St. Louis Fashion Week's Project Runway Fashion Show - Make Love Not War

Saturday night, I attended the Project Runway fashion show at the Fabulous Fox Theatre as a VIP guest.  As a HUGE Project Runway Fan, I think I was most excited about getting to attend this show!

It certainly lived up to my expectations, and then some!  

First, the venue for the show could not have been better.  The Fox Theatre is simply magnificent.

The runway show was hosted by KPLR 11 St. Louis news anchor Melanie Moon and St. Louis' own Laura Kathleen, as seen on Season 9 of Project Runway and Season 2 of Project Runway All Stars.

The show included collections from Laura Kathleen and St. Louis' Michael Drummond, as well as favorites Anthony Ryan, Casanova, Viktor Luna, April Johnston, and Joshua McKinley.

Michael Drummond
Michael Drummond cited music as his main inspiration, and his newest collection, The Exquisite Corpse, featured looks resembling cocoons and geodes.  I absolutely loved the drama of this collection, and the presentation was equally theatrical.  

I would especially love to wear the top from the third look.  With high-waisted trousers or a pencil skirt, this top would definitely work on curvy petite gals!

Photo by Mark Schwigen for Alive Magazine

Photo by Mark Schwigen for Alive Magazine

Photo by Mark Schwigen for Alive Magazine

Casanova
I always enjoyed Casanova's sweet and funny personality while watching Project Runway, so I was delighted to see that he was presenting a collection.  Casanova was true to his ultra-sexy aesthetic creating gorgeous resort fashion, featuring lots of grommets and provocative back details.  Oh, and the Naked Dress (third look below)...How stunning is that?

Photo by Mark Schwigen for Alive Magazine

Photo by Mark Schwigen for Alive Magazine

Photo by Mark Schwigen for Alive Magazine

Anthony Ryan Auld
I also always enjoyed Anthony Ryan Auld on Season 9 of Project Runway and was so happy for him when he won Season 2 of Project Runway:  All Stars. I was impressed with his determination and his fight against cancer.  Unfortunately, he announced at the show that his cancer is now back. A testament to his strength, he doesn't appear to be letting his diagnosis stop him, presenting an interesting and wearable collection.

Anthony Ryan said his collection was inspired by the idea of how Native American fashion might have evolved had Europeans never arrived in the Americas.  He called it Native with a Star Trek twist.

Photo by Mark Schwigen for Alive Magazine

Photo by Mark Schwigen for Alive Magazine

Photo by Mark Schwigen for Alive Magazine

April Johnston
April Johnston's Mangled Courtesan collection featured a slightly somber, very beautiful, all-white fashion show.  I loved the floaty, ethereal quality of many of her looks.  I imagined the dresses worn by brides who wanted to wear traditional white but wanted a look that was anything but.

Photo by Mark Schwigen for Alive Magazine

Photo by Mark Schwigen for Alive Magazine

Photo by Mark Schwigen for Alive Magazine

Viktor Luna
Viktor Luna's sportswear collection was bright and colorful, featuring swimsuits and interesting prints.  I especially loved the second look below.

Photo by Mark Schwigen for Alive Magazine

Photo by Mark Schwigen for Alive Magazine

Photo by Mark Schwigen for Alive Magazine

Joshua McKinley
If you're a Project Runway fan, then you probably remember Joshua McKinley and his bold personality.  His design aesthetic is just as bold.  His collection included lots of neon colors, mixed prints and textiles, and fringe, though my favorites were actually some of his more subtle looks.  Joshua McKinley stated that he wants to make clothing that is audible without conversation and that reflects his perseverance and courage as a designer.  Mission accomplished!

Photo by Mark Schwigen for Alive Magazine

Photo by Mark Schwigen for Alive Magazine

Photo by Mark Schwigen for Alive Magazine

Laura Kathleen
Laura Kathleen ended the show.  She expressed her inspiration as the woman she aspires to be.  Her looks featured lots of black and gold and neoprene. 

It's really hard for me to choose a favorite out of all the amazing collections presented, but I think when it comes to wearability, especially for petite and curvy ladies, Laura Kathleen's collection can't be beat.  

