
Black Bamboo and many more (see full listing and links here.)

Social KC: 18th St. Fashion Show - Gilded Summer

What are two of my favorite things?  Dressing up and fashion shows (they are not mutually exclusive either.)  Last summer I attended the 18th Street Fashion Show - Triple Crown Summer and loved it.  Held outdoors on 18th Street (you saw that coming, right?) the fashion show was a celebration of local businesses and the multi-cultural crowd that was there to witness it.  

This year's theme is Gilded Summer:

The free show (free means standing room on the sidewalk vs. VIP being an actual seat,) will be held Saturday, June 8, at dusk.  For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit www.westeighteenthstreet.com.  

What does gilded summer mean exactly?  The powers-that-be at 18stFS take the term from the Gilded Age, a period lasting roughly from the 1870s-1900s.  This article has a great quote, "We think of clothing as being cheap and disposable.  In this time period, clothing was more of an art."  While I don't wholly agree with that statement (and I think most designers wouldn't agree with it either,)   it was a time when "society" only saw you in your finest - or art.  Keeping in mind that Mark Twain satirized what he would describe as "an era of serious social problems hidden by a thin layer of gold."*  (Again, I disagree.  When has there ever been an era in which serious social problems aren't generally sugar-coated or avoided?  Also, this was an important time in history for woman's suffrage - no layers of gold there,) this gives fashion-lovers the perfect opportunity to pull out their artsiest pieces and wear them!  While I don't suggest satin and crinoline ball gown types (it will be summer, it will be warm) I'm excited to begin the hunt for the perfect outfit!  Any suggestions?

p.s.  Designers - it's not too late to send in your applications!  Application submission ends March 18th........I'm so excited to see which amazing designers will be chosen this year.

*quoted from Wikipedia

Social KC: KCFW Kick-Off Party

This past Thursday, Kansas City Fashion Week had their kick-off party at Saks Off Fifth Avenue.  Several of my fellow bloggers and I were asked to style models in Saks Off Fifth Avenue fall fashions.  And so, for the first time since I've started my blog, I finally get to have a professional model "my" outfit, by a professional photographer!

 Love these shoes (one pair left, size 8.5.....additional 50% off makes them $60!)

Meet Lauren Burke, a 23 year old ASL expert by day, model by night.  She has beauty and brains.  She was great to work with, exerting her opinion while still letting me have free reign (hallelujah!)  I was going for the menswear look, and couldn't resist adding this Micheal Kors fur number, which we aptly dubbed "the Pimp vest."  Seriously, I bet Cee Lo Green has one of these in his closet, lol!  We couldn't find any boyfriend  jeans in the women's department, so we looked in the next best place - the men's department.  We thought we knew how to tie a tie.......and were fortunate enough to find someone to help us (the caterer no less!)

Makeup provided by Mieisha Chaney (she is so friendly - and has a great sense of humor!)
Hair provided by Katherine Summers (she is so patient and sweet!)
Clothing provided by Saks Fifth Avenue Off Fifth, Legends Outlets Kansas City
Photography by Kris Hanke (you can't help but love him!)
Food provided by Clear The Plate (so good - and our emergency tie expert!)
Drinks provided by Kansas Clean Distilled Whiskey
Music courtesy of DJ Leonightus (same great entertainer from this post)

The styled models, styled (from left to right) by Kim, Jess of Mimi and Chichi, me, Meggy and Kristina (see more links below.)

Cocktails provided by KCFW Sponsor Kansas Clean Distilled Whiskey, winners of the KCFW tickets (you can get yours here) and gift cards, and the delicious appetizers.

Model Lauren Burke in a Diane Von Furstenberg vest, bloggers Meggy of Chasing Davies, me, Kristina of Simply Bold and Kim of KimberyLoc.  These girls are fun to work with!

Kansas City Fashion Week will start on Wednesday, September 5 and will run through Sunday, September 9.  Visit kcfashionweek.com for a detailed calendar of events, sponsors, tickets, news and more!

p.s. Have you entered the JUNIEblake giveaway yet?

Social KC: KCFW Kick Off Event + Saks Off 5th

Need I say more?  I hope to see you there! 

p.s. latest press release for all of you brides-to-be, pinterestaholics and dreamers-of-all-things-wedding.......

Tickets for Kansas City Fashion Week are on sale now!  For more information, visit kcfashionweek.com.

Social KC: KCFW + First Friday

KCFW held it’s first-First Friday promotional event.  Their purpose was to invite the community in to see the behind-the-scenes working of a photo shoot, a glimpse of what backstage will look like this fall.  There was.......

Clothing (it was nice to meet many of the designers in a casual atmosphere without the crazy rush, excitement and anxiety of a pending runway show):

Christian Micheal from 2012, Brittany of BMDesigns with Michelle of Little Shell Designs and Kris Hanke - photographer, Justin Callaghan - hair stylist

Hair: 

Makeup: 

Palettes and instruments of Jennifer Sullivan Cassidy

Model (from start to finish): 

Model Angela Faith in BMDesigns, Hair Stylist Evyn Fulkerson, Layne - photographer

And of course, Photographers:

Ike, photographer

I was lucky enough to snag the President of KCFW, Phil Willoughby for an interview  If you want a well-written PR statement, you can read his bio here.  Reading a bio is never the same as meeting someone in person:

As he is listing off his many *accomplishments, including local political positions, I can’t help but wonder if he’s ever stopped, or if he ever sleeps.  It appears that he has a love of knowledge and life that drive him to keep going, to keep making things better – whether it’s a client’s way-of-life or a city’s commerce. 

He’s intelligent and likable, and I can’t help but wonder if he has ever not succeeded in winning a person over.  He was, after all, the captain of the baseball team.

I begin to understand why Teisha (pronounced Tee-sha) was the first person he thought of to lead KCFW.  Teisha is personable and down-to-earth.  At one of the model castings months ago, I asked her to give us an example of how a model should walk.  She didn’t hesitate, and she did it without haughtiness or arrogance.  She also never hesitates to answer my numerous questions (which I appreciate.)  Kris is the same way – oh, he will fool you with his little swagger walk and the way he carries himself – but he’s also smart, funny and down-to-earth (and has the cutest curly-haired daughter!) 

After spending time with Phil, Teisha, Kris, Layne and the rest of the team, I am positive that KCFW will continue to be more and more successful as it grows.  Good luck and congratulations!

*“But can he sing?”  The one question I failed to ask......

For more information or to buy tickets for KCFW, please visit KCFashionWeek.com.

These photographs and more can be found here.

Social KC: It's A Girl Thing, Halls Plaza

I'll be there.  Will you?

p.s. I love this mint....I am so ready for summer!