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*Now presenting THRWD’s newest weekly post, This Week’s Flyer. We’re going to pick a show flyer every week that has both the aesthetic and appeal of THRWD*

This Week’s Flyer is for the at Jagoe House in Denton on Friday featuring headliners Blackstone Rangers and a swell cast of good looking cozy-feely indie rock bands with the exception of the pop punky No Touching. (Still good-looking tho.) The flier, by Vinh Ho, has got that traditional chrismas-y look that instills us all with that special, ohfuckit’salreadydecember kinda feeling. But hey, emphasis on the party! This looks like it’s going to be a jolly one. Aren’t the holidays a great time to indulge yourself with glittery tunes that warm up your soul with jangly guitars and soothing rhythms? With that festive wintery appeal, you can tell that this’ll be a special one for the local elves, snowmen and a Santa that kinda looks like a hairy Chris Cotter of The Syndicate. The show is free and BYOB. For the address, ask a hipster!

Sparked by the intensity of protests in Ferguson and a revived movement for basic rights across the country, activists have taken to the streets of Dallas over the past few months to make their case for justice. The cases of Mike Brown and Eric Garner have really just amplified the voices of those speaking for the fatal police shootings of unarmed people of color here in this city.

Hashtags like #Dallas4Ferguson and #DontShootDallas have popped up in local social media, coordinated with rallies around the country. And whether or not you agree with their tactics – like blocking a major highway or barraging your online feed – you’ve got to admit: they’re making noise.

Photo Credit: Nick Weaver

Photo credit: Pablo Arauz

Photo credit: Whytney Joy

Mod or Rocker?

Going back to the two most prominent fashion trends in the 60′s, both were inspired by art and music movements in that same time. The Factory, Twiggy, and Andy Warhol solidified the short, bright dresses and bold tights. On the other side of the spectrum there were the rockers; dark, dirty, and intense without a care in the world. I happened to dig out a handy test from 1963 so you can see if you’re a Mod, a Mid, or a Rocker.

 

Past identifying with the style that resonates most within your lifestyle, both styles still exist today. The only difference is the addition of modern media such as art, films, and music that help you identify with each style.

MOD INSPIRATION

A few notable personalities in the Mod subculture and fashion are Andy Warhol (duh), Twiggy, Edie Sedgwick, and Basquiat.

MOD MY WAY

Although the Mod style has been seen to influence a few contemporary collections, the best bet for a purely Mod look is VINTAGE! I suggest shopping at Vintage Martini, SaviorLuxe, Dolly Python, SHOP MIEUX (online).

THE BRIDGE… MOD ROCKERs FRANCOISE HARDY AND ALEXA CHUNG

A contemporary fashion icon that crosses over from mod to rocker and often mixes the styles is Alexa Chung.

ROCKER INSPIRATION

One of the most prominent too-cool-to-care gals with a pure modern rocker fashion is none other than Kate Moss.

ROCKER MY WAY

 

I’ve seen feather coats and feathers in general pop up a lot more often lately; luckily feather and large fur coats are also a staple of any true Rocker look. And leather pants, but I didn’t feel like dying of overheating that day (or ever, be very wary of leather pants). YSL is also a huge inspiration, their elegant and clean yet rocker inspired styles and cuts are the perfect finishing details on any look.

 MOD ROCKER PLAYLIST

 If you have any questions about specific pieces, you can contact Ekaterina Kouznetsova

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Disclaimer: Images do not belong to THRWD.

Project Runway All Stars Take on the Dallas Runway for Fashion X Dallas Finale

Written by Ekaterina Kouznetsova

The last night of Fashion X Dallas brought Project Runway All Stars to the FIG runway, and they did not disappoint. As expected, the turnout for the last night was unprecedented by the past two nights, and the VIP lounge was as crowded as ever. Not that anyone is complaining about brushing shoulders with beautiful clothes and people. Among the guests I spied Ken Weber of Vintage Martini, Alex Young of Eat Style Dallas, LeeAnne Locken, Marie Jankoviak Reyes, Charles Smith II of SMITH II, and Erika Oliver.

Matt Swinney and his incredible team, Fashion Industry Gallery, and Berina produced a fantastic and diverse runway presentation experience. For the premier year of this event, it’s already off to an incredible start; mixing  a variety of designers from regional to international, ready-to-wear to formal, and emerging to Project Runway made this production unique. There was never a lull or boring second in the past 3 fashionable nights in the world of FxDallas. By the welcome and heartfelt, positive response in the audience, this event is the beginning of a beautiful staple in Dallas runway presentations. Can I RSVP for next year yet?

