Fashion Seen

(Please sing the next lines to the tune of “My Favorite Things…”) Nina and Heidi and lots of nice dresses, Michael Kors dissing contestants’ hot messes, Tim Gunn is wondering which ones will stay, these are the joys of “Project Runway.” Let’s face it, the successful Lifetime television show has had its ups and downs. It has spawned a few weak imitators on TV and some surprisingly great and, I might add, successful fashion designers. It has given us a look into the world of fashion design with all the drama, bitchery and heart-tugging emotion intact. Watching this show has…

With the onset of the charity ball season underway and holiday party invitations coming in, the important question for many gals is, “What do I wear?” There seems to be a common thread for women attending a formal function or classy soiree here in town or in the suburbs, and that is, “Where do I get an appropriate dress, without making an enormous investment in something I may only use once?” After all, Milwaukee’s doesn’t have the socialite scene that requires an extensive cocktail/formal wear wardrobe. From the events that I have had the pleasure of attending, it seems to…

I met Ashley Brooks a few years ago through mutual friends in the biz. I was immediately struck by her beauty, friendly charm and confident, easy approach to her personal style. When I learned that she worked as a designer for Kohl’s Department Stores right here in the Milwaukee area, I wanted to find out more about what drew her to follow a life in fashion. In addition to her full-time corporate position at one of the top-four fashion retailers in the nation, she offers her professional advice to locals in need of sartorial intervention through a nationally credited style…

One of my favorite fall/winter pieces is a denim trench coat by John Bartlett. I believe that denim is the most populist fabric the world has ever known! It works well for high-end garments, such as my coat, and everything from Fleet Farm bib overalls to True Religion fashion skinnies. All modern people wear denim in some way, shape or form, but it is jeans that comprise 50 percent of a person’s wardrobe. But, what is it about this humble garment that gave it undeniable success? Not that long ago, only poor, working class folks wore denim jeans. Practicality, not…

Red-and-black plaid shirt, check. Rolled and cuffed jeans, check. Grungy leather boots, check. Chunky knit watch cap, check. What are we talking about here? Fashion trends come and go, but the “Paul Bunyan” look has certainly taken over as one of the easy go-to looks of the fall/winter season. Anyone can wear it, even if you’ve never held an axe or stood 20 feet tall. On runways at a plethora of men’s and women’s presentations, the plaid outdoorsy style is out in full force. Growing up in rural Wisconsin, I know the practical outdoorsy look well.  I have vivid memories…

There is only one other time of year besides All Hallows Eve that I can think of when normally sane people go out of their way to enter the realm of the scarily/sleazy. That’s New Year’s Eve. For Halloween, out come the “naughty” costumes. Simply add fishnets, a short skirt, and stripper heels to any outfit, and “voila” a naughty (insert noun here) nurse, schoolteacher, zombie, etc. is born! Truly uber-tacky costumes are on display on many a costume website for viewing but hopefully not buying. Such lack of taste goes with the territory of the “scream queens” of the…

There is something about fall weather that just gets you excited about pulling out your favorite coat or jacket. Fashion is so much more fun in the fall and winter months simply because we have more options.  The same holds true when people dress for events when temperatures drop. More thought goes into the way you present yourself, and as I always say, “great style is about ideas.” There was style and ideas aplenty last weekend for Gallery Night/Milwaukee Fashion Weekend. Here, I’ll highlight the people who obviously took great care to make a positive fashion impression. Starting in the…

My grandma Esther always called hers a “pocketbook” and was prepared to pull out almost anything you would want from its voluminous cargo hold. Some women call them purses and have many variations in size, color and style to accessorize any outfit they can come up with. They are filled with the important things a woman must have to get through her day, and the search for the “perfect” handbag to contain such items is the stuff of legend. Fashion watchers, such as myself, tout the latest and greatest trendy styles that are available for what might possibly be the…

There has always been a correlation between art and fashion. Designers often create their own textiles with which to sew their garments. Often during the Paris shows we see totally brilliant examples of sculptural works by couturiers that feel the need to inspire and challenge our perceptions of what fashion is, and what it can be, given a new outlook. I adore our local art and fashion events that let my thought process commingle with that of the person designing the garments or art. Such will be the case on Oct. 15, when the Milwaukee Art Museum once again plays…

Every neighborhood in our metropolis has what I would call “visionaries” or even “urban pioneers.” Such is the case with Stephanie Sherman and Carrie Arrouet, co-owners of Lela Boutique on Broadway in the Third Ward. Deciding to open a clothing boutique that featured carefully edited vintage clothing with new emerging fashion designers was a gamble in the landscape of the Third Ward in 2003. At that time, things were just starting to percolate, retail-wise, and it hadn’t yet become a bona fide “destination” area. But with their vision, foresight and love of great design, they went ahead and transformed a…