I would happily and giddily wear any of these looks in a second.  The peplum dress, styled to perfection with the bold cuff and boots, was my favorite look of the night.

Photo by Mark Schwigen for Alive Magazine

Photo by Mark Schwigen for Alive Magazine

Photo by Mark Schwigen for Alive Magazine

All in all, the show was fantastic, and I feel so fortunate to have been able to see the show from seats ON THE STAGE!!

The gorgeous St. Louis Fashion Week Blogger Crew:

My look for the night was inspired by current events (Syria) and my pacifist beliefs.  It's a sartorial juxtaposition of war (military) and peace (love).  

Dress:  The Limited (old)
Blazer:  The Limited (Available here)
Tights:  The Limited (old)

This outfit was a compromise from my original vision.  I had planned to wear this darkly romantic floaty chiffon dress I had bought and taken back and then wanted again, but it wasn't available in my size at any of my local stores (indecisiveness, oh how you betray me).  I also searched my house up and down for this cool gold belt I recently bought from Torrid (sold out on-line) that would have added to the military vibe well.  Since I couldn't find it, I added a gold horn necklace.  

While the pendant is a horn, I envisioned it as a stylized shell casing, adding the to the war and peace theme.

The look wasn't everything I had hoped, but I think Tim Gunn would be proud that I made it work!  :-)

Necklace:  The Limited (Available here)
Clutch:  The Limited (Available here)
Ring:  LOFT
Shoes:  Simply Vera by Vera Wang

Do you watch Project Runway?  Whose/which designs are your favorites?

In the St. Louis area?  Check out Project: Design happening this Wednesday at Windows on Washington and help support emerging designers.  On Thursday, Industry Night is sure to please as local and runway designers are showcased, including Laura Kathleen!  

Get more info and purchase tickets here.

Fall Into Fashion with St. Louis Fashion Week's First Night!

Thursday night, I attended the St. Louis Galleria's "Fall Into Fashion" - a fashion show featuring looks from the mall's stores, including Bebe, Anthropologie, True Religion, Franschesca, Cache, Ann Taylor, and more.

Before the show, guests sipped cocktails from Pinnacle vodka and Skinny Girl wines and knoshed on delicious appetizers.

This show was for a great cause as 100% of the proceeds from the event benefitted Haven House, a charity providing housing to families who are traveling from out of town for a hospitalized loved one.  As home to some of the premier hospitals in the country, it is awesome that there is local support for families who travel here for care.  Nothing can compare to home, but Haven House strives to come close!

Here are some of my favorite looks from the night:

True Religion Look (Source:  Alive Magazine)

Apricot Lane Look (Source:  Psyche Southwell of Economy of Style)

Look from Anthropologie (Source:  Psyche Southwell from Economy of Style)

New blogger friends:   Rachael of Style Every Day; Mary of Light Sleeper, Heavy Dreamer, and Julia of Oh Julia Ann (Source:  Psyche Southwell from Economy of Style)

The show featured lots of layering, mixed prints, leather, and tons of gorgeous purples and burgundies.

I enjoyed front row seats as a VIP blogger guest, giving me a terrific view of the show.  Unfortunately, I only had my cell camera, so pictures did not come out well.  I feature pics from several local bloggers and Alive Magazine.

Check out their blog posts for additional coverage!!

In the St. Louis area?  Check out Project:  Design happening this Wednesday at Windows on Washington.  Get more info and purchase tickets here.

St. Louis Magazine Honors The City's Most Stylish

This past Wednesday, I attended St. Louis Magazine's Fashion Soiree, an event celebrating St. Louis Magazine's Best Dressed over the last ten years.

The night's event included a fashion show styled by St. Louis Magazine's Jan Leach Givens with looks from several awesome local stores, including East + West, Esther, Mister Guy, and Paisley Boutique.  The St. Louis Rams also debuted their 2013 styles (who knew sports gear could be so fashionable?)

Some of my favorite looks from the show:

After the fashion show, the night's honorees were announced. 

