Fashion Seen

(Don’t miss the MAM After Dark video below!) Riddle me this: What do you call something made of glass that is paraded down a long runway by an Amazonian model? An evening gown, of course. That is exactly what was on display last Friday, Jan. 15 as the sixth-annual Wearable Sculpture Fashion Show showcased its artful garments at the “greener” event. Part of the ongoing “MAM After Dark” series, the show was a feast for the eyes in the fabulous Calatrava-designed Windhover Hall under the Burke Brise Soleil. What a perfect marriage of both venue and event. Given that green…

I recently gave a ride home to a co-worker and couldn’t resist commenting on her long, quilted, down coat. “Did anyone ever tell you that looks a little like a sleeping bag with a hood?” I asked. “It’s warm, and I’m taking the bus since I got rid of my car!” she replied. Well, I guess she told me. Although some of these coats have a dubious role in fashion, they are practical. When we wear it, what we wear and why we wear it is a good mantra for strategic winter styling. Urban dwellers who use public transportation definitely…

I know many have already published exhaustive end-of-decade lists, but I have something to add. Trust me, you’ll relate. I’ve put together a salute to the fashionable moments and, in some instances, people we had a hard time forgetting over the last 10 years. There were trends to adopt, those to ignore and those that just wouldn’t go away. Let the list begin.1. Lady Gaga is at the end of the decade, a Madonna if you will for the new millennium. Her poppy disco dance hits are further popularized by her outlandish costumes and fashion sense. Love her or hate…

Resolution: “I am going to quit buying clothing just because it’s on sale!” This is easy to say but tough for the fashionista to live up to. There will be year-end clearance sales, inventory liquidations and other tempting offers that make you feel like you must buy, buy, buy before it’s too late. But like the character Isla Fischer plays in Confessions of a Shopaholic discovers, there is already a treasure trove waiting to be plundered in most of our closets. In the film, Isla plays a gal who desperately wants to work for the top fashion magazine in New…

When dressing for holiday affairs (the party kind, not the Tiger Woods kind), the idea of less is more abounds. (Here comes my inner curmudgeon.) I mean the less-is-more philosophy in the hoochie mama way, not the minimalist way. Every New Year’s Eve, you see women who think dressing for parties equals showing lots of skin while leaving little to the imagination. There they are, out on Water Street, getting their party on, all the while teetering through the snow and ice in stilettos. Don’t get me wrong; sexy can be good, but tacky lasts forever. I’d like to offer…

Let’s face it. We have all, in one way or another, been victims of holiday fashion crimes – the well-meant gift of clothing or apparel that was absolutely hideous. About seven years ago, I was on the receiving end of one of those “Wow, that’s interesting!” presents. My older sister, her eyes gleaming with anticipation, handed me a beautifully wrapped gift and watched as I tore it open. Upon lifting the lid of the box, I sensed impending doom. “How do you like it?” she said, smiling broadly. “It’s really unique! Thank you,” I managed. In the box was a…

While returning photo-shoot clothing to a retailer, I ran into a hard-working beat cop who patrols the Brady Street area. Officer Edward Ciano, when told of my new endeavor, smiled and offered an idea: “Why don’t you do the mirror awards?” he asked. “And what would that be exactly?” I asked. “An award for those who should have looked more closely in the mirror before they left the house!” he said. And a column was born. I know he was thinking about calling out those who need a fashion intervention or at least a wake-up call, and this got me…

My first memory of caring about fashion came as a kid in the ’60s, watching the variety shows so popular in their day. I particularly remember “Laugh In” with its garish mod looks. I had my mom make me a Halloween costume of paisley bell-bottoms, a long black wig, orange headband, pink oxford button down and homemade apple seed necklace. The only distraction was my black grandpa bifocals. They screamed nerd, but I didn’t care. I felt so cool. Is this typical for a 9-year-old boy from rural south central Wisconsin? Maybe not, but it is perfect for someone whose…