Spring Break
Designers don't dictate fashion
Jessie Burche
Issue date: 10/1/07 Section: Culture
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Something about the abandoned buildings and myriad of train tracks make me feel like an escaped chain gang is going to jump out from a corner and mug me.
But the scary trek was worth it once I high-tailed it inside (high-tailing is difficult in heels).
An hour before the show, there were already many people there. Ten designers had set up booths along the walls. Vendors displayed clothing styles ranging from adorable summer dresses to Goth-style skirts and shirts.
The neatest thing about the designers at Thursday night's show was none of them were trying to define what is fashionable in Kansas City. Every designer I talked to said people should wear what they like, not what others tell them to.
Sophie and Gwendalynn (whose real names are Wendy and Amy) displayed their dresses, which they began to make in July. Almost all are cut above the knee and are made of playful, cotton fabric.
Psycho Sideshow is a clothing line whose name was inspired by a psycho-billy band. Sadie Henderson, who is a lot nicer than her clothes would have you believe, said this was her first runway show.
J.L. Vagabond owner Jenny Laven had a great reason to go vintage shopping (she owns a vintage clothing store).
"If anyone's green it's really great because you're recycling clothes," Laven said.
Leigh Ann Prier's jewelry line RARE adornment was amazing.
Prier learned metalsmithing at Johnson County Community College and has taken classes around the country. She has necklaces, earrings and rings.
One really cool technique she used to make jewelry was to burn a resin-coated paper to create negative space. The paper turns clear, then Prier paints it and makes it glittery.
Prier also uses a precious metal clay to mold a design for one of her pieces. Once she fires it in the kiln, it becomes silver.
Everything in the fashion show was amazing, but two lines really stood out. The *nathaniel REN3WAL* models seemed so excited to be wearing the designer's clothes. They hammed it up for the cameras and brought the show to life.
The Envy clothing line was gorgeous and obviously made with women's bodies in mind. The fabrics were soft and flowing and hugged all the right curves.
Kansas City fashion also stands out because designers put out clothes and jewelry people will actually wear. This stuff isn't so high art you could only wear it for a fashion shoot, but it still smacks of something unique and interesting.
More fashion events in Kansas City can be found at http://kc.wearhaus.org.
To find more pictures from KC Fashion Week go to www.unews.com.
jburche@gmail.com
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 2
Anonymous
posted 10/01/07 @ 8:42 PM CST
This is supposed to be a news article, right? I can't really tell with the diary entry like approach the article takes. I would have like to know less about the author in this article and more about the fashion show. (Continued…)
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