Indianapolis Welcomes Pattern

Last night, fashion professionals from Indianapolis and the surrounding cities got together at the Indianapolis Museum of Contemporary Art to introduce Pattern. Pattern, birthed from the Indianapolis Fashion Collective,  is a new fashion hub fostering creativity, ingenuity and bringing the fashion community of Indianapolis together for networking and growth opportunities.

Five fashion related businesses got to introduce their services to the guest that attended. They were Aesthetic Design Style House (the fashion services company I work for), Bullet Boutfits (a roller derby clothing line), T.Party & The Snappy Dresser (Kaitlyn Elise's t-shirt company and personal shopping/styling boutique), Minx Vintage (a blog and vintage boutique), and LModelz Model Management. 

 

It was great to be in a room with some AHMAZING and extraordinary people. Pattern will be meeting once a month in different venues throughout the city of Indianapolis. If you are in Indy, you have to make sure to attend one of the future events.

 

 Designer, Co-Worker & friend Amber Fitzgerald with her bestie from England, Emma Jesson

The cutest outfit I saw at IndySwank, a boutique located in the Murphy Building in Fountain Square.

The museum was a wonderful place to host this type of event.

Leslie Turner, Owner of LModelz Management & Designer Catherine Fritsch

Professional Makeup Artist, Kathy Moberly & My friend and boss lady, Julia Rutland of Aesthetic Design Style House

To learn more about Pattern and the fashion community in Indianapolis, make sure you follow them on Facebook and visit their website, IndianapolisFashion.org. 

Janelle

Shop Till You Drop

I love the phrase shop till you drop. If you want to literally do this you must attend The Shop at Puerto Rico High Fashion Week. The Shop was created for designers to have a space where they can showcase and sell their collections. It's where the public can appreciate the wonders around the designer's designs and retailers can also meet personally with the designers and have direct contact with them.

Tirzha and Pitango, a ring designer from Israel at The Shop 2010

I was talking the other day to Tirzha Alcaide, she is the lovely lady who is in charge of The Shop. This lady has an amazing story. While being in charge of The Shop, she is also competing in a reality show named In Search of the New Diva Puerto Rico. You can be sure I will blog about her very soon to tell you all about the show and her experience.

PRHFW President Caridad Fernández visiting The Shop 2010

Tirzha was telling me they will have fashion shows, lot’s of great booths with beautiful merchandise and a bar area for the customers. They are expecting more than 12,000 people! It will be held at The Puerto Rico Convention Center in San Juan from September 28 to October 1, 2011.

Designer Reynaldo José with one of his creations

If you are in town be sure to check it out because if you love to shop till you drop, this is the place to go! Hope to see you there!

Entertainment at The Shop

Blessings to all,

Marta

Reynaldo José: Featured at Puerto Rico High Fashion Week

The life of a designer is intimately linked to tastes and sensibilities that change at a moment’s notice. He or she must be able to capitalize on or - even better - influence those opinions. Designers reflect society’s sensibilities through clothing design.

Puerto Rico High Fashion Week is just around the corner and I am going to blog about an amazing young designer from Puerto Rico. His name is Reynaldo José and he will be participating at this event that promises to be spectacular. I contacted him and asked him if I could blog about him. He was so nice and graciously accepted immediately.

Reynaldo José with one of his models

Reynaldo José was born in Caguas, Puerto Rico, on December 15, 1986. His artistic inclinations started from a very young age. When he was just twelve years old, he won the award “Fashion Designers of the New Millennium”. I find this to be amazing! He received a scholarship to study at the renowned school of Lisa Thon and graduated in 2001 with high honors. With ten years of experience in the fashion industry, he has participated in numerous local and international events like Novel Design Group, Flashes of Fashion, Red Carpet Fashion International Convention, Miss Bahamas World, Plazarela, and the most important fashion event: Puerto Rico High Fashion Week.

Reynaldo José with one of his models

José has been honored with many awards throughout his career. Recently, he's been nominated to receive the Manuela Toro Morice Award, by the Chamber of Representatives of Puerto Rico, as a young distinguished person from the Municipality of Caguas.

He has a BA in Communications, with a concentration in Visual Arts, from the Sagrado Corazón University and he is pursuing his Master’s Degree in Communications. Among his immediate plans, he hopes to continue the fascinating world of fashion and communications.

Reynaldo José with Oscar De La Renta

I am so proud to say he's from the beautiful Island of Puerto Rico. José is so talented and yet so humble and I can’t wait to meet him at PRHFW!! Reynaldo José, I wish you all the luck in the world, the sky is the limit!

Blessings to all,

Marta

My Interview with Syreeta Rios of Lipstick Killers

A few weeks ago, I discovered a new designer while on Sense of Fashion trying to find a dress for a function I was attending. After seeing her work, I contacted Syreeta Rios of Lipstick Killers and she agreed to do an interview with me for the RL readers.

