Runway shows, parties and designers: It's a Week of Fashion in Minneapolis and St. Louis

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The Skinny:

  • Fashion Week: Minneapolis
  • Sept. 20 - 29
  • Six locations throughout Minneapolis
  • mnfashion.org

Here's a look, my local fashionistas, at where to see and be seen starting this Friday.

  • It’s technically still summer (celebrate its official end with this party at the Walker), but the coolness of fall has finally hit which means we’re more than ready to embrace the new fall and winter collections local designers and boutiques will show at Envision. Atmosfere, Caroline Hayden, Claire Ward, Cliche’, Cocoon by Elizabeth Geisler, Idle Child, Jenny Carle, Karma Boutique, Kjurek, Marissa Bridges, Martin Patrick3, Roe Wolfe and Tessa Louise will point us to what’s on trend. Let’s just hope that means things that are snuggly and warm!

  • The best in local fashion from the Minneapolis scene is handpicked to show their collections at the biggest event of the week: “The Shows.” Christopher Straub, Cocoon, Lisa Hackwith and Samantha Rei will send designs down the runway on the first night. Idle Child, Emily Trevor, Lindsey Hopkins and Caroline Hayden will follow up with their collections the second night. Later in the week Blush Beauty Room will host a sample sale for local fashionistas to shop the designs they saw on the runway.

  • Tim and Thom the twin tailors. Try saying that five times fast. The brothers behind TIM+THOM will host an epic battle at Gallery 13. Inspired by the art of Jim Lee and Marvel Comics’ The Upstarts, each brother will show their own Upstarts-inspired mini collection of 12 looks. Who will win?

  • Sure, we’re in the Midwest, but MCAD is ready to transport us around the world to Japan. The college will host a two-day conference exploring the connections between fashion and costume/anime/manga. The first day will skew towards the academic, but the second day is all about the runway show featuring collections inspired by the street fashion in Japan.

 

The Skinny:

How about a little St. Louis Fashion Week by the numbers? Here goes:

For 10 days 36 regional and national designers, along with 70 models and 22 retailers will strut their stuff and show off the newest fashions in 7 runways shows (plus more events) at 10 venues across the city.

  • Whew. Okay, enough with the numbers. Let’s get down to business. Project Runway Alumni Laura Kathleen, Michael Drummond, Casanova, Anthony Ryan, Joshua McKinley, April Johnston and Viktor Luna will bring all their fabulousness to The Fabulous Fox Theater. Bring you’re A-game wardrobe to sit at this runway show, and get ready for a special presentation as the Scarlett Collection debuts for the first time. 

  • Local designers AJ Thouvenot, Ashley Ulicni, Conjetta, I AM SLY, Michael Shead, Michele Sansone, Whitney Manney and Devil City will get their time to shine in a street festival and runway show in the Delmar Loop. Days later emerging designers Abaya Dake, Black by Maria Silver, Fouché, Miita Collection by Angela Brugioni, Spansen Filles by Sabrina Spanta and Chanelle Bertelsen and Q Lui by Qun Lui will compete for $30,000 in resources to take their career to the next level. Last year’s winner Lauren Bander, and People’s Choice winner Elise Lammert will also join the show.

  • STLFW Industry Night will be your chance to rub shoulders with high-profile professionals, including New York Fashion Week founder and host of Industry Night, Fern Mallis. See presentations from Paulie Gibson, KayOss, Dipped & Dyed, Bluebird Apparel and Suzanne Lay, and a runway show featuring Samantha Pleet, Jennifer Chun, Eva Franco, Wai Ming and Laura Kathleen.

  • Four local retail spaces (the Galleria, Plaza Frontenac, Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue) will host will host runways shows and fashion presentations (including one from Tess Giberson) on what’s hot and what’s not. But here’s the fun twist: ticket proceeds from these events will go to four local charities, including HavenHouse and the Center of Creative Arts. Can’t beat fashion with a cause.