Window Shopping

My Blog Has Moved! Check it Out!

2009-08-28T10:42:00.004-05:00

As you may or may not know, Madison Magazine's website has been totally revamped, with spectacular results! Our redesigned site now means that our blogs can live on our site rather than being hosted on a different website (like on Blogger), which is ideal for us and our readers.

You can always catch any of our blogs (Small Dishes, Liberal Arts, Foreword and Window Shopping) by logging on to madisonmagazine.com and scrolling down the page. You'll see our blogs at the bottom. Happy reading!

So from now on, read my blog here:
Madisonmagazine.com/Blogs/Window-Shopping/

Fashion Fridays: SoBe Sensational

2009-07-23T16:00:00.003-05:00

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

2009-07-22T09:00:00.003-05:00

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!

2009-07-10T18:34:00.009-05:00

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

2009-07-10T18:28:00.004-05:00

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

2009-07-08T09:51:00.003-05:00

What to Wear This Summer

2009-07-06T15:43:00.008-05:00

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

2009-07-01T10:53:00.003-05:00

Now Open: The Velvet Umbrella and Lu Anders

2009-06-26T14:37:00.007-05:00

As your intrepid shopping reporter I’m always on the lookout for newer stores and I have two to tell you about: The Velvet Umbrella and Lu Anders.

The Velvet Umbrella opened in September and is in the old Dottie Rose location on Parmenter Street in Middleton. Those of you who didn’t get in to Dottie Rose can also identify the location as next to the now-closed Tickled Pink and kitty-corner from Roman Candle.

The boutique stocks French bath and body products in delicious scents like mandarine pamplemousse (mandarin grapefruit), Walking in Provence, vanille lavande (vanilla lavender) and more. Also look for linen spray, hand soaps, candles and baby care items. Each shower gel, body lotion, hand soap—whatever—isn’t housed like your run-of-the-mill Suave bonus-size lotion bottle from Target. Some are carefully gift-wrapped in little gift bags; all bottles have fancy labels that enhance the specialness of each product.

Although owner Jeannette Caruso wasn’t working, the employee that was was very helpful—telling me that all of the brands they sell are exclusive to the area and was even familiar with the production process of some of the bath and body lotions sold.

In addition to bath and body, The Velvet Umbrella sells foodie delights like Gourmet Village dips (cheddar onion, roasted pepper) and soups (minestrone), Tea Forté and Harney & Sons teas. The interior is chic and calming with pastel blue walls, hardwood floors and black and white shelving.

The Velvet Umbrella, 1835 Parmenter St. 836-3424.

Lu Anders, by contrast, is far newer than The Velvet Umbrella—it just opened two weeks ago in the same shopping center that houses Rejunvenation Spa, La Baguette and O’Grady’s. Formerly an Allen Edmonds shoe store, the interior underwent a full makeover from manly hardwood fixtures and a darker color palette to airy and white. The interior of the store is still quite spare with white walls and white shelving and little decor—which is understandable, given the newness of the place.

The women’s lifestyle boutique focuses on comfy clothing like tees, tank tops and lounge pants up to dressier items like jersey-knit dresses and fashionable little jackets. She’s the only purveyor of Trollbeads in the area—individual beads made of sterling silver and Murano glass that wearers can string into bracelets. Each bead has a different meaning and Hallquist says she’s already had people stopping in requesting them.

Another accessory item the owner is excited about are SwitchFlops, flip-flops that come in three different shoe styles that wearers can change out the strap patterns. You can find everything from nautical stripes to polka dots to chain-link patterns on the change-outs. The flip-flops range from $33 to $49 for a kitten-style sandal and “switches” are $5 for the flip flops and one free for the kitten-heel style. (Another local purveyor of SwitchFlops? J. Kinney, mentioned in a blog post below!)

Oh, and in case you’re curious about the name Lu Anders, it’s named after the owner's daughter Lulu and son Alexander.

(Photo courtesy of J. Kinney)

Lu Anders, 7412 Mineral Point Rd. 827-8270

Updates

2009-06-26T14:36:00.000-05:00

I reported that XXI Forever (Forever 21) is opening this fall at West Towne Mall. I now have confirmation that the store will open October 17 and will be a whopping 36,121 square feet! This particular location will “feature three of the retailer’s brands only seen in larger locations: Forever 21 apparel and accessories; Twelve by Twelve, a couture line; and Heritage 1981, a lifestyle brand for men and women,” according to a press release.
Looks like Forever 21 knows that Madison’s got some serious shoppers ☺

The Coach store will be opening mid July.

Fashionable Find

2009-06-26T14:12:00.005-05:00

Since I’m checking out local retail all of the time, I frequently come across fantastic items—far too many to fit in my blog every week, but I try to feature them as often as I can!
J. Kinney always puts a smile on my face when I walk in. Maybe it’s because of the cheerful green walls or the smell of fresh flowers. Nah, I think it’s because of little Iris, her kitty that saunters through the store, that makes me feel at home.
One of my favorite items from J. Kinney (that I’ve featured in the magazine before) is her OilCloth goods. These durable, wipe-clean items like lunch bags, tablecloths and tote bags are fantastic for toting lunch to work, decorating a drab ol’ picnic table in the park or transporting your favorite Concerts on the Square fixins’.
Owner Jane Kinney tells me that the company found a number of old copper print rolls in Mexico from the 1930s and most of the designs are reproduced vintage designs from those rolls. Cool! OilCloth stuff ranges from $12–$35.

J. Kinney, 1835 Monroe St. 255-7500. Jkinneyflorist.com

Next Week!

2009-06-26T14:07:00.005-05:00

Dane Buy Local Independents Celebration
When: June 30, 4:30–7 p.m.
Where: Nau-Ti-Gal, 5360 Westport Rd.
Details: June 27–July 4 is Celebrate Your Independents Week, according to Dane County executive Kathleen Falk. With that in mind check out the new Dane Buy Local guide as well as get acquainted with Ancora Coffee Roasters’ new Dane Buy Local Blend Coffee. The coffee is an organic fair trade product and “includes a touch of the French Roast so popular in Madison,” according to a press release. Dane Buy Local earns $1.50 for every pound sold. (Buy a cup of the blend for $1 at all of Ancora's locations this Saturday, June 27. Also try the blend on July 4 at their King Street location).
Also listen to a performance by Lucas Cates, door prizes and complimentary appetizers and cash bar sponsored by the Nau-Ti-Gal.
More info: Lark Paulson, 467-7555. ancoracoffee.com

NEW! Madison Mannequin: Geometry Class

2009-06-23T10:02:00.003-05:00

New Column: bop

2009-06-19T16:15:00.005-05:00

Long known in fashion magazine circles for their extensive selection of brands from classics (7 for All Mankind, Marc by Marc Jacobs) to the hottest, most cutting-edge lines (Kova & T, Pencey) bop has everything—literally—a girl could need to dress from day to night. Rounding that out is swim apparel, intimates, jewelry and shoes.