La Miniatura by Jeffrey Sebelia kicked off the night with a high-energy, bubbly presentation of detailed yet comfortable children’s clothing. Working out of LA, Jeffrey Sebelia was featured on season 3 of Project Runway, and went on to design women’s and men’swear lines. Highlights include unexpected yet effective print pairings, such as a colored striped jacket with black and white tye-dye trousers. From the first to the last model, the applause and cheers of the audience encouraged the bubbly and sassy young models to reach astronomical levels of cuteness.

Laura Kathleen explored a variety of different fabrics and textures paired with an earthy palette. Classic lines and simple color blocking is paired with snakeskin prints for a bold statement. A few highlights of the presentation include geometric necklines, a texturized cobalt snakeskin dress, and a color blocked cape-jacket.

Daniel Esquivel’s presentation began just like an old James Bond film- orchestral music and spy themes cast a sense of mystery and sensuality. Dominating cuts, strong fabrics, and the color palette of black, grey, and hot red was an effective combination. Contributing to the spy-punk look, each model wore a asymmetric black beret and red lipstick. Highlights of this presentation were difficult, as each piece was incredible, but the black sequin dress with lip appliques, spray painted jacket, and structured, sexy leather two-piece.

Mychael Knight brightned up the room with spring, bold colors, neon prints, and watercolour stripes. Mychael is skilled in blending demure cuts with sheer fabrics and mesh to modernize each look. A few highlights include high mesh and sheer collars, the pink and white watercolour stripes, and more demure cuts.

Korto Momolu impressed the audience with her masterful command of fabrics and layering- each look was comparable to a kinetic sculpture on the runway. Modern draping combined with a neutral color palette and bold detailing was mixed with hints of shimmer in pale colors. A large variety of fabrics and selected asymmetrical cuts kept every look fresh and different while still retaining a complete essence. The line cohesion is increased when Korto included necklaces that are also her own jewelry creations. Some highlights of this presentation include bold linings in structured, asymmetcial pieces, unique cuts, and excellent draping.

Melissa Fleis’s monotone palette with hints of red and sophisticated cuts was reminiscent of a modern rock n roll yet business mentality. Edgy layering and multiple vests created a cool and collected tone of the presentation. Long and lean styles paired with leather tops and jackets were contrasted as beautifully as the bus monotone prints and red details. Some highlights from this collection include structured leather outerwear and lengthening, monotone prints.

 

Michelle Lesniak combined cultures in her presentation through unexpected pairings of traditional prints and coarse to delicate fabrics. She focused on emphasizing texture contrasts and earthy, natural tones. A mix of same-tone fabrics and prints in a variety of textures contributed to the booming, intense mood the music set. Slow walking models demonstrated the full movement and optical illusions of layered fabrics and unique cutouts. Highlights from this collection include layered, cutout fabrics with contrasting prints underneath, textured pieces that were well-paired, and a black piece with sheer cutouts and a bold plaid print peeking out underneath.

Anthony Ryan Auld closed the show with an understated collection of monotone colors and a variety of soft, lush fabrics. His use of rough and coarse textures and open seams is balanced with cozy scarves and outerwear. The combination of some industrial accents with grungy yet modern, long cuts is rarely seen, and was appreciated. A highlight of this collection is his usage of a beautiful wood print in fabric and focus on boxy and geometric lines through the use appliqués.

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All photos courtesy of Adam Bryantt @adambryantt

Fashion X Dallas Friday does not disappoint.

