Beckoning balmy weather has us out and about, eager to be seen while on the scene. One fun way to mingle, contribute to something worthwhile and catch up on spring and summer styles is to attend area fashion shows. Looking for something more immediate? Why not head out to a fashionable sale or two.
See what spring and summer style has in store for men, women and young girls at Three Graces, Esselle Style Studio, Moxy and Starship at the April 1 All Geared Up fashion show at Barclay Gallery & Café (158 S. Barclay ) benefiting The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., $15 admission includes a free raffle ticket and complimentary appetizers. The gallery will also donate 10 percent of all sales made after the show to the cause. Call 460-4634 for more info.
The Fashion Revolution runway show highlights the retro/vintage glam, urban and recreated fashions and accessories of two of the city’s best known African-American designers, Lolita of Brown Fox Boutique and Angela of D/Queens Crowns, as well as some cool street wear from Flow boutique. Presented April 7 at the Wisconsin African American Women’s Center (3020 W. Vliet), the 8 p.m. show will feature performances by Motion Disoderz, a raffle for gift certificates and Moet champagne. Tickets are $20 at the door or $15 preshow if purchased at the Showing Off by Hosea Salon (2742 W. Highland). For more info please call 975-4892 or e-mail Sheena Luckett-Dodd at mindovermatterinc@yahoo.com.
One way to keep hands from feeling idle while calendars fill up with travel, concert or sports events is with portable knitting and crocheting projects inspired by Loop Yarn Shop (2900 S. Delaware, 481-4383, www.loopyarnshop.com). Pick a pattern from great books like One-Skein Wonders, Weekend Knitting and Last Minute Wonders, choose from a large selection of spring and summer weight yarns available at 20% off through the end of April and get going on socks, tank tops, summer shawls, baby and children’s fashions, perfect for taking along no matter where you’re bound.
No matter what the season, Faye’s is always up-to-date. On March 29-April 1 their Brookfield Galleria West location (18900 W. Bluemond Rd., 262-432-0070) hosts a Yansi Fugel trunk show where shoppers place personal orders for sweaters, jackets, pants, evening ensembles and travel jersey separates for the coming season or pick from plenty of pieces to wear right now. (Note to overwhelmed moms: take advantage of the store’s Fashion Play Date March 29 when from 2 – 4 pm, the staff of Club Tosa, the Country Club for kids, will be on hand to keep children 2 – 6 happily occupied while their mothers shop unencumbered.) On March 29-31, shop the White + Warren trunk show at Faye’s Mequon East Towne Square location (1505 W. Mequon Rd, 262-241-8386) and see why the luxurious knitwear made Oprah’s ‘O’ list.
Let’s face it: It’s hard for little girls not to look adorable in just about anything, especially dresses. So best not miss the wonderful Dress Sale at Freckle Face (407 E. Buffalo, 298-1488) on March 30. Shoppers receive 20 percent off any regular priced dress from casual knits to fun and casual dress styles right up to fancy little print numbers with petticoats.
Expand your wardrobe with a visit to J. Bird Boutique (415 E. Menomonee, 272-6553) March 30 & 32 for the Spring/Summer Trunk show & Sample Sale featuring the versatile FLlP® designs of Chicago designer Lara Miller. Her modern hand-loomed bamboo and luscious jersey knit skirts, jumpers and dresses can be twisted, wrapped and even worn upside down to create entire new looks. Come back to the store April 1, stop for the store’s terrific semiannual ‘Pick Your Poison’ sale and get 50 percent off any one regular priced item in the store!
Save 25 % on a selection of wonderfully fragrant and natural household cleaning products from Caldrea at Shoestring Home (www.shoestringhome.com) .
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Readers who tune in to my Wednesday morning visits with Gene, Amy & Gino (94.5 FM 7:30 – 8 a.m.) may remember how crushed I was to have my dreams of early retirement in a surfside condo dashed at last year’s Antiques Appraisal Day. At the first annual event held to benefit the American Association of University Women Educational Foundation, I found out that unsigned, my large beautifully executed Victorian oil portrait of a rather dour noble woman was pretty much worthless. But still, I’m eagerly heading back to this year’s local rendition of the Antiques Roadshow where the process of finding out if you’re sitting on a gold mine is simple and fun. Just bring in up to three carry-in items (no jewelry please) between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Saturday March 31 to the Bach Room of The Astor Hotel (924 E. Juneau) and for the cost of $7 per item ($20 for 3 items), Chestnut Court Appraisals, Ltd might redefine your junk as treasure. Like when they identified the woven Indian rug the woman in line in front of me last year found tucked behind the paneling in her basement as worth thousands or instructed the fellow behind me to contact the Smithsonian museum regarding a framed document he’d been given by an elderly aunt years ago. Hey, you never know.
Take care of your own heart and someone else’s by taking part in The Cooking Store (17115F West Bluemound Road 272-785-9800 www.thecookingstore.us) Heart Healthy Classes featuring Roots Restaurant Chef John Raymond. Benefiting the American Heart foundation, learn how to make Creative Soups (April 9), Salmon, Chicken & Vegan Composed Salads (April 30) and Quick One Pot Chicken & Seafood Meals (May 14), $45 per person
Ladies feeling like they lack a little something are certain to benefit from the April 1 body image workshop – Our Beautiful Female Bodies – offered by A Woman’s Touch (200 N. Jefferson Street, 221-0400, www.a-womans-touch.com). Professional facilitator Deborah Bachmann guides attendees in examining the sources of their negative body images before using self reflection, journaling, group sharing, affirmations and laughter to encourage feelings of goodness, power and worth regardless of shape, age, size, color, mobility or experience. $36 per person.
Kudos to Fred (524 N. Water 273-3733)for hosting a month long clothing drive to benefit Casa Maria’s work with Milwaukee’s homeless population. The fashion boutique offers a 15% discount on all store purchases in exchange for any item of quality used clothing donated now through April 30. If you stop by to shop during one of the store’s Wine with Fred events (held 6 – 10 pm the last Thursday of every month) along with the savings, enjoy complimentary wine, nibbles, beauty makeovers, paraffin hand treatments, massages, eyebrow shaping and lots of fun networking opportunities with other stylish professional women of the city.