In other words their Best of Madison win was well-deserved for the sheer amount of fashionable possibilities they offer gals of all stripes—whether they want a sleek tank with fringe down the front, jeans that hug their curves, a haute-hippie maxidress or a black silk cocktail dress with feathers at the hem like, ahem, someone I know. (See below...)

Read my latest column on bop here!

P.S.: Thank you to Mollie Milano, bop's store manager, for modeling her hot Michael Kors gladiator heels in my column's photos!

Best of Madison: What We Wore

2009-06-19T16:02:00.006-05:00

I live for party attire. Sometimes I wish I had a job that I could wear a cocktail dress to every day—but alas, I do not. And I’d probably get tired of that eventually anyway, so for now, special occasions are all the more special!

The Best of Madison party is just one of those times when our city’s finest get to dress up and celebrate one another’s success. Restaurants, salons, stores, auto dealerships, jewelers, movie theaters, florists, arts and entertainment groups and much more came out to socialize at the Madison Club and the Hilton last Friday night and everyone had a great time.

I wanted to share with you some cool photos: the first is of Madison Magazine’s very own edit staff—left to right is myself, Katie Vaughn, Neil Heinen and Brennan Nardi. Katie is wearing a J. Crew dress and beautiful chunky, bejeweled necklace (that I want myself!). Neil chose his comfy uniform of a T-shirt and blazer (he asked me ahead of time if his outfit choice was appropriate to wear to the Best of Madison—of course I said yes). Brennan is wearing a cool blue jersey dress by Jones New York that’s very Marilyn Monroe-esque. Too bad we didn’t catch her shoes in the photo! They were sassy patent cream and gold stunners.

I sported a Juicy Couture black silk cocktail dress with feathers at the hem from bop. Because I can never wear all black (seriously—too boring for me!) I had to add a pop of color with these Nina red peep-toe heels from DSW. If they look familiar, you might have noticed them in our June Luxe for Less issue—look in the lower right-hand corner!

To check out pics from our party, go to: www.madisonmagazine.com/scenes/

Now Open!

2009-06-19T15:57:00.003-05:00

Sue Hunter and Carmen Alcalde, owners of bad dog frida, a pet accessories boutique, know people by their pets. Conversations with them typically include a mention of a customer and a funny story about said customer’s pet.

Alcalde once picked something out for a magazine photo shoot after I mentioned a coworker’s dog that was modeling. “Oh, this will look perfect on little Geordie,” enthused Alcalde as she handed me a little rain jacket that of course, we used. So, I guess you could add pet stylist to their repertoire, too. (Geordie is the terrier wearing the navy raincoat in the photo!)

Anyway, they've just opened the Re-Dog store which is a “store-within-a-store [that] offers a variety of gently used items for your dog,” according to a press release. The Re-Dog resale shop is open the first and third Sunday of every month from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (So that’s this Sunday, June 21, folks).

Customers can earn money when they bring in items that Fido doesn’t use, like leashes, collars or sweaters in good condition. Bad dog frida staff will give you cash for items. You can also shop Re-Dog and pick up items at a hefty discount. Everyone wins!

Read my column on bad dog frida here!
Bad dog frida, 2094 Atwood Ave. 442-6868. Baddogfrida.com

Events

2009-06-19T15:52:00.002-05:00

MMoCA Father’s Day Sale
When: Through June
Where: Madison Museum of Contemporary Art Store, 227 State St.
Details: Get ten percent off of things for dad—business card holders made from recycled bike chains, desk clocks made from recycled 45 records, cuff links, backgammon sets, arts books, money clips and more!
More info: 257-3222

The Boss is Going Crazy Sale
When: June 19 and 20
Where: Fanny Garver Gallery, 230 State St.
Details: In honor of owner Jack Garver’s nuptials (this Sunday, congrats Jack!) he’s giving twenty percent off of everything in the gallery! Mention the sale to get the deal.
More info: 256-6755. Fannygarvergallery.com

Fair Indigo Bin Buster Sale
When: Now!
Where: fairindigo.com
Details: Score markdowns of forty, sixty and seventy-five percent off on certain items on the website! A chock-full of organic items such as washcloths, baby clothing and apparel are available.
More info: fairindigo.com

Nickel Sale
When: Now!
Where: bop, 222 W. Gorham St.
Details: Buy one pair of shoes at full price, get the second pair for five cents! Since I’m a shoe girl, this sale seemes like an insanely good deal …
More info: 255-2570 (in-store only)

Encore: Madison’s Premiere Fashion Show
When: Friday, June 26, 5:30–10 p.m. (Runway show at 8 p.m.)
Where: The Orpheum, 216 State St.
Details: Check out fashions from three of Madison’s upscale boutiques including J. LaMore, Bill Paul Studio and Terese Zache. Summer trends galore will be shown and DJs Corey Lee and Papi Love will be spinning. General admission is $20 and available at the door.
More info: speckmanninc.com/tickets.html

Fashion-Forward Femme

2009-06-18T15:58:00.005-05:00

Jennifer LaMore is one of those women that when you see her you automatically compliment her on what she’s wearing—although it’s probably not a question where she got it. Friends, she probably got it from her store, J LaMore, named after—naturally—herself. LaMore’s been sharing her trademark style with our city for ten years. Her mix of west coast, easy-breezy chic (tie-dye, bright sundresses, embellished tops), upscale, more conservative work attire (wool pencil skirts, blouses, trousers) and dash of sex appeal thrown in (sheer blouses, sassy cocktail dresses, sky-high heels) easily captures the many facets of a Madison woman’s life—from work to play.
As a multiple-year Best of Madison winner, I asked LaMore a few questions about her store’s success.

How many times have you won Best of Madison?
I think it’s seven times!

Why do you think you’ve done so well in the Best of Madison?
I think that people that shop here know how much we love what we do. They get such a positive vibe when they come in—and find product in here that they don’t see everywhere else. It’s such a friendly, easygoing place; there’s no pressure. We go to the east and west coasts to make sure we have the trends featured in magazines but interpreted to what people can wear here in Madison.
We try to participate in as many fashion shows and fundraisers as we can. It’s really about being relentless, and working at it, and doing everything we can to stay in front of the customers.

You said you interpret the trends from the coasts to the Midwest buyer. How do you do that?
On the west coast they tend to be on the trendier side. There are things that I see that I might love, but I’m not really certain that everyone’s going to “get it.”
Being in business now for ten years and knowing the customers as well as I do, it’s such a natural that I can’t even really explain it.

What’s your personal style?
My style is kind of definitely trend-driven in everything I choose to wear. It’s kind of free and a bit eclectic. I’m loving all of the maxidresses; I probably own five. They’re so comfortable and look cute—every time I wear them I get tons of compliments!

What trends should we look for this summer?
I don’t know if this has to do with the economy, but people are buying things that they can get more use out of—like dressier tops paired with jeans.
I’m seeing lots of plaid cotton shirts, and color in dresses and tops. Look for bright pink, orange and tie-dye.
And of course maxidresses!

