Fashion Fridays: SoBe Sensational

Want to see a slideshow of the looks I featured at the Fashion Fridays event? Hit play!
With our website changeover I'm still figuring out how to post slideshows and multiple photos. Unfortunately on the new website, the models' heads were getting cut off in that version! :)

Photographs courtesy of Peter F. Castro.

NEW! Madison Mannequin: LA Imports

Guest blogger Alexandra Graves is an intern here at Madison Magazine and my eye on the streets for all things chic, eccentric or otherwise inspirational. So check back weekly for the latest “Madison Mannequin.” Lex will be conducting all interviews and providing commentary for this special weekly segment.

Stacy Sterling flew in from Los Angeles to visit her sister, but she brought a lot of style with her. Sterling, twenty-nine, designs jewelry that can be found in her sister’s boutique, Sukara Sterling, on State Street. She does more than sell style, however—she lives it, which was evident in her thinking-outside-of-the-flip-flop look.

“It started with the boots,” Sterling said of her outfit, so it’s no accident that I noticed them first. “I choose one piece that I really feel like wearing, then elaborate on that. I have a lot to choose from because I’m really into fashion.”

So into fashion, in fact, that after graduating pre-med from UW–Oshkosh, Sterling followed the urge to explore her creative side all the way to Los Angeles, where she has lived, designed and shopped for the past seven years.

Sterling snagged the boots at a flea market, borrowed the sash belt from a jumpsuit and wore a racerback tank as a dress. She pulled it all together with a roomy sweater from Honey Punch and a scarf from—where else?—Sukara Sterling.

So how does Madison’s style stack up to the ever-current Los Angeles?

“When students are here, there’s more risk taking,” Sterling said. “They’re not afraid to be the first to wear something.”

Two Big Shopping Events!

Want to snap up your own masterpiece—without the huge cost? Or better yet, that sweet pair of designer jeans for a lower price? Art Fair on the Square and Maxwell Street Days are just the answer to your shopping desires.

First, this weekend’s Art Fair on the Square is a bonanza of artists selling everything from: mixed media, ceramics, drawing, graphics and printmaking, fiber/leather, furniture, glass, jewelry, metal works, painting, photography, sculpture and 3-D mixed media and wood. Phew, that’s all of the categories! That’s about five hundred artists showing off their wares, folks.

While it’s not a “sale,” items range in cost from affordable jewelry and prints to pricey ceramic and glass pieces and everything in between. It all depends on what you’d like to spend—and of course, what pieces speak to you. So pick up your own little piece of art, whether it’s a pair of earrings or that must-have painting.

Yes, the Square can get crowded but Art Fair only comes around once a year—so why not embrace it, take your time, and support local (and national) artists?

Images courtesy of MMoCA.

Art Fair on the Square, July 11 (9 a.m. to 6 p.m.) July 12 (10 a.m.–5 p.m.). Capitol Square. Mmoca.org

Next weekend (July 17–19) is Maxwell Street Days. What is Maxwell Street Days, and why the heck is it called that when it’s on State Street?!

“Maxwell Street in Chicago, Ill., was home to a famed outdoor market and ‘urban bazaar’ from 1871 to 1994. In 1975, Martin’s, a Madison, Wis., clothing store and tailor shop, founded an outdoor sidewalk sale to showcase the State Street shopping district, starting Madison’s very own ‘Maxwell Street Days’ tradition.”

That’s according to downtownmadison.org, of course. Anyway, deals abound at the largest sidewalk sale in Madison. And I mean sidewalk sale in a classy way of course, not in a rummage-sale-selling-cheesy-owl-tapestries way. More than eighty shops, boutiques, galleries and restaurants (most locally owned, of course) will have bargains on clothing, jewelry, home goods, shoes, active wear and more.

I must confess I am looking forward to bop’s sale. The fun, fashionable women’s shop will offer killer deals on tons of items in the store—including their best denim sale of the year. If you make the pilgrimage to bop, be prepared to wait in line around the corner—the sale is just that good.

Maxwell Street Days, July 17–18 (8 a.m.–6 p.m.) July 19 (10 a.m.–5 p.m.). maxwellstreetdays.org, visitdowntownmadison.org

Other Hot Sales

3 Orange Doors Sidewalk Sale
When: July 10–12, 11 a.m.–4 p.m.
Details: Owner Gail Paraskevas wants to celebrate Antiques Roadshow being in town—but since so many didn’t get tickets, she wants to celebrate in the store! Many items are up to fifty percent off. If you haven’t stopped by this quaint gift haven off of Fitchrona Road, take a ride off of the beaten path and check it out. It’s a little country, a little bit city.
More info: 848-3336. 2789 Fitchrona Rd.

Unearthed Sale
When: July 11–12, 12–6 p.m.
Details: Save twenty percent storewide when you visit the store or order online. Check out the store for items so new owner Heidi Anderson hasn’t even posted them on the website yet.
More info: 441-1993. http://unearthedgallery.com

Atticus Summer Shindig
When: Through July 18
Details: Get up to seventy percent off all apparel and accessories (apothecary not included). With niche brands like Acne, Current/Elliott, Charlotte Ronson, LNA and Relwen, Atticus has got one-of-a-kind, chic looks that are perfect from day to night. Right now I’m loving owner Kristin Wild's dresses and she’s got a well-edited selection of Acne denim. Get it while it’s hot! (Shown above is Current/Elliott's "Heart Dress". Photo courtesy of Atticus.)
More info: 18 N. Carroll St. 204-9001. Atticusshop.com

I will not be posting next week (July 16) as I'll be out of the office. See you the week after!

