In the interest of full disclosure, everything I do came to a full convergence on Gallery Night last Friday. I took part in a promotion with Beauty Salon and ReTique in the Third Ward. Our goal? To stage a live “fashion happening” on Broadway, with models Alexxus, Alisa, Rachel, Chrystal, Tony and Jake wearing clothing from the Goodwill Southeastern Wisconsin store with hair, makeup and photography done by the award-winning salon. If you don’t know, I work for both of those concerns at some point each week either behind the chair, or writing a weekly fashion column online. I also took some snap shots of passersby on the street in their summer sartorial best, to prove once and for all that Milwaukee is not some barren style desert!

Here at Insidemilwaukee.com, I try to write about the way that fashion fits into our lives year round. So I thought, why not tell you all about this totally Milwaukee event? I was inspired by the way people responded to the models, the store and the ambience of fashion camaraderie on the street. All had a wonderful time, including our photographers Tom Miller and Rory Kurtz, hairdressers Jason Koenig, Addy Schoenherr and Stefani Miller and makeup artist Jeanette Schneider. Helping the ReTique boost sales by creating a scene outside the store let people know that self expression of all kinds can be good for the community. Also, creating dialogue about fashion in general is vital to keeping independent thought alive and well here in Milwaukee.

One of my favorite things about fashion is that it is a very populist pursuit. We all have our very own ideas on how to dress and present ourselves to others, no matter where the clothing comes from or how much it costs. Great style is more than just buying some cool clothes; it is about those garments bringing life to the person who’s wearing them. A wise person once said, “Money can’t buy you class,” and I guess in the same token class and money aren’t a guarantor of good style sense. Let’s ruminate on that … here’s a look at the fashion seen on models and regular folk alike during this interactive and artistic evening.

Floral prints on Broadway.

Flower Power
These two lovely ladies know how to work a floral print. I just had to get their picture as they passed by on Broadway. The gal on the left knows how to play up her dark hair with the cool purple tones of the print. The one on the right makes the most of her legs, while also sporting a bright pop of color from her golden satchel bag. She must have been art shopping!

 

Chrystal rocks a tie.

Chrystal
On model Chrystal we did a pretty menswear-inspired look with satiny striped button down, distressed denim shorts, and periwinkle blue men’s tie. She looks delightful, unique and approachable.

 

Double the viewing pleasure.

Cute Couple
This pair hit all the right notes as they complemented each other with their fashion choices. On the left we have a retro print dress topped with a shrunken cardigan, but most of all, I LOVE the hairstyle! 1940s pin up glamour never looked so sweet and modern. On right her gal pal sports an appealing menswear look complete with rolled up sleeves on her pinstripe shirt and a perky black bow tie. Their smiles were adorable!

 

The family that fashions together.

Family Affair
This close-knit group was all smiles when asked to pose for me. They let me know that they support Gallery Night as well as the ReTique. I guess you could call this “family style” fashion. Mom, in her vibrant print tunic, and dad and daughter in spiffed up casual shorts and tops obviously know how to dress for the summer heat. Fun is the key to whatever you wear, and they’re obviously having a great time.

 

Perfect pairings.

Jake and Alexxus
Two of the youngest models at just 17, they know what they like and what they don’t. Casual with a twist is the order of the day with these two. Alexxus wears a short-sleeved blouse with peplum detail, and long lean shorts, while Jake sports a more classic all-American look with a t-shirt, bright warm-up and shorts as well.

I always keep an eye out on what people wear around town, not just on Gallery Night. It helps me understand our city and its diverse population. Great fashion is all in the eye of the beholder after all. Take a look at our photo album to get the big picture of our Re-Fashioned Gallery Night.