Photos above courtesy of J LaMore.

J LaMore, 2701 Monroe St. 238-2119. jlamore.com

Look for LaMore at the Encore: Madison's Premiere Fashion Show at the Orpheum Theater Friday, June 26 at 8 p.m. (See event listings, below for more info). Want more Best of Madison? I’ll write more about more winners next week! In the meantime read the July story here!

NEW! Madison Mannequin: Puppy Love

2009-06-17T09:52:00.004-05:00

We Like Bikes

2009-06-12T14:34:00.013-05:00

An event titled “The Future of Transportation” might sound like a discussion on the Regional Transit Authority or Metro bus service route cutbacks. But it wasn’t: it was a showcase of bike-friendly fashion put on by Machinery Row Bicycles, Revolution Cycles, Context, Thorps, Cognition and Internal Construction.
The uber-trendy event, held last night at Revolution Cycles, was a fun, laid-back event that targeted regular Joes and Janes who like relaxed clothing with a fashionable bent—that they can bike in, of course.

Context co-owner Ryan Huber held court as MC (and looked the part: he fit right in the bike shop dressed in a bike mechanic jumpsuit, boots and goggles pushed up on his forehead) and had fun chatting with each of the models that came down the runway—on two wheels, of course.

Yep, each model came accompanied with a cool bike: road racers, mountain bikes and retro inspired models were all present and accounted for. Context’s models (which, by the way, were some good looking men!) sported simple looks like a white T-shirt and selvedge denim, as well as a three-piece tweed suit.

By the way, a tweed suit-clad model rolled the crazy bike shown above down the runway (according to Wikipedia it’s called a “penny-farthing” or an “ordinary bicycle”) … as Huber noted: “Taking it all the way back to 1868!”

Next Internal Construction (designers are Becky Heller and Jess Neumann, Neumann is in the black/white romper, above) showed off their looks: bike-friendly rompers in tasteful colors like sky blue, a pinkish-red, black, dove gray and even a fun retro print. Each piece was anchored by a black stretchy waistband to break up the outfit and add waist definition. Necklines ranged from a simple snap-front to asymmetrical and shoulder-baring to halter style. Each had its own distinct look, yet were tied together by the utilitarian romper aspect—perfect for biking (no revealing bits!) and yet, fashion-forward all the same. Cognition provided the fun caps that sat jauntily on most of the models' noggins.

Thanks to Angela Richardson for sharing her photos with me! View more athttp://www.flickr.com/photos/olive_talique/sets/72157619644288304/

Internal Construction will be sold at Atticus starting next week, around June 15 or so. Check with the store if you’re interested: 204-9001. 18 N. Carroll St. atticusshop.com (Internal Construction is on Facebook if you want to “friend” them!)

For Cognition cycling caps visit wearcognition.com

News

2009-06-12T14:28:00.002-05:00

Lady Moxie is offering alterations every Tuesday from 4–8 p.m. Get your jeans hemmed in thirty minutes while you shop, and other alterations are next-day. It’s kind of a two birds, one stone type of thing.

Lady Moxie, 6706 Odana Rd. 826-4268.

My mother and I have the sparkle addiction; that is, we have a fondness for sequins and shiny things. She’s been known to wear a tiara for no good reason other than just to wear one; I have two bead/sequin-encrusted gowns that I’ve worn to galas in the last few years—among other sparkly items I own.
We might like the Swarovski store that’s opening up at West Towne (who am I kidding?! Of COURSE we’d like it)—it will carry jewelry, watches and fashion and home accessories, according to a press release. I might stop short of purchasing the Swarovski-encrusted lampshade if they sold one, but maybe not …

Swarovski, near JC Penney in West Towne Mall, 833-0542.

Speaking of West Towne Mall, a Forever 21 is opening this fall! Exciting stuff! For those of you who have been to Forever 21’s expansive stores they can be quite overwhelming but you can find virtually anything you’d want there—kooky sunglasses, purple tights (I bought those the last time I was there), ruffly dresses, faux-leather bomber jackets and more.
Forever 21, H&M and Zara all operate on the extreme end of the trendy spectrum—receiving new merchandise constantly and turning it over quickly to keep up with the trends. In other words you might go there to pick up those harem pants (uhhhh … or not … ) or jumpsuit or neon T-shirt. Many of their pieces are items that you may not wear season to season—although Zara is a bit tamer, carrying more classic looks.

Shopwesttowne-mall.com

Middleton’s La Bella Vita Gallery is moving to 6666 University Ave. Their previous location was at 7466 Hubbard Ave.
According to a press release, the new space will feature “an expanded jewelry collection of more than 40 artists, with double the display space.” Owner Yvette Kindschi will also have an outdoor sculpture garden filled with garden art and a display of Kindschi’s landscaping services.
The Hubbard Avenue store will close June 21 and the University Avenue location will open June 24. A grand opening celebration will be July 6–11.

La Bella Vita, 6666 University Ave. 831-3303. Lbvgallery.com

NEW! Madison Mannequin: Laundry Pile Style

2009-06-10T10:13:00.002-05:00

Wisconsin Fashion Week: Fresh Face Winner

2009-06-02T09:36:00.005-05:00

First of all, read my take on Wisconsin Fashion Week, below this post …

I also wanted to congratulate Fresh Face Model Competition winner Paige Butler for her outstanding job on the runway. Part of Butler's appeal (and I say this because I saw her in Friday and Saturday's shows) is that one could see her in many looks—from edgy (like at the streetwear event) to casual (as shown in the photo here from Saturday's show, taken by photographer Timothy Hughes). Models that can show a wide range of looks from haute couture all the way to catalog work can do quite well in their career because they can adjust their look to each client.

Butler has a strong walk and a beautiful face. Part of what can distract me during a show is the model's walk—if they don't have it just right, it can easily detract the onlooker from the fashion. Also a model's facial expression is huge—sometimes in an effort to look—as Tyra so beautifully puts it—fierce, a model can end up looking angry. A neutral expression is usually best.

I don't pretend to be a model, so hey, this is why I don't model, right :)? Nice job, Paige!

P.S.: I want that dress she's wearing, from Sable & Sky. It's really cute.

Wisconsin Fashion Week: A Recap

2009-06-01T12:55:00.008-05:00

"I just don't get Bottega Veneta this season." No, I didn't hear that line spoken at Wisconsin Fashion Week, and yes, I really did read that line recently in The New York Times Style section (a stylist said that in an article and it made me laugh. Haha!)

Yes folks, Wisconsin Fashion Week has come and gone and most of you might be wondering: How did it go? It might not have been the Bryant Park crowd in their Marc Jacobs garb (discussing Bottega Veneta this season) and Valentino handbags, but our own fashion week went very well, thank you. Here's my take on this fashionable fiesta of events ...

