Bjorn Nasett. Photo by Robb Quinn.

 If you are a regular reader of my fashion missive each week, or even if you’re not, you’ll come to understand that I do not necessarily tell you what to wear but instead report on style ideas that I find interesting and inspirational or even ordinary. What people choose to wear is always unique to their personalities. It’s about where they see themselves in the big picture of the world.
What makes writing a fashion blog tricky is that it shouldn’t be about putting people down for what they wear but instead examine culture and circumstance as major influences on why we wear what we wear. Even I found myself in a wardrobe quandary last Friday night. I was playing host to a small gallery show near the heart of all the real action in the Third Ward. For the last decade, this area has come to be acknowledged as a beacon of art, style and fashion. With that in mind, I tend to look for ways to amuse others and myself with my ensemble; after all I’m expected to look decent if I’m to hold any credibility in the style arena!  When the weather is dreary, like it was last Friday, people tend to dress it down. But for me, the go-to look of the evening was a Rockerbox motorcycle festival T-shirt with a Givenchy Gentleman Paris, black and white, wool, houndstooth sport coat, my Charles Nelson Reilly faux glasses and a vintage black floral lapel pin.

Photographer Robb Quinn was on hand at what was once the Institute of Beauty and Wellness, documenting all the art lovers who braved the cold weather and intermittent downpours that night. A cavernous commercial building, it seemed like a literal port in a storm for those he snapped as they ventured into the superb group show. He perfectly captured my windswept look, and because I’m a little off center myself, it turned out well. As the evening progressed, I sought to record my own study of people who seemed at ease with their style. The results are hit and miss, just like fashion, but isn’t that what it’s all about? Together with this are some insights into the fashion I saw and the people who wore it.

Paisley Lady

Paisley Lady

She was a bright beacon in a dreary landscape of rain and dullness. I liked that she toughened up her springy dress with dark tights and killer boots. She wondered why I was taking her picture, and I replied, “Because you look awesome!” Her husband was proud.

Michael R. Flasch

Michael R. Flasch

Artists do emulate their work! Michael does the twin goatee and Matrix-style look very well. It fits his quirky portraiture style of art perfectly.

Kate Blake

Kate Blake

A fashion leader you can’t miss, the SHOO storeowner always promotes local designers at her boutique next to the Katie Gingrass Gallery. Here she wears a fabulous frock by Shanel Regier.

Bonnie Delap

Bonnie Delap

Photographer Bonnie knew how to ward off the chill in this stylish knit cape. I wish more people would wear capes. In old movies about the French Foreign Legion the men always wore capes, and if I’m not mistaken in the Civil War as well. I did notice that Ms. Delap kept her look monochromatic so as not to take away from her artwork.

Fur jacket

Embellished Fur Lady

This woman had a surprisingly intricate fur jacket on display. I liked the hieroglyphic feeling that the embellishments took on. It came across as easy and carefree, and not at all heavy like many furs can look. The beaded necklace, scoop-necked top and windowpane-checked skirt served as a nice backdrop for the fetching fur.

Joseph Baranowski

Joseph Baranowski

Art does indeed imitate life. Joseph Baranowski is all about telling a story with his photos and his expressions in them. His clothing tells the story of a Milwaukee guy whose main focus is his art, closely followed by function and practicality. His use of a bright hoodie gives us a small glimpse into his artistic personality.

Layering

Man Layering

This gentleman had it pulled together just right. He understood that casual could also mean stylish if you look for pieces that commingle easily. The camel fitted jacket, slim rolled cuff jeans, and euro-style scarf all give us the impression of laid-back chic. Layering it all together is still viable in my eyes, and will be for some time to come. It is just so much more interesting when people mix it up!

 

Maggie Wright’s work

Maggie Wright’s photographic collage summed up for this viewer the beauty of why a little care should go into choosing what we wear. Look at the face of this little boy as he sports a knit cap, felt fedora, white T-shirt, and layered vest and hoodie. These garments tell us his charming story in such simple terms. Style, fashion, and all that it entails can be boiled down to a common denominator in all of the pictures. Personality. Clothing should tell us a little about the wearer, it should indicate where they are in life, reveal or disguise their super powers, and, ultimately, cause us to keep looking for ways to understand others and eventually ourselves.