NEW! Madison Mannequin: Sassy Chic

Guest blogger Alexandra Graves is an intern here at Madison Magazine and my eye on the streets for all things chic, eccentric or otherwise inspirational. So check back weekly for the latest “Madison Mannequin,” posted every Tuesday from now on. Lex will be conducting all interviews and providing commentary for this special weekly segment.

Dr. Georgia Hinman, fifty-one, leads a busy life as the director of medical education assessment at the UW School of Medicine and Public Health, mother of two and recently published author (whew!). So it makes sense that she keeps her style simple.

Hinman chose her casual Concert on the Square outfit because the colorful Bermudas didn’t need ironing, and her summer style rule is summed up by her crystal embellished Birkenstocks: “No closed toe all summer long.”

Still, those sparkly sandals hinted at a more colorful style philosophy, and sure enough, Hinman later said she opts for “professional yet slightly sassy” looks.

“I try to look young and current without looking ridiculous at fifty-one,” Hinman said. “I want to age gracefully yet be kind of hip and modern.”

Hinman often asks her daughters to see if her style is working, but like those Birkenstocks, she doesn’t always follow code.

“Sometimes I listen [to them] and sometimes I don’t!”

Spoken with true sass.

What to Wear This Summer

Lately, Madison’s had no shortage of fashion shows. And that’s a good thing! Stores, models and event organizers have done an excellent job of uniting the fashion community in this city by showcasing beautiful clothing (and people!).

I attended the ENCORE: Madison’s Premiere Fashion Show June 26th at the Orpheum. Organizer Nick Speckmann promised an exciting event with hot summer fashions, so I of course was intrigued. I wondered what would be shown in the middle of the summer when Fashion Week is in the fall and spring?

The show’s looks were a mash-up of chic summer looks, men’s casual as well as men’s suiting and a superb pre-fall lineup from J LaMore. Take a look at the slideshow to see a selection of looks! Photographs courtesy of Larry Chua.

Terese Zache, past Best of Madison winner (as well as a designer by trade herself!), opened the show with looks that will keep the fashionable girl cool no matter her age. Some notable looks: a crisp red and white sundress with coordinating shrug was a polished summer party look; a khaki and white striped seersucker suit was unfailingly preppy; an animal-print tank paired with gray pants was a cool summer day look; a cute belted tunic and trouser jeans would work from day to night. The show was closed (Karl Lagerfeld-style, of course) with a white mermaid-style wedding dress. It was beautiful, and I have a feeling might have been designed by Ms. Zache herself, but I’m not sure.

Bill Paul Studio is known for their prepster vibe, suiting and quality men’s accessories (including excellent silk pocket squares and ties). Looks included casual tee-and-jean ensembles, easygoing button-ups and jeans, a summery washed shirt in vibrant watermelon paired with dark denim and a sky-blue button-up with printed French cuffs. The closing look was a pinstriped suit paired with a smart bowtie. Way to bring it back 1920s style!

J LaMore (also a Best of Madison winner) closed the show with quite a bang. Their line opened with a slide show, showcasing images of several icons from the ’60s and ’70s—people like the Jackson Five, Jackie Kennedy, protesters and more. That prepped the audience for what would be a heavily themed show incorporating bohemian influences as well as a whole lotta Jackie—Kennedy, that is. Tunics, distressed denim cutoffs, maxidresses, cute sundresses and a few suits popped up here and there leading to a very cohesive, well-edited selection of sixties- and seventies-era looks.
Red, white and blue were the central colors, shown in pieces such as a blue trench coat; a red suit jacket with three-quarters sleeves with large buttons and skirt with flared hem; a blue and white flowered sundress paired with red cardigan and a red and white maxidress. But it wasn’t all prim and proper; a black and white leopard-print sleeveless dress with hot-pink belt and straps as well as a black and white cheetah-print three-quarters-sleeve suit jacket with pencil skirt popped up to add a little spice to the otherwise Americana-influenced collection.
Models carried protest signs, surely a nod to the tumultuous times of the era, but also adding a bit of authenticity to the runway show.

Overall the event was enjoyable and flowed smoothly. Models did a nice job, posed well and had nice, even walks. The looks were appropriately Madison—nothing over-the-top, yet still ensembles that were thoroughly wearable. The Orpheum is a very cool place to hold a fashion event as well—the historic vibe as well as ornate, old Hollywood aura just felt right.

NEW! Madison Mannequin: Artistic Expression

Guest blogger Alexandra Graves is an intern here at Madison Magazine and my eye on the streets for all things chic, eccentric or otherwise inspirational. So check back weekly for the latest “Madison Mannequin,” posted every Tuesday from now on. Lex will be conducting all interviews and providing commentary for this special weekly segment.

UW–Madison art and graphic design student Vivian Cruickshank, twenty, was her own canvas at last Saturday’s boiling hot Farmers’ Market. Her medium of choice? Bright, breezy pieces like this pink sun hat and print sundress from Appleton’s Forever 21, where Cruikshank works during the summer.

“Clothing is an art,” Cruikshank says, adding that she looks for interesting patterns and colors to round out her signature style, which she describes as “really fun, yet classic.”

Flourishes to her cool canvas included splashy earrings (also a Forever 21 find) and a white patent tote from baghaus.com. Take a page out of Cruickshank’s sketchbook and start your own closet gallery this fall—Forever 21 is coming to Madison!