Menswear, Stylista Competition, Womenswear Trend and Womenswear Premium Shows
Saturday at Overture Center was a veritable buffet of fashion: men's and women's looks were showcased throughout an all-day "Style District."

Saturday's midday menswear show featured fashions by Jazzman--and I must say, the sight of beautiful men didn't hurt the eyes, either! The male models were polished and did a nice job of showcasing the clothing. I wish that more local stores were represented--but then again, there's not much selection for LOCAL menswear! Perhaps next year more stores will get involved.

The Stylista Competition was quite innovative and I wasn't sure what to expect. The show actually quite reminded me of the Hair Affair event held recently at Overture—models were styled with a full hair and makeup look, complete with a coordinating outfit.

The looks were more avant-garde/artsy than actual looks to wear out and about. After all, wearing white body paint with glitter on it might not be something one would wear out to the grocery store! Rosalee Eichstedt and Headlines Salon won the competition in the clothing and hair categories while Indulge Spa won for makeup. (See their creative looks in the slideshow!) By the way, I was a judge in the Fresh Faces Model Competition as well as for the Stylista Competition, and it was great fun to be a part of the events representing the magazine.

Nighttime brought my favorite part--womenswear! The night was split up into two parts: a trend portion, which showcased youthful, edgier and more affordable lines. The premium portion, held later, was a mix of evening/special-occasion wear, handmade frocks and pricier brands and stores.

Some notable collections:
Maverick Clothing by Kayla Garland was an edgier line—looks were layered, and black and red was the dominant color theme. Most of the looks were worn with ripped leggings and featured recycled elements in the clothing. Models sported faux-hawks and red lips.

Vintage S.E.X.Y. was cute, using recycled/vintage looks to make new looks—like a cowgirl outfit with a plaid shirt and denim skirt.

Fred Boutique from Milwaukee sells celebrity-inspired fashions for affordable prices and their collection was put together quite nicely: models had beautiful jewelry to go with each look and fun, colorful shoes.

Daria Karaseva and Premiere Couture showed special-occasion dresses. Karaseva's were constructed of silks and taffetas; Premiere Couture can't be beat in their selection of gorgeous wedding dresses in lace and silk.

Jessica Catherine's (whose things I always love) line was cocktail dresses constructed of dupioni silk, all perfectly ladylike with a touch of sex appeal. She favors a streamlined silhouette that shows off a woman's curves—but incorporates a fun detail in each dress. That might be a yellow chiffon ruffle down the front of a navy halter dress or a chiffon multicolored scarf stitched on to a navy strapless dress. Her last two looks (amazingly!) were wedding dresses—both for the fashion-forward bride. The first was a strapless column dress of white dupioni that transitioned into a fitted cascading chiffon ruffle skirt—a gorgeous silhouette. The second was a white dupioni halter dress with an A-line skirt that was gathered in beautiful folds randomly throughout the skirt. One could see the dresses in color on a celebrity at an awards ceremony. I'm just saying :)!

J LaMore and Twigs both put on impressive shows that were incredibly polished and cohesive—these were two of my favorites.
LaMore's show started with an amazing performance by Native American Art Shegonee and his daughter. The performance kicked off LaMore's themed collection of boho/tribal looks in everything from maxidresses to rompers. Models strutted down the runway with genuine Native American artifacts like bows and arrows, drums and more. All of the artifacts were borrowed from Katy's American Indian Arts.

Twigs' look was South Beach prep mixed with touches of tribal influences as well. That meant bright, vibrant prints, safari looks and metallic touches in shoes, jewelry and handbags.
I was especially impressed by Twigs' show because they did what big-name designers when they show their lines during Fashion Week: transition looks in a way that they flow seamlessly together. It's hard to explain here, but that usually means the designer shows looks in order from casual to eveningwear, all the while tying each outfit strategically together so it flows into the next look. For example, Prada might show an wool trenchcoat, followed by a wool skirt suit followed by a wool jumper—each look ties strategically into the next. And yet the looks are differentiated by a pop of color or something else that sets it apart. I thought Twigs did this nicely.

I hope that Wisconsin Fashion Week can thrive next year and become an even better event with more attendance. Saturday's daytime menswear show was sparsely attended so perhaps grouping all of the shows (mens- and womenswear) together might work, or showing menswear on a different day of the week might up the attendance. Like I said, who can't resist looking at the beautiful men?! More people should get in on that!

But seriously, Kristi Moe did a good thing for the Wisconsin fashion community by bringing together people that care about fashion, like to have a good time—and more importantly, want to host an exciting celebration in a city that's typically known for the Farmers' Market and the state Capitol. We might not be evaluating the latest in Bottega Veneta's spring/summer 2010 collection like the editors of Vogue do at Bryant Park—but hey, we can still have a little fun with fashion, too.

Wisconsin Fashion Week: A Recap Continued ...

2009-06-01T11:54:00.006-05:00

Streetwear & Emerging Designers Runway Show
This event was held at 345 West Washington, in between the under-construction Hyatt Place and the Capitol West condos. The venue was supposed to convey "urban"--and I think it was a unique place to show off young and/or emerging designers. Designers included UW–Madison's Textile and Apparel Student Associated (TASA), Internal Construction, N.E.W.D. Clothing and Sconnie Nation. If you click on the slideshow you can see what was shown.

My favorite collection was Internal Construction, the line designed by Becky Heller and Jessica Neumann. Pieces were fun and sassy rompers, perfect for a day-to-night look. And that's exactly what the two were going for--pieces that could be worn while biking to work or school but are still dressy enough to wear out at night. I liked the gray/black romper shown last in the show--unfortunately my photo is not great of that piece, but I assure you, it was cute!

One of the strengths of their collection was the total look--Heller and Neumann clearly paid close attention to detail. Each model sported colorful eye shades or stripes of bright, colorful makeup along with leggings in colors like fuschia, sheer black, silver and yellow. In sum, their collection looked pulled-together and fresh, unlike anything I've ever seen.

Some of the TASA students showed some strong looks as well--the fanciful Carrie Bradshaw-esque tutu dress was cute, along with the more conceptual black and white dress with structured skirt and the yellow/white dress whose skirt looked like it was composed of curled ribbons (see slideshow).

Sconnie Nation surprised me with their fresh, breezy collection of T-shirts, sweatshirts, long-sleeve Ts and underwear. Models wore retro-look plastic sunglasses and walked in pairs of guys and gals (I only have one photo of Sconnie Nation in the slideshow).

Other collections had hits and misses--I recall at least one dress that was cut so high it showed, um, the model's behind—which isn't the most flattering look! :) Tim Gunn would have certainly reprimanded said designer for allowing a model to go down the runway showing her goodies off!

Overall the event was fun and represented the look that executive producer Kristi Moe was no doubt going for--fun, youthful and cutting-edge. I think that more work could be done in pulling together an even more cohesive event--the collections (to me) didn't so much say "streetwear" as they did "new emerging talent," so perhaps if this event is held next year the event could showcase strictly streetwear or just the emerging talent.