Honorees included:

Faith Berger, Art Consultant
Tania Beasley-Jolly, Marketing Director at Saks Fifth Avenue

Tania Beasley-Jolly

Sohaila Danesh, Interior Designer
David Diener, Wealth Management Advisor
Arnold Donald, CEO of Carnival Corp.
Jimmy Jamieson, Interior Designer
Kim Miller, Philanthropist
Susan Sherman, Co-Founder of Craft Alliance's Fashion Lab
Ozzie Smith, yep that awesome former St. Louis Cardinal
Doug Winship, General Manager of Mister Guy

One of my favorite things to do is to people-watch.  Maybe, it's the sociologist in me, but I love observing people.  I had fun snapping pics of some of the best dressed (in my opinion) party-goers.

Suzy Bacino, Jonathon Spradling, Megan Gelber, Taylor Perry

Ali Graeff and Marisa Lather of Vanilla in Vogue

Kendra and Mark Austin of Mark Austin Bespoke Couture

Middle:  Rikki Byrd, Founder and Editor-in-chief of  SCULPT Magazine (see more here)

Deborah Pontius, Carmen Ogonoski

This is what I wore to the show:

Blazer:  LOFT Petites (Available here)
Camisole:  LOFT Petites (Sold out on-line; may be available in stores)
Clutch:  Jason Wu for Target (old) (Available on eBay here)

Skirt:  The Limited (Available here)
Shoes:  Target

Since I considered this a working and networking event, I wanted a stylish but low-key outfit.  I was going for a feminine look with a masculine twist (my favorite combo) by pairing the feminine skirt and cami with a more masculine double-breasted blazer.  In the end, I think the proportions were off.  A shorter, more fitted jacket would have worked, but the jacket was a little too large for the flowy skirt.  Oh well!  :-)

Necklace:  The Limited
Bracelets:  The Limited and Torrid (Available here)
Earrings:  The Limited (Available here)

P.S.  Sorry I've been absent in the blogosphere for several days.  I've been busier than usual, but the worst part has been a week of crippling sinus headaches.  I couldn't take staring at a computer screen!  :-(

That said, I have a lot to share.  For my non-local fans, some of my next several posts, including this one, may be of limited interest as they relate to my coverage of the awesome St. Louis fashion events happening this week.  I'll also be throwing in some normal outfit posts and my Cassential Links for those of you who have been following me from all over the world.  

Have I said thank you enough for your viewership?  If not, thank you, spasibo, herzlichen dank, merci, asante, gracias, sag olun, etc.!!!!!

Ready to Roll

I almost didn't include this outfit on the blog.  

Jeans:  The Limited (old)
Military jacket:  Old Navy (Similar here)

It is ultra casual, maybe too casual?  Heck, just a year ago, I wouldn't have even worn an outfit like this anywhere I expected to be seen, let alone publish photos of myself on the web.  

Purse:  The Limited (Similar here)

T-shirt:  Torrid (Available here)

These jeans are at least four years old.  I ripped them myself, and the years of frequent wear have worn the holes much more than originally intended.  I love these jeans.  They're comfortable and the perfect length for my motorcycle boots.

My motorcycle boots...worn on actual motorcycles....I couldn't possibly feature these boots on a fashion blog, or could I?

Can you tell I think way too much? I was over-analyzing and taking myself too seriously.  It's just clothes, after all.

Besides, I have always meant for my blog to show everyday style.  Life presents itself with many different occasions, and sometimes you just need clothes that you can throw on and go.

Bracelet (Purchased locally)

I wore this outfit the weekend before last.  My honey was still home-bound from his accident, and he was getting super stir-crazy.  While I was ready to spend my Sunday lounging at home, surfing the internet, he was longing to get out of the house.  I took pity, and we loaded up the kids for a Sunday drive along the Mississipi River on the Great River Road, the Midwest's version of the Pacific Coast Highway (love you, Cali!). 

We had fun checking out a local kid-friendly art fair, nibbling at a delicious fudge shoppe (where I also found this cool snake coil bracelet!), and ending our day at a local Mexican restaurant.

My outfit was perfect for walking around the art fair, and the military jacket was just the right cover-up for the slightly chilly temps and occasional raindrops.

