This past May one of my good friends Mason told me about this group he joined as a board member, called Redline. What exactly is Redline? Their official description is as follows: “Redine is an urban laboratory that seeks to nourish the individual practice of contemporary art and to stimulate the creative potential of the local community.” Cool. Mason took a big breath (as I was cutting his hair) and told me Redline holds an annual fashion show every year, and they are in need of help. They need someone to find models for a contest “Recycled Runway”. The event took place on September 23rd. I of course dove in head first and said YES OF COURSE ANYTHING (for fashion). So began my relationship with Redline. Recycled Runway was a contest held for artists and students… it was similar to our beloved Project Runway where the models walked down the runway in outfits made out of trash by hopeful fashion designers. One winning design would be picked, and there were 12 designers competing. I have to say… the stuff I saw at Redline’s Recycled Runway blew Project Runway out of the water! Anyways, back to the beginning. I needed models to wear the artists’ designs made out of recycled…well..trash. I quickly found some pretty girls and sent them in to be fitted. There, did my part. Good. Next?
I didn’t hear from Redline for a few weeks until someone obviously stalked me on Google, and realized I’m pretty much obsessed with fashion with my various fashion blogs and gazillions of jobs all relating to style. I got an email from Redline out of the blue: Will you help us train the models to walk down the runway, how to pose on camera…AND be a recycled runway judge? I felt like my poodle does when she’s about to get a treat…I could hardly contain myself and all but started skipping about with joy.
The first project? Styling the models for their photo shoots. Hair and makeup is my original speciality, and last minute they needed a stylist for a shoot that would be in their Recycled Runway Magazine. This would not be the first time I woke up before the sun to make someone beautiful. It turned out great.
Here are a few from the magazine. Photo’s by Christopher McIntyre (I didn’t style these particular ones, DeRiah salon did…so good!)
Next? Morning news shows, Real Milwaukee and Morning Blend, to hype up the event. My models knew what they were doing by now, I just psyched them up and perfected their stance when the nerves came around. I was more of a wreck than anyone, praying there wouldn’t be a catastrophe (tripping over cords, a broken heel…OMG). It all went perfect.
Behind the scenes at “Real Milwaukee”
And behind the scenes at The Morning Blend
After all the press on the event, it was time to deliver a GREAT show. I was so excited to work with such creative people, in Redline’s space with it’s exposed brick walls, high ceilings with beams and wood floors… very “downtown”. I would be judging the recycled designs with the following people: Bruce Paul Goodman, Jordan Dechambre (Fashion Editor at M Magazine), Tim Dixon (Owner of Iron Horse Hotel) and local artist Reggie Baylor. We had a run through the night before the big event, where I flapped around the runway obsessing over the models walking and posing… (they did wonderful).
Then there was the day of the show. The MAD-NESS. All the models show up (thankfully), an entire salon shut down to style the show (wow), and the recycled outfits went on without a scare.
I reluctantly left all the models a few minutes before the show began (they were MY babies!!) to take my seat at the very FRONT of the runway feeling a bit giddy (is this how it feels to be Anna Wintour?), next to Jordan of M Magazine and Bruce Paul Goodman. As we waited for the show to begin I swooned over Bruce and the first thing out of my mouth (I was excited) was “You smell so good and I heard you have a dog and I have a poodle!!!!” (oh no). He put a manicured hand up to his mouth and chuckled, then pointed down at a black bag on the floor that began jumping around. Bruce Paul had a poodle too…and it was in the bag. I was in lust with this little man and wondered if he’d adopt me. My part of the show began, we did our judging and it went by without a flaw!! I secretly did a Lambeau leap in my head, then sat back and drank my Manhattan, enjoying the rest of the fashions.
At the end of the show, they crowned the winner…and everyone involved breathed a huge sigh of relief that it went by without a flaw.
Me (in the green) with a few of the models. The winner IS in this photo, can you guess which one won?
*Hint: It’s name was “Subscribed.”
What’s next for me? Another fashion show of course! I will be modeling in the Sharon Lynn Wilson Fashion show “A Perfect Fit” for Next Door Boutique. The event takes place October 5th. The owner of Next Door (and great friend, and boss) has a WONDERFUL showcase of clothing that will sure catch your eye. There’s also an accessory we will all be flaunting that will steal the show!