NEW! Madison Mannequin: Finely Dressed Friendship

2009-05-26T15:43:00.006-05:00

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.

I caught up with this chic duo as they paid for smoothies from a sidewalk cart. In the late morning heat, the light summer pieces that outfitted Amy Chinanzvavana, 26, and Amrita Batra, 26, were like smoothies for the fashionable eye—airy, refreshing and tasteful.

Chinanzvavana (above) and Batra (below) met at Grinnell College in Iowa but parted ways geographically after—Batra now lives and works in Madison at an environmental NGO, while Amy struck out to Washington, D.C., where she works as a program assistant at the Open Society Institute.

Although they live a thousand miles apart, Chinanzvavana and Batra looked almost as though they had coordinated—big, bright bags, eye-catching jewelry and breezy ensembles. Surprisingly, the two have differing fashion sensibilities.

“I like to buy standout pieces,” says Batra, who listed Sarah Jessica Parker and Anne Hathaway as her modern fashion icons. “I wouldn’t be happy wearing a cardigan and jeans.”

“I don’t think I have a style,” says Chinanzvavana, who claimed she wasn’t fashionable enough to have a fashion icon. “I pick for fit.”

“You have a style—you have dreadlocks, that’s stylish!” Batra protests. I’d have to side with Batra on this one—Chinanzvavana’s lovely sundress doesn’t shout utilitarian, and while that bag may be useful, it’s certainly got style.

For her part, Batra’s quest to stand out from the crowd knows no boundaries—one of her favorite new designers, James Ferreira, operates out of Bombay, where he makes seamless pieces that Batra loves. Her blue-and-white striped shirt was a new Anthropologie purchase and she got the Marc Jacobs arm candy as a birthday gift.

Chinanzvavana’s bag was also a birthday gift and her bracelet was a gift from Batra. These two may have different approaches, but their looks are as strong as their friendship.

2009-05-22T13:19:00.011-05:00

I attended the Avant-Garde fashion exhibition, part of Wisconsin Fashion Week, Tuesday night at State Street Gallery.
What a show! Avant-garde typically means that the fashions are more fantasy and haute couture (handmade) creations—not necessarily ready-to-wear goods. In a sense, more art than anything.

Rachel Frank stitched up some fantastical creations—a white high-neck dress with full skirt with swirling fabric pieces cascading up and down the bottom half. It was tightly belted with a black belt and accented with black fingerless gloves and black lace-look fan. But the most fascinating part was the model’s eyes—feathered false eyelashes completed her Gone With the Wind-like ensemble. But it was Scarlett O’Hara updated for today’s world—leather gloves and all. Ms. Frank tells me that she made a similar dress for a friend who is getting married.
Her other creation—a red dress wool dress with large rosette accents on the neckline and skirt was also quite wearable—for the right occasion. I thought it was beautiful, although the model had to step out of her outfit because she got too warm in it! Regardless to even the casual onlooker one could tell the dress took much painstaking effort. Well done, Ms. Frank.

Rosalee Eichstedt is a triple threat—she’s talented in makeup, hair and fashion styling, says Kristi Moe, executive director of Wisconsin Fashion Week. Her look “was a play on the masculine/feminine,” according to Eichstedt. Behold the cute dress constructed of flowers and her (female) partner’s mannish, yet sassy, top hat/short-shorts combo.

Maggie Barber’s corset looks were so cute that they’d also be pretty wearable—albeit with a more downsized bottom half. But of course we’re going for art here, poeple, not necessarily what’s going to be selling next week at Macy’s. Anyway, the detail of these dresses were simply amazing close-up. Ms. Barber is a student in TASA—UW’s Textile and Apparel Student Association. If Ms. Barber’s future looks are anything like these two creations, I predict she’ll do well in her sartorial career ahead.

Tis the Season for Dos and Don’ts…

2009-05-22T12:46:00.004-05:00

This weekend kicks off fair and festival season with Brat Fest (technically, Fitchburg Days was last weekend, but you get what I mean). That means the Dane County Fair, Waunafest, the Mt. Horeb Summer Frolic, Summerfest, The Wisconsin State Fair, et cetera.

Why do I mention this? Because I love to people-watch. People wear … fascinating outfits. Here’s my mental dialogue:
Me: Why is that woman wearing jeans three sizes too small? Can that possibly be … comfortable? Not to mention the dreaded muffin top that can accompany such situations. I wish I could tell her that no one will know her size if she goes one or two sizes up. Oh well. On to the cheese curds!

My point? Clothing that’s comfy and fashionable is well within your reach!

Here are my dos and don’ts for festival season:

Don’t: Wear a head-to-toe look. I can understand your passion for Def Leppard, or the Brewers, or, I don’t know, the “boho” look. But understand that taking a trend OR a look and wearing it head-to-toe only makes the trend, well, not trendy.
Do: Mix it up—show your passion for Def Leppard with just a tee (not with the acid-washed jeans and head-banger hair) or wear your fave boho skirt and leave it at that. No need to go all matchy-matchy—it’s overkill.

Don’t: Wear uncomfortably tight clothing. Or, on the flip side, clothing that’s too big. Rocking the club look in a tight tube dress and stilettos (yes, I saw this look more than once last year at Summerfest, actually) when you’re at the Miller Oasis is quite frankly, out of place.
On the opposite side, men and women wearing an oversized T-shirt or jeans and women wearing empire-waist sundresses and tunic tops when their figure can't rock that look is also a tactic employed when somone wants to be comfy. But sometimes it can appear sloppy or even worse—make you appear larger than you are!
Do: Um, wear clothing that fits! Too-tight clothing is never easy on the eyes—or the body, for that matter. Remember that if you’re going for comfort, you can still look stylish.
Gals: Know what works for your figure. Wear a cool cotton maxidress or, if you’re petite (maxidresses can dwarf shorter women), wear a lovely knee-length empire waist or A-line sundress that skims your curves.
Just be sure to select the right size—it doesn't matter if it's a great ikat print—if it doesn't fit correctly, move on to a dress that does. If you’re wearing a looser tunic top, wear more fitted jeans, capris, shorts, or Bermuda shorts to balance out the look.
Guys: For cooler nights, try a nice pair of bootcut jeans (not too big though!) and throw on a lightweight sweater or cardigan over your T-shirt instead of the usual hoodie, which can add bulk.

Don’t: Wear uncomfortable shoes. I’m all for cute heels and whatnot, but not for a casual affair like Waunafest. You want to able to enjoy your time strolling the grounds, not rubbing your feet and drinking away your pain at the beer tent.
Do: Wear cute, comfortable shoes like fashionable flats, cushioned flip-flops or wedge sandals, which are very chic right now and more comfortable than heels.

