Spring Break
Kansas City Fashion:
Runway rules
Shannon Ayers
Issue date: 10/1/07 Section: Culture
- Page 1 of 1
The West Bottoms are known for their haunted houses with sinister characters lurking around, but last Tuesday a new assortment of people came dressed up.
This time they were dressed up for fashion shows.
An old warehouse named The Foundation was the setting for the opening night of Kansas City's first ever fashion week.
Those in attendance for the "kick off" fashion show didn't leave disappointed. The featured Boutiques and designers were Encore, Uptown Boutique, Lulu's Boutique, N Valentino and Tomboy and Hemline, all of whom are local talents.
Dick Dale from 96.5 FM The Buzz was the announcer and a good techno beat set the audience up for a quality show.
Rock and roll was clearly the look of the night. Deceptively simple shirts were paired with worn-in jeans and intricate buckles, but as soon as the model would pivot on the runway, an elaborate graphic design on the back of the shirt would be revealed.
Designers also harkened back to the swinging '60s. Once-scandalizing mini-dresses were featured by Encore, N Valentino and Uptown Boutique.
Unlike shows in Milan or New York where it seems the more outrageous the clothes are the more couture it is considered, all of these clothes are wearable. You can actually visualize your friends and family members wearing these things and being comfortable in them.
When it came to accessories, Lulu's Boutique had an interesting asthetic. Most ensembles were set off with a feathered cap.
The show featured hats with decoration from long peacock feathers to modest black feathers that fit closely on the head like a skull cap.
It seems daring head gear with feathers is always a good idea.
Men's fashion was also shown Tuesday night.
N Valentino featured three looks. There was a three-piece suit and two casual outfits.
Though the outfits were executed well and fit, they lacked the creativity seen in the feminine looks.
Naturally, men's clothing is going to be more conservative, especially when trying to appeal to those in our area, but I was hoping for more of a "wow" factor.
A sense of whimsy pervaded the night's looks.
Shimmer fabrics in playful colors made their way into almost every collection. Puffed "princess" sleeves became incorporated into everyday garments like jackets and hoodies. Lulu's Boutique had an adorable hoody with a castle graphic on the back. Eyelets were also on a couple of ensembles.
A catching piece was a black eyelet dress from Encore. It had a v-neck cut with volume in the skirt. This made the silhouette flattering on every figure and it's a fool-proof cocktail dress.
Kansas City is known for its fountains and barbecue, but clearly Kansas Citians have a style all their own.
So whenever you're tired of being the seventh person to have the same blazer from the Gap, you might want to take the time to explore and find something with some hometown flair.
sayers@unews.com
This time they were dressed up for fashion shows.
An old warehouse named The Foundation was the setting for the opening night of Kansas City's first ever fashion week.
Those in attendance for the "kick off" fashion show didn't leave disappointed. The featured Boutiques and designers were Encore, Uptown Boutique, Lulu's Boutique, N Valentino and Tomboy and Hemline, all of whom are local talents.
Dick Dale from 96.5 FM The Buzz was the announcer and a good techno beat set the audience up for a quality show.
Rock and roll was clearly the look of the night. Deceptively simple shirts were paired with worn-in jeans and intricate buckles, but as soon as the model would pivot on the runway, an elaborate graphic design on the back of the shirt would be revealed.
Designers also harkened back to the swinging '60s. Once-scandalizing mini-dresses were featured by Encore, N Valentino and Uptown Boutique.
Unlike shows in Milan or New York where it seems the more outrageous the clothes are the more couture it is considered, all of these clothes are wearable. You can actually visualize your friends and family members wearing these things and being comfortable in them.
When it came to accessories, Lulu's Boutique had an interesting asthetic. Most ensembles were set off with a feathered cap.
The show featured hats with decoration from long peacock feathers to modest black feathers that fit closely on the head like a skull cap.
It seems daring head gear with feathers is always a good idea.
Men's fashion was also shown Tuesday night.
N Valentino featured three looks. There was a three-piece suit and two casual outfits.
Though the outfits were executed well and fit, they lacked the creativity seen in the feminine looks.
Naturally, men's clothing is going to be more conservative, especially when trying to appeal to those in our area, but I was hoping for more of a "wow" factor.
A sense of whimsy pervaded the night's looks.
Shimmer fabrics in playful colors made their way into almost every collection. Puffed "princess" sleeves became incorporated into everyday garments like jackets and hoodies. Lulu's Boutique had an adorable hoody with a castle graphic on the back. Eyelets were also on a couple of ensembles.
A catching piece was a black eyelet dress from Encore. It had a v-neck cut with volume in the skirt. This made the silhouette flattering on every figure and it's a fool-proof cocktail dress.
Kansas City is known for its fountains and barbecue, but clearly Kansas Citians have a style all their own.
So whenever you're tired of being the seventh person to have the same blazer from the Gap, you might want to take the time to explore and find something with some hometown flair.
sayers@unews.com
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