After the incredible debut of Fashion X Dallas Thursday night featuring a variety of designers, guests couldn’t wait to see more talent on the runway and in The Galleries. Again, the fashionable crowd grew in size and volume as it neared the beginning of the runway presentation. Like Thursday, designers had pop-up shops in The Gallery for guests to peruse. Spotted were some talented individuals, including Mindy Loll of SaviorLuxe, Shona Gilbert of SHONA, Charles Smith II of Smith the II, Cynthia Smoot of Oh So Cynthia, and LeeAnne Locken of The Fashionistas. Also spotted were the designers of Project Runway themselves, attending as guests before their runway presentation Saturday. I got a chance to chat with Daniel Esquivel and Jeffrey Sebelia…they will be about Dallas today, specifically mentioning a mandatory visit to Vintage Martini. (Friday designers and review in photos)

Day two did not disappoint, but when you have Matt Swinney as the founder, that’s not a surprise. Saturday will feature runway presentations by Project Runway All Star designers including Daniel Esquivel, Anthony Ryan Auld, Laura Kathleen, Jeffrey Sebelia, Melissa Fleis, Korto Momolu, Michelle Lesniak, and Mychael Knight. There is a special bonus for the VIP experience Saturday too- VIP guests can meet, chat, and take photos with these amazing designers! Tickets start at 20 for standing to 195 for front row, with an optional VIP experience for 100 on top of ticket price. Tonight is the finale, get your tickets and experience the last day of Fashion X Dallas 2014!

Red Paisleys started the night off with a beautiful and colorful presentation featuring a blend of traditional Indian design and modern silhouettes. A standout piece was their ombré dress which was expertly dyed from a bold pink to a soft nude.

Cecelia by Cecelia Motwani brought a sense of dystopian 1950′s nostalgia. Using a variety of fabrics from soft to structured, Cecelia put the perfect sense of post-apocalyptic yet ready-to-wear fashion, her designs make anyone feel like they could take on the world no matter when or where you are.

Emily Daccarett began her presentation with a mysterious video, a cross between film noir and dystopia. Featuring strong silhouettes, each piece told a story through the presentation. Some of the highlights included a beautiful blue and white floral print incorporated into tops and bottoms, and the finale look featuring plenty of mysterious sensuality.

M.E. Shirley brought a little piece of carefree Austin style to the show, including soft fabrics and relaxed fits. Earthy tones and small batches gives each piece individuality while still retaining impeccable production quality.

Nine Muses blew the crowd away with their newest collection, inspired by the globetrotting socialite intellectual. Following their previous inspirations, they again portray the mysterious, captivating woman in fabric. Still retaining their overarching silhouettes and high-quality production and fabrics, Jerry Matthews and Francesca Viamonte flawlessly transition from one look to the next. Pulling images from all over the world, manipulating them personally, and printing on high-quality fabric is a large focus of this collection, from the amazon forest to the Sahara desert.

In a surprise announcement, Nine Muses was awarded the first ever Dallas Fashion Fund Award and top-of-the-line sewing equipment from sponsor Bernina. Congratulations, Jerry and Francesca!

Rare Trends out of Austin, Texas brought a whirlwind of fabrics in a red, white, and black color palette. More than looking incredible on the runway, each look had incredible movement and impressive construction. With a large variety of fabrics and styles, Rare Trends had many standout pieces and in general a strong collection. Some of the favourites included the iridescent leather snakeskin jacket, a must-have in every wardrobe, and the finale leather fringe dress, which captivated the audience and held each guest’s gaze until it disappeared from view.

S.T.E.F. makes you feel good about wearing the clothes while you look good in them by using organic cotton, soy, and hemp fabrics. At first glance, I would have never guessed that fabrics and materials that would have otherwise been thrown away could be made into clothing this beautiful and high-end. From playful geometric designs to blending different materials, S.T.E.F. uses haute couture techniques while being economically sustainable.

As always, Ese Azenabor wowed the crowd with intricate beading and striking designs. Well experienced in hand-beading full dresses, Ese’s presentation included new beading techniques, fabrics, and beans. These dresses beg to be worn, and flowed beautifully down the runway, casting a fairytale spell over the audience.

Nearing the end of the show, FIG got an extra dose of energy with skateboarders zooming through the runway…it was the prelude to Isabella Rose Taylor’s collection, a 13 year old celebrated fashion designer who just launched a juniors line with Nordstrom. Fun checkered Vans and arm bracelets added to the young, funky style of this designer. Fringe was an unexpected and interesting detail included in tops and dresses.

Abi Ferrin was the perfect designer to finish off the incredible Friday lineup; light fabrics and ready-to-wear yet dramatic designs visibly increased the already high energy in the crowd. Indulging in small yet effective details in trousers and intricate prints, the presentation increased in dramatic value with each look. Plunging necklines were balanced with soft colors and bold accessories.

Don’t forget you get your tickets at fashionXDallas.com for tonight’s show!

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Photography by Dillon White