All in all, it was a Sunday much better spent than had I trolled the internet all day!  Darn it...I hate it when the man is right.  ;-)

How do you dress for extra casual days?

For this tee in other looks, see here and here.
For this jacket in another look, see here.

Glam Geek

Today's look takes my "Chic Geek" tee to a slightly edgy androgynous glam place (Does such a place exist, and how do I get to such a wonderland??!!).

Blazer:  New York & Company

Pants:  The Limited
Clutch:  Target (Similar here)

I've only recently started wearing t-shirts outside of the house again.  

In high school and my early years of undergrad, I wore a LOT of 
t-shirts - my favorite music (John Lennon, Pearl Jam, R.E.M.), my favorite quotes (Nietzche), my social causes (vegetarianism, animal rights, Amnesty International), portraits of my favorite authors (Steinbeck and Poe... because I couldn't find Camus) - you name it, I had it on a t-shirt. 

Maybe it was t-shirt overload or maybe it was an effort to mature my sartorial choices, but at some point around my junior year of college, I stopped wearing t-shirts except as lounge wear.

T-shirt:  Target (Available here)

Bracelets:  Express, The Limited, Claire's, H&M

Over the last year or two, I have seen my t-shirt collection grow.  I have a lot of kids, creating a need for a more casual weekend wardrobe that works for my lifestyle.  I also realized that there are a lot of cool t-shirts out there, and I was missing out.
 
My t-shirt looks are often super casual (stay tuned for tomorrow's post), but I also love the idea of dressing tees up with fancier fabrics like velvet, silk, and faux leather.

Rings:  Earthbound Trading Company and The Limited (Available here)

Shoes:  Target

Some of my previous t-shirt looks:

Cabana Coral

Bettie at the Movies

A Shorts Story

Hello Kitty

 



For this tee in another look, see here.
For these pants in other looks, see here and here.
For this blazer in other looks, see here and here.

Pencil Me In

Many in the body acceptance movement would say flattery-schmattery, that worrying about traditional constructs of figure flattery (taller, thinner equating better) is a waste of time and that promoting such is regressive or unenlightened.

I tend to disagree with that idea somewhat.  While I generally say, wear what you want (and I sometimes wear pieces that aren't traditionally flattering to appease my fashion desires), I think most of us are drawn to what makes us look most streamlined.  Most often, the pieces that make us look taller and thinner are those that show off our bodies in the best of ways.  

Skirt:  Target Petites (Available here)
Blouse:  Ann Taylor Petites (Available here)

Blazer:  The Limited (Similar here)
Earrings:  Target

For example, pencil skirts are super flattering for most curvy women.  They show off curves while creating a streamlined silhouette.  In a pencil skirt, you're certainly not hiding fuller thighs or a fuller bottom.  You're showing them off in the best of ways!

Ankle boots:  Payless

I am especially in love with this new pencil skirt I just picked up from Target.  Because it's knit, this skirt is a little more fitted and pencil-y than I am usually able to get from other pencil skirts (even after alterations).  

I'm also in love with the on-trend midi length of this one.  I've largely moved passed the high-low look, but I have to admit, I love the way that it really adds a lengthening element to this skirt.  I manage to look taller in what I usually think of as an awkward skirt length.

Bracelet:  eBay (Similar here)

Clutch:  Vintage (eBay)

Full disclosure:  The first time I featured this skirt on my blog, I was wearing a misses size.  I had only thrown the outfit on for pics and hadn't worn it out yet.  When I realized that the skirt was available in petites on-line, I decided to give the petites version a try.  I was in between sizes on the misses skirt, had opted for the larger version, and wasn't 100% content with the fit.  The petites version in the same size provided a more streamlined fit without being too tight.  The difference between the petites and misses size was slight, and probably imperceptible to most, but it made this picky girl happier!

I'm always excited when I can wear a new item without spending time and money on alterations!

How much does figure flattery play into your fashion choices?

For this skirt in another look, see here.
For this blouse in another look, see here.
For this jacket in other looks, see here, here, and here.