Don’t: Dress too young (or too old) for your age. I’ve seen this time and time again at summer events—young girls wearing far-too-revealing clothing (yes, I realize I sound like one of THOSE people that says “kids these days …” Oh well …) or guys and gals wearing clothing that’s far too young-looking for their age.
Do: Dress age-appropriately! Guys, there’s a reason that Abercrombie is targeted toward teens and twenty-somethings with their scantily clad male models and T-shirts with funny sayings—because those looks typically look better on, well, scantily clad male models, high school and college guys. Try Ralph Lauren! Classic.
I probably don’t need to emphasize this, but if you’ve seen how the Real Housewives of Orange County dress, that’s all I need to say about dressing too young for your age … (i.e. embellished halter tops, too-tight dresses, tube tops, et cetera) on women that would look far better in classic styles, like a draped Grecian dress, shift or sheath dress or a pair of trouser jeans with a classy ruffled top.

Ladies, look for some of these items—all fashionable, and all appropriate from day to night to wear at your fave fest!

Day-to-night dresses in jersey knits—Grecian and draped styles are hot. Pick a brightly colored one or a cool gray or blush color—than add interest with vibrant accessories.
Find it: A Stone’s Throw or Target.

Gladiator sandals and heels—pick up a neutral black or gray pair or glam it up with a gold or silver pair with beaded or gemstone accents.
Find it: Available at most department stores and shoe stores.

Jeans in unconventional styles—the current favorite is the “boyfriend jean”—a style that’s a bit looser and relaxed, with a few tears here and there for a tough, cool look (sold at Atticus and Bop). Or try a crisp white pair of jeans, or a more rugged pair with a few tears (again, check out Bop). Colored skinny jeans also continue to dominate—and can be found anywhere from Target to Bop.
Find it: Atticus, Bop and Target.

Embellished tanks—appropriate from day to night, these tanks add polish and flash to an otherwise simple racerback style or loose A-line tank. Pair with skinny or bootcut jeans and you’re good to go. Urban Outfitters has the widest selection I've seen.
Find it: Urban Outfitters

Maxidresses (or any dress, for that matter)—as noted above, maxidresses are best for taller women as they can dwarf shorter women. No need to worry, there are lots and lots of cute empire-waist and A-line styles totally appropriate for petite women too.
Find it: The Purple Goose, Patricia Shoppe and Twigs.

Major jewelry—you don’t need to be an heiress to sport sparkly costume jewelry. It can be found anywhere from the local vintage or thrift store to yes, real jewelry stores. My favorite tip? Gather several necklaces that look similar or have similar elements and wear 'em all at once. I just read a great tip from J. Crew’s fashion director in Glamour: wear a few necklaces and pin on a pretty costume brooch and—insta-style! My point is that adding fun, chunky jewelry can instantly dress up a plain white tank and skirt or jeans—perfect for your favorite fest while still looking chic.
Try any of the shops named above for fab jewelry—they all have great picks.

Events

2009-05-22T12:31:00.006-05:00

Bop’s Stock Up on Summer Essentials sale
When: May 21–May 24
Where: Bop, 222 W. Gorham St.
Details: Quick—think beach. Er, I guess in our case, think a cool lake on a hot summer day. And what does one need lakeside? A cute swimsuit, sandals and sunglasses, of course! Look no further than Bop—whose summer essentials sale means thirty percent off sandals, swim and sunglasses from Thursday, May 21 to Sunday, May 24. (Photos: Brett Sandler purple bikini and Vix black bikini both available at the store, images courtesy of Bop.)
More info: Bop, 222 W. Gorham St. 255-2570. (In-store sale only)

Wisconsin Fashion Week Fashion Fridays
When: May 22, 7 p.m.
Where: 345 W. Washington Ave.
Details: View a runway show focusing on streetwear and emerging designers. Students from UW–Madison’s Textile and Apparel Student Association will showcase their designs as well as Internal Construction, N.E.W.D. Clothing and Sconnie Nation.
More info: www.wisconsinfashionweek.com

Wisconsin Fashion Week Fashion Fridays and Style District
When: May 23, 12:30–9:30 p.m.
Where: Overture Center, 201 State St.
Details: This all-day “style district” features a menswear show (male models sporting Jazzman), Stylista competition (makeup artists, hairstylists and fashion stylists style models and battle for who comes out with the best look) and three women’s runway shows at night—trend, premium and a Go Red for Women show with live auction at the end.
More info: wisconsinfashionweek.com

New! Madison Mannequin: Global Green

2009-05-20T14:56:00.003-05:00

Stylemaker Q&A: Kristi Moe on Wisconsin Fashion Week

2009-05-14T15:16:00.007-05:00

Let's play a little word association. What do you think of when hear the term "fashion week"? Do you carry a mental image of Anna Wintour, editor of Vogue, wearing her signature dark shades, sitting in the front row of Marc Jacobs? Or perhaps leggy fashion editors sporting all- black ensembles (leather leggings, oversize tank and Alexander Wang blazer—don't forget the fierce, teetering, five-inch YSL platforms!) hanging out at cocktail parties? Let's not forget the ravishing models lounging backstage, sipping Champagne...

Kristi Moe (left), executive producer of Wisconsin Fashion Week, nixes these connotations for our own fashion extravaganza, Wisconsin Fashion Week (May 19-23), right here in Madison. "Inclusion" is a word I hear her repeat throughout our interview—and with good reason, because the week is aiming to attract all different audiences who dig fashion—from guys to gals, young and old and those of all different abilities.

Read on for what next week has in store—and rest assured, you can wear last season's pumps. I won't tell.

What was the original impetus behind you starting Madison Fashion Week, Fashion Fridays and, eventually, Wisconsin Fashion Week?
My original concept came out of a freelance client I had. I suggested they do a runway show—but when I started looking into it, I realized there isn’t a consistent, well-run, fashion show here besides ones for nonprofits and whatnot—which are great, too.
But from a PR background that’s what motivated me to get into it. I’m a non-biased player and I can work with all of these people and help all that are involved. It’s a very neat position to be in.

Clearly, Fashion Week has changed—most noticeably with the name change from Madison Fashion Week to this year’s Wisconsin Fashion Week. What other changes will event-goers notice?
This year it’s a lot more collaborative and on a much larger scale. It’s more than just my vision; it’s a community-involved event. It’s much more high profile too—we’re stepping it up by having [the Saturday runway shows] at Overture Center.
We brought in the Fashion Council. My expertise is not in photography or modeling. So the people in the Fashion Council give me recommendations because they have expertise in those areas. For example, Adam Perkins is great with photography. He understands the language and is great with networking with other photographers.

As executive producer, what does your role entail?
Well, the Fashion Council is really good at taking things off of my to-do list. All of them are people with part- or full-time jobs, too, so they help out when they can. But I’m still really involved in pretty much every event that’s going on.
One of my friends joked that my title should be diva, but I don’t want that title! It sounds negative (laughs).