A model with Lipstick Killers designer, Syreeta Rios.

How long have you been designing?

For close to ten years.

Where are you from?

Originally from Wilmington, Delaware and now reside in Atlanta, Georgia.

Print Romper w/ Sash Retail: $65

How did you come up with the name Lipstick Killers?

My actual company name is Big Gyrl Clothing, Inc. but I wanted to expand my line with more sizes and give it more umph..lol So while I was listening to a song by Ghostface called "Killer Lipstick" talking about women assassins and hustler divas, it inspired me with the name Lipstick Killers. I wanted the line to be different, fierce, punkish, and original so there it goes.

Why plus size? Why couture?

Plus size is where its at baby! I'm a big girl myself and always make my own dresses and there is still such a lack of style and proper definition for plus sizes in major stores so designing for my fellow plus divas will always be something that I will feel passionate about. To be couture is to make custom, made to measure pieces that cost thousands of dollars so I wouldn't say that my collection is couture, but it is my desire to be at that level soon.

What type of woman is a Lipstick Killer?

Lipstick Killers live by their own rules, control their destiny, and fight for everything worth fighting for. We live fearlessly and dress fearlessly. We don't break fashion rules, we create them. We don't live by the trend, we set them. We love hard and work hard just to play even harder. We live a life full of passion, excitement, and fullfillment. Lipstick Killers rock! To read more, please visit my blog post http://www.ustrendy.com/lipstick-killers-collection/blog/.

Tube Top Rhinestone Jumper Retail: $60

What's special about Lipstick Killers?

Its original prints and designs, flowing pieces, tight pieces, unique tees, and some accessories. LKC is where its at for the killer outfit. Its head turning, eye catching garments.

Explain how you construct your pieces?

My pieces are constructed from various patterns and from the heart.

What are your inspirations?

My inspirations come from anything and everywhere. Mainly, I am inspired by different genres of music such as heavy metal, rock, pop, and hip hop.

Do you prefer independent designers or mainstream designers?

 I think independent designers are the best! We hustle hard for what we make and go through so much to put our lines out there. There is nothing like exclusivity.



Sexy Striped Spartan Dress Retail: $45



Who are you influences?

I adore Chanel, Dior, and especially Christian Siriano. I also love Kimora Simmons business ethic and style.

What is the average price of your pieces?

On average about $50

What is your favorite piece?

I must honestly say that I do not have a favorite piece, I love them all like children, equally..lol

Do you have any side projects you want to share with our readers?

 I am also a journalist for examiner.com as a nightlife expert which you can read my articles at http://www.examiner.com/nightlife-in-atlanta/syreeta-rios and also am working on a men's line.

Thank you Syreeta for sharing Lipstick Killers with our readers! Make sure you become a fan on Facebook.

Local Love: Transformations

Friday night, I saw an awesome show. Transformations is an annual show designed and produced by Catherine Fritsch for DivaFest. 

Fristch speaking with the audience

 Fritsch is owner and designer of Mercurious Designs and Sweet Revenge Lingerie. She has 18 years experience in designing, pattern making and sewing services. In my book, she is the one of  the gurus of design AND she is one of the most humble and nicest person you will ever meet. She's also one of our clients at Aesthetic Design Style.

In the Transformation show, Fritsch takes off the wall objects, like styrofoam from bean bag chair and balloons, to make modern Victorian pieces.

Models were supplied by LModelz Modeling Agency. Makeup was done by Aesthetic Design Style's own Julia Rutland and Christopher Thompson of Re-Creations and Kathy Moberly of faces by klm. Hair styling was provided by Geneva Hair Studio and jewelry by Cheeky Couture. 

I was excited all week about this show. Here are a few of my favorite.

To find out more about Catherine Fritsch or Sweet Revenge Lingerie, go to her website.

An Affair to Remember: Eliza Parker Preview

Have you ever fell in love with SOMETHING you just can't let go? Have you ever loved a piece of clothing you never want to take off?

Eliza Parker goodness...

My story begins as any story would. Once upon a time, I went to a preview show for Eliza Parker. I was so excited to have the brand here for Midwest Fashion Week. I'm a huge fan, but have to confess I don't own a stitch of EP. I'm a bargain shopper and Ms. Eliza is one of those things you have to save up for...until tonight.

I visited the website when I found out Eliza Parker was participating in fashion week so I can link their site to a Facebook status. One dress caught my eye...the Monaco Dress. 

Christine & Jess of Eliza Parker

Me, Christine & my friend Angela

I digress...let me tell you...Jess and Christine (of Eliza Parker) are the sweetest people you will ever meet. Not saccharin sweet...but Paula Deen butter and sugar sweet. I love them! They are like girlfriends you love to take shopping with you. They also shopped at Kohl's while they were here in Indiana...you HAVE to have patience for that! Very laid back...great people!