For more Gallery Night portraiture, visit copamilwaukee.com or robbquinn.com.

Gallery Night takes place all over the city, and with it art lovers come to mix, mingle and appreciate the creative process. There is one neighborhood, in particular, that seems to take the bi-monthly event as more of a street party and neighborhood social gathering: Riverwest.

Bordered by North Avenue, Holton Street to the west, Capitol Drive and Humboldt to the east, the area has been a haven and home to countless artists over the years due to its cheaper rents and diverse urban population. This diversity is what drives a lot of the art and fashion too. Initially thought to be a little “rough around the edges,” I would venture to say that its fashion style is more creative/edgy than scary/rough! As a 10-year resident of the area, I do know that there is a particular style that individuals here lean toward. It’s a combination of punk, nerd and just plain practical. Mix in some fashion-forward scenesters along with the numerous tattooed, pierced, post-modern crowd members, and you come up with a distinctive down-low style that is both hip and hip to the irony of it all, too.

By trying to be unfashionable, an individual is actually promoting a certain type of style. Again we go back to the punk looks that stemmed from a non-conformity backlash and ultimately became a fashion trend. My neighborhood is cool for sure, but it wasn’t the night following our own Milwaukee monsoon! Humidity the evening of Gallery Night made me feel like a piece of wilted lettuce, but I promised a few artist friends and acquaintances that I would come and see their work. Along the way I discovered a mini trend in menswear and a few surprises, too.

Although not technically in Riverwest, Redroom Bar on Humboldt, feels like it should be. I checked out my buddy James Kloiber’s contribution to the gallery evening first. He was showing some of his “pretty” paintings. He’s known in Milwaukee for his artistic endeavors such as photography and painting. I liked the collection as well as his personal style. Greeting friends and patrons of the arts in a white button-down shirt, tie, vest, rolled jeans and combat boots, he looked every inch the interesting artist he is. He recently did some fashion illustrations for me that weren’t used in a project, but I liked them so much that I have plans to use them in the future. While there, I spied lovely Catey Ott who stood out in a great way in her scarlet chiffon dress. It fit her beautifully, and she dressed it down with black leather ballet flats, pearls and simple earrings. I asked her if she was a dancer, and I was right. Her modern dance company in NYC can be found at www.cateyott.com. Originally from Milwaukee, she was home to see family and friends.

Heading north back to my home turf, I stopped by the Project M Boutique to see their showing of paintings by Riverwest artist Bardin and photographs by Damon S. Joy. I absolutely loved Bardin’s paintings – the energy, color and vibrancy just moved me! I collect paintings and might have to add one of these to the mix. The photos reminded me of old Rolling Stone magazines and worked perfectly with the rack of handmade clothing as a backdrop. Store owners Bree Rose Bower and Kelly Strosser kept things fashionable by wearing some of their own creations. As humid as it was, they both looked great in fun, layered ensembles. While at the store, I noticed a display of large floral pins that not only looked like art but are also a hot trend on the horizon. Take my word for it. Outside the store, Bree’s guy pal Tyler wore a one-of-a-kind T-hoodie hybrid by Ms. Bower as well as the prevalent trend with all the young dudes this season, rolled jeans as shorts. (Trend!) Heck, even I made some for myself this summer. I told you my neighborhood had an influence on street fashion.

Down the street at Jackpot Gallery, there was a band playing, and another showing of cool paintings by local artists. Outside the store, where there was a breeze, I took a few snaps of the crowd inside the space and found a Hawaiian shirt, a summer dress, mostly T-shirts and more jean shorts on those in attendance. And did I mention the PBR?

On Center Street, I saw Pete Puskas, 24, and his friend Sarah Miemiec, 21. I was totally grooving on her color-blocked trendy dress and complementary peep-toe ankle-strapped shoes. Pete was sporting an interesting combo of athletic shorts and rolled up button-down shirt. I love it when people dress the way they feel.

Although the looks we’ve seen aren’t exactly conventional, they seem practical for the people who wear them without being wildly over-the-top bizarre either. What makes fashion great is not wondering whether you can pull it off but just going there in the first place with a cavalier disregard for what anyone else thinks. Maybe that statement sort of sums up the neighborhood and the style its denizens sport on any given day or gallery night.