How is Wisconsin Fashion Week different from, say, New York or L.A. Fashion Week?
It’s really for the ordinary Jane who won’t get an invite to New York or L.A. Fashion Week. We’re focused on the “now” and it’s much more about the experience; women can feel like a celebrity in their own town and become their own fashion icon. Fashion is what you make it, and here’s a reason to for you to express yourself.
Also, there will be mini-boutiques at Overture for before and after the runway shows where people can shop. If people like what they see in the show, they could literally buy it and wear it out that night!

How is an event of this scale able to go on in these economic times?
It’s very grassroots—it’s because of the sponsors it’s able to go on. It’s different from last year from a participant standpoint, too. There are a lot more designers this year—they’ve really come out of the woodwork! It’s much more balanced with boutiques and designers.
There are probably over one hundred people involved in Wisconsin Fashion Week. The models and photographers are doing this for free for the experience. It’s just really a good way to get everyone in this industry connected.

Can you describe some of the events going on throughout the week?
The avant-garde show (Tuesday) isn’t necessarily retail-ready collections (Ed’s note: In other words, the show will feature fashions that are more conceptual/artistic).
The Fashion For All Abilities show (Wednesday) is really inclusion from a modeling perspective. It also emphasizes how important it is from a business perspective to cater to those with special needs.
Friday is urban wear/streetwear. It emphasizes the youth culture, and it’s not necessarily mainstream.
The Stylista show is Saturday during the day and has hairstylists, makeup artists and fashion stylists compete and prep models in a live competition.
Saturday’s shows [menswear and women’s wear] are much more mainstream. At 6 p.m. is the [women’s] trend show, which [has fashions with] a better price point and would attract possibly a younger market.
The 8:30 p.m. show [features fashions with] a higher price point.
After that is the Go Red for Women auction, which will feature models of all ages, including older models.
[In total] the shows will have men, women, old, young, plus-size, different body types and different abilities.

What event are you most excited about?
Friday—as long as it doesn’t rain! (laughs) It’s in the courtyard at 345 West Washington. It’s more entertainment-focused. Two groups are coming up here from Chicago: Ivy League, who sing a song called “Pose” that’s all about modeling. Project Mayhem is a hip-hop group that’s into the Ralph Lauren subculture.

Who do you see attending Fashion Week events?
Women ages twenty-five to fifty-five is really what we’re targeting. Last year’s event was much more youth-focused; this year will be more of a mainstream crowd. Mom can come with her daughter or girls can do a girls’ day out.

How did you find your models?
We did a tour in Madison, Chicago and Milwaukee. It really reaffirmed what talent we have. There was one really great model, a fifteen-year-old, who just signed with the Rock Agency two months ago. I was really excited to see her—she’s someone new and hopefully through Fashion Week someone might want to book her for photo shoots with stores or designers.
We received a lot of great applications—it was hard to say no! But it was important they were able to take direction from us, and confidence was another huge thing.

What have been the challenges of putting on this week?
The sheer size—there’s a lot of detail that goes into a high-quality event.
The economic environment being what it is, sponsorships have been a challenge. But we’ve been well received by people. People get excited about this because they know it’s for them.
Despite the economy, though, participation from the designers and retailers has been overwhelming—they realize the value of being able to connect with their customers.

How would you describe the Midwest’s fashion sensibility?
We’re much more about how fashion fits our lives. Internal Construction (Ed’s note: Internal Construction is a line is by Jessica Neumann and Becky Heller and composed of versatile one-piece garments) is a good example. Biking to work and still looking cute—that’s our strength in fashion, and we bring something different.

What’s the next step for Wisconsin Fashion Week?
It would be great to reach outside of Madison, perhaps more to Milwaukee, incorporating more designers and stores in different cities in Wisconsin. There is so much more to be discovered. The events could possibly be more inclusive to different areas, to get more participation and interest. An event needs to have the community involved, and that’s why we’ve been able to grow.

What impression would you like people to leave these events with?
I want them to be entertained. I’d like people to think about shopping locally. I’d like them to know that a dress that’s tailored and designed for them is within their budget—they could get a custom-designed dress for $100!

So planning Fashion Fridays and Wisconsin Fashion Week is your full-time gig, right?
Yes, it is. So it’s really a great opportunity for me at this level—it’s something new and creative. There are risks involved and going into it. I knew what the risks were, but I really wanted to do it. If it doesn’t work out I always have a backup plan for myself, but I wanted to do this.

Wisconsin Fashion Week, May 19-23, various locations. Tickets: $50/week pass, $30/week student pass. For more information on Wisconsin Fashion Week please visit wisconsinfashionweek.com

NEW! Madison Mannequin: Fearless Thrift

2009-05-12T12:56:00.003-05:00

Events: Sales, Food, Fashion Shows and More!

2009-05-07T18:10:00.004-05:00

Local Microbrew, Wine, and Artisan Cheese Tasting PLUS Weekend Sale at Indocara
When: Friday, May 8th, 5–9 p.m.
Where: Indocara, 540 W. Washington Ave.
Details: Ummmmm, who doesn’t like local brews, cheeses and wines? That’s what I thought. Quaff brews from Ale Asylum, Capital Brewery, Great Dane Pub & Brewing Co., New Glarus Brewing Company and sip wines from Wollersheim Winery. Plus taste local artisan cheese from Metcalfe’s Sentry. Other participating businesses include: Mosaic, Ellieflower, Bella Designs, Indus Beads, Jessica Catherine Designs, Renaissance and Cha Cha Tea.
The sale runs through Sunday, May 10 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Receive up to seventy percent off.
More info: RSVP for party to: events@indocara.com (Please include in email names of attendees for entry list. Space is limited to 200). 251-7711. indocara.com

Atticus One-Year Anniversary Sale
When: Until Saturday, May 9
Where: 18 N. Carroll St.
Details: Atticus is all grown up! Come and celebrate the store’s milestone—spend $125, get $25 off; spend $250 and get $50 off; and spend $500 and get $100 off on your purchase.
More info: 204-9001. atticusshop.com

World Fair Trade Day
When: May 9, 10 a.m.–9 p.m.
Where: Fair Indigo, 570 N. Midvale Blvd.
Details: Fair trade has long been a buzzword in retail—paying people fair wages and helping promote ecological practices just makes sense. On May 9, Fair Indigo is donating 100 PERCENT of its sales that day in honor of World Fair Trade Day—fifty percent will go to a local school and fifty percent to the Fair Indigo Foundation. The Foundation “is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to improving educational opportunities in the developing countries where Fair Indigo factories are located,” per a press release. World Fair Trade Day is the second Saturday in May and is organized by the International Fair Trade Association across seventy countries. It focuses on trading fairly with millions of producers.
More info: 661-7662. fairindigo.com

Flux Fashion Show
When: May 9, 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Where: Monona Terrace, 1 John Nolen Dr.
Details: Every year the School of Human Ecology at UW–Madison sends off promising young design students looking to make their mark in the sartorial world—like a junior Karl Lagerfeld, or perhaps a younger Donna Karan. See their work at this show.
More info: flux2009@mail.sohe.wisc.edu or 262-4897.