When I walked into the Skyline Club, which will be a whole other blog post in itself, I saw that Monaco Dress! I tried to resist it, but when another attendee tried on the dress, she looked gorgeous!

I had to try it on...I fell in LOVE instantly! Jess gave me a size 14/16 to try. I flinched but tried it on. It fit like a glove. You know I wear a 22/24! The belt didn't fit though...the ladies threw in their Interlocking Belt...for FREE! PLUS...she discounted the dress...$229 discounted to $150!!! I had to buy it. Even though I used half of my vacation flight money...it had to be done! It was a must! (Good thing Jay later agreed to buy the dress for me...I love him!) I'm a EP convert; I will spend the money for Eliza Parker. I'm hooked now. 

What is my face doing?

Well I didn't want to take the dress off, so I kept it on for the duration of the preview...went and ran errands. Heads turned and I got multiple complements. I didn't want to take it off. I'm actually sad now. It's 10 p.m. and my dress is now laying across the love seat. I hear her little voice. Janelle, why did you take me off? Don't you love me? I love you little dress. You make me feel special and pretty...don't ever change!

Me & Jess

Jalene, of Wisdom Wealth Abundance, one of the producers of the event.

Sola, of Midwest Fashion Week, one of the producers of the event.

 

Jess & one of the beautiful runway models for Saturday's fashion gala.

Midwest Love: I Got a Sweetooth for Sweetooth Couture

While blogging for Aesthetic Design Style (ADS), I happened upon a plus size independent designer from Cleveland, OH. Anytime there's a designer from my own backyard I have to showcase them. Here is a reprint of the interview I did last month for ADS with Sweetooth of Sweetooth Couture. I did buy two pieces from the designer. I should get them soon. I will post them when I do!

Full name?

Rachel Kacenjar

How long have you been designing?
About 3 years.


Where are you from?
Cleveland, Ohio

How did you come up with the name Cupcake Cuddlebunny? Sweetooth?
Cupcake & Cuddlebunny was just supposed to be a temporary name when I came up with it. I started out just doing alterations and someone was interested in a garment that required an invoice, so I thought I should probably have a name/logo/separate bank account. One of my nicknames was "cupcake" and I called my cat my "cuddlebunny" all the time, so I just threw it together. I'm actually changing the name of the company to "Sweetooth Couture" in the coming weeks. Too many folks think my business is a bakery or a kids clothing store, so its just easier that way.

Sweetooth Couture is meant to still sound sassy like C&C, and embody the campyness, fun style, and daring lines my clothing offers. I really only came up with it because I like the idea of a tooth as a symbol for ferociousness!

Petal Pink Frock (retail $38)

Why plus size? Why vintage? Why couture?
I started doing plus size stuff because I've been a plus sized person most of my life and up until recently, have always struggled to find the type of clothing I've wanted to wear. I've had a deep love for vintage clothing for as long as I can remember, and so much of it is really small in the bust and waist even if you're lucky enough to find it in larger sizes. Vintage clothing has so much to offer that today's clothing doesn't have- impeccable construction, glamour, fine details. What's not to love?

The dilemma here is that when you're a modern size 18 like I am, you end up searching for cute stuff in vintage size 22-24, which is basically the chupacabra of clothing. Its hard to find, and when you do find it, its usually overpriced at an actual vintage store, as opposed to the cheaper items you can score at the thrift store or at estate sales.

When I moved to New York City to finish my psychology degree in 2005, I found that there were basically no thrift stores that carried plus sized vintage (Re/Dress NYC wasn't open yet), so when I'd visit my hometown of Cleveland, Ohio, I'd thrift my little heart out and come back to NYC with garbage bags full of dresses that needed repairs or alterations. This is basically when I began to teach myself how to sew.

Lollipop Dress (retail $72)

I moved back home a couple of years later and my friends and acquaintances noticed my style and I started to get a lot of requests to do personal shopping and make stuff for folks. I think a lot of people have that special garment that they have a lot of sentimental value wrapped up in, and often our bodies grown and change and that garment sits in some one's closet for the rest of their lives. I really wanted to unearth those garments for folks and alter them to fit again, so couture ended up being part of what I offer. I certainly am no couturier by the strictest of standards, but I believe that one of a kind, hand sewn, custom garments are special, and people of size deserve them!

By the Summer of 2008, I had a 6 month long wait list for custom garments, and I thought I should probably open an Etsy store to make my order management easier, so that's how Cupcake & Cuddlebunny was born.

Zoetrope Keyhole Dress (retail $48)

I started designing the Sweetooth line last year because I had so many customers get irritated with me when I'd only offer one of a garment. I had never designed before, and quite honestly am a terrible drawer, so I took what I knew about pattern making (very little) and tried to create a line of 12 pieces that embodied a lot of the requests for custom clothing that I'd received. Working with a manufacturer to produce pieces brought on a whole new set of challenges that I've never dealt with before, but it was a really great learning experience. I've received a wonderful response from the Winter 2011 line, and am working on a Summer line right now.

What type of woman is a Sweetooth Couture woman?
I think a Sweetooth Couture woman (and I don't just want to cater to women- I want anybody who likes my clothing to wear it) is bold and confident. I don't make clothing to hide people's bodies, I want it to enhance people's bodies. Coco Chanel was at the forefront of breaking women from wearing corsets and girdles from day-to-day, and I really try to embody that spirit. I'd like to think that when people wear my clothing, they feel liberated, sexy and stylish no matter what their size or shape.

Chips Ahoy Dress (retail $78)

What's special about Sweetooth Couture?
Sweetooth Couture is special because it makes people feel special. I try my best to run an ethical business as well. I'd say about 95% of the fabric I use is vintage or "upcycled" as fancy folks like to say, and most of my zippers, buttons, appliques, and trim are vintage as well. My new line uses a lot of recycled cotton and sustainable wool. I promote altering old clothing so folks don't go out and buy new stuff that's made in a sweatshop. I pack things in re-usable envelopes as much as I can, print on only recycled paper, and try to make things as affordable as possible. I employ a non-profit pricing structure that pays me $15 an hour for my work + materials costs and that's it. I'm a one-person show, so that helps to keep costs as low as possible. I am very serious about providing honest and reliable customer service, too! It gets really hard to compete with big box stores on that type of thing, but I really do try my best.

Explain how you construct your pieces? Vintage?
I am a huge proponent of doing custom fittings. Obviously I don't always have the luxury of that when folks are ordering online, but having an accurate set of your own measurements is almost impossible to get by yourself, so when I can fit someone and then fit them a second time during construction of a garment, I know it will fit as accurately as possible. If I just have measurements to work with, I crank my adjustable dress form to those measurements and make it work.

After a fitting, I take into consideration where the customer will wear the garment and what it is for, and try to find the best fabric to suit their needs. I end up making a lot of garments out of vintage polyester, which most people despise even thinking about, but in reality, it doesn't wrinkle, has a good amount of stretch, and does not lose shape or color after several washings. (Its also never going to biodegrade, so I think its great to have people wear it instead of throwing it out.) I usually have a customer send me links to garments they like or provide me with pictures, and I go from there. I tend to put my own design spin on garments, which most people really like. If someone wants me to make a reproduction of something, I usually turn the job down. I'm a designer first, seamstress second. I don't really want to spend my time making stuff that already exists.

What are your inspirations?
My main inspiration is the social and political implication that fat people should be ashamed of their bodies. I want to defy that notion, and I do, each and every day with the way I dress AND what I do for a living. My friends also have a huge impact on what I design. I am lucky to have many gorgeous, plus sized, confident people in my life and I feel honored that they think the art I make is special enough to actually wear out in public. They inspire me to keep plugging away when I feel like I can't do it.

Taffy Pull Dress (retail $62)

 Do you prefer independent designers or mainstream designers?
Independents, definitely. I think what happens a lot of the time is that Independent designers grow weary of constantly scrapping and scraping for things like food, rent, and health insurance, and end up selling out to mainstream lines and stores. That's the nature of the beast, and I don't judge anyone for doing what they have to do to get by or get ahead in this industry. Its hard to get your voice heard, you know what I mean? Some of my favorite independent clothing designers are Bertha Pearl of Size Queen, Valerie Mayen of Yellowcake, Mondo Guerra, Lucy Peterson of Hissyfit, Leanne Marshall, and Rodarte.


Who are you influences?
Though it doesn't show much in my clothing, I am undeniably in love with the more outlandish couture fashion giants. Alexander McQueen, Vivienne Westwood, Heatherette, oldschool Karl Lagerfeld. I think my fashions most reflect Mary Quant and Coco Chanel, or at least I hope they do.

What is the average price of your pieces?
$14-$78 with some "couture" or super fancy vintage that needed a lot of work going a bit higher. Custom work is $15 per hour plus the cost of materials.

Divinity Dress (retail $68)

What is your favorite piece?
The Divinity Dress. It's really simple if you take off the epaulettes and really fancy when you attach them.

Do you have any side projects you want to share with our readers?
Yes! I am working alongside Valerie Mayen, from Project Runway Season 8 to build a sewing co-op and fashion incubator in Cleveland, Ohio called Buzz and Growl. (You can check it out at www.buzzandgrowl.com) Its her brainchild, but I'm working with her to establish it as a non-profit and secure funding for youth programming. I'm really excited to see how it turns out!

Thanks for doing the interview Rachel!!

Stop by Sweetooth Couture's website and Etsy page to view more looks from this designer!