HospiceCare Thrift Store Fashion Show
When: Monday, May 18, 5:30–8 p.m.
Where: HospiceCare Thrift Store, 122 Junction Rd.
Details: For those that have attended this event in the past, you know what fabulous outfits are featured—using thrift store fashions! Check out beautiful dresses, accessories, menswear and more. Cost is $15/person.
More info: 833-4556

Wisconsin Fashion Week
Where: Various locations
When: May 19–23
Details: A series of fashionable events including: runway shows, workshops, parties and more for the fashionista (is there a male word for fashionista?? Who knows) in all of us. More on this event in an upcoming blog.
More info: wisconsinfashionweek.com

NEW Blog Segment: Madison Mannequin

2009-05-06T14:25:00.002-05:00

Do you like street style? Do you love to people-watch? I sure do. I'll frequently go up to stylish folks and tell them whatever I like about their outfit that day. It's sort of my way to brighten someone's day a little, as well as garner chic tips on how to wear something. You see, a fashionista is always looking for inspiration—whether she's at Sardine, walking down State Street or (for me), doing an interview.

So with that, I welcome you to the weekly installment of Madison Mannequin.

My guest blogger is Alexandra Graves, 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.

Read below for what Lex wrote this week!

I Like Your . . . Genes & Boots

Jeans and boots always look great together, but Carleen Wild and Ailee, seven, have more in common than sophisticated Saturday looks—they’re mother and daughter.

“She’s got her own style,” says Carleen (who's anchor at NBC 15), but Ailee says her mom helps her choose outfits like the leopard cardigan and pink cowboy boot combo she was sporting at the Dane County Farmers’ Market last Saturday.

Even if you don’t coordinate as well as these two, don’t forget to spend time with your first fashion icon this Mother’s Day.

What the Cool Kids Wear

2009-04-30T18:58:00.012-05:00

I attended the “Atticus Presents the Cool Kids” event last week. Owner Kristin Wild featured four young, up-and-coming designers from the Madison area at her trunk show event. I was amazed by their versatility and variety of viewpoints they had. All of the designers showing were UW students in the textile and design program.

Danni Trester designed amazing swatches of fabric for a school project—fantastical patterns in zigzags, dots and more. They looked straight out of a fabric catalog you’d find at a high-end fabric store! Trester also designs fun wallets out of vintage papers and shoppers can even have a custom wallet made—they can choose from among a book of papers Trester has, and she’ll make a wallet out of any pattern you choose.

Brittany Kucera’s looks are simple—a two-toned dress/tunic out of jersey, a cropped jacket with a major collar and a beautiful, dove-gray sleeveless top with a drapey collar. I loved her pink leather studded clutch for $100. Kucera said it took her quite a while to perfect the technique and amazingly, the leather lived a former life—as a piece from the now-defunct Wilson’s leather store! Reusing fabrics and products is hot—and just proves that we can live green and still be fashionable.

Meg Koglin’s looks were heavily inspired by the past—like the novel Little Women, for example. That’s right, Koglin’s inspiration/sketch book was chock-full of fascinating sketches of looks, many of which were inspired by books or plays. Some were costume-influenced and others were just looks she dreamed up, like a little white cropped short-sleeved jacket fashioned out of a men’s shirt and embellished with strips of fabrics from other shirts. Koglin also designed a wildly different look for MMoCA’s Hair Affair event I wrote about the other week—a tight, shiny black Spandex look adorned with gray cuffs, neckpiece and anklets enhanced with zippers (see photo of model with blue hair). It was quite a departure from the looks she showed at Atticus—which is a positive sign that Ms. Koglin can show different looks for different occasions.

I was charmed by Dokiang Thao’s looks—fun little party dresses and sassy tunics (well, it’d be a tunic for someone as tall as me!) many of which were made out of reclaimed fabrics. The vibrant colors and chic styles looked to be a promising start for this young designer.
More on these designers to come…

Atticus, 18 N. Carroll St. 204-9001. atticus.com

Revamp Your Beauty Routine

2009-04-30T18:38:00.008-05:00

Apparently it’s beauty day as I discuss some ways to revamp/update your go-to beauty toolkit…

With the seasons changing and it becoming a (tiny) bit warmer, it’s a great time to revamp your spring makeup palette. Now, I’m no makeup expert, but I do know what works for me—and many of the products I like and have recommended to others they’ve liked, too.

I am not advocating that every single product you purchase be pricey, although I think in some cases spending a bit more can make your makeup routine a little luxe—but not so luxe that you don’t have a few bucks left! Plus, these products last a long time, so while you think $28 is expensive for a cheek tint, the product typically lasts as long as anywhere from six months to a year-plus. Put in those terms, your makeup’s only costing like seven cents a day for a year’s use. To me, that’s worth it!

The other reason I pay a bit more for (certain) products is that for me, they have tried-and-true excellent quality that works better than the drugstore version. It’s kind of like dating—every dude you meet won’t be a perfect match—you’ve got to try what works for you until you find what you’re looking for!

For a lightweight, fresh foundation I use Neutrogena’s products—either the Glow Sheers or the Healthy Skin Enhancer, which are both affordable AND good for skin. For more coverage I just discovered Maybelline’s Dream Liquid Mousse foundation—which really evens my skin out and doesn’t look mask-like. Bonus: this one’s WAY affordable—like $8 affordable!

For summer you want makeup that lasts through sweat and hot temps, right? The latest miracle product I’ve discovered is Urban Decay’s Eyeshadow Primer Potion. Seriously, this stuff makes your eye makeup last for twelve hours. I’ve worked out after work and my eye shadow still looks perfect after sweating! This stuff is magic—before, my eye shadow would fade and crease by noon—after discovering and using this product, my eye shadow stays put until I take it off at night. Love it. At $17 it’s not the cheapest product out there but it’s definitely worth it if you want a fresh eye makeup look all day. I highly recommend it.

Another long-lasting product? Dior’s Diorshow waterproof mascara in black is a must-have, hands down. I have tried so many drugstore mascaras attempting to replicate the same thick, clump-free look of Dior’s mascara and haven’t been able to find that same quality. For bottom lashes though, Maybelline’s less-expensive Great Lash waterproof mascara in Very Black works excellently, and the brush is smaller to reach those harder-to-reach lashes.

I have advocated this product before, but Benefit’s Benetint is awesome. At $28 for a nail polish-sized bottle it’s not the cheapest product, but it last for over a year. Its tagline—“the most natural flush you can get from a bottle”—rings true if you’ve tried it. It’s a lightweight, long-lasting product that gives your face a little perk whenever you need it.

Finally to incorporate a little trendiness into my summer look I purchased Smashbox’s eye shadow in Safari—a lovely deep khaki/green color with a hint of gold shimmer in it. At $16 it’s not as affordable as a $4 Cover Girl eye shadow but the color is a lot more intense and you’ll use less of it when applying. I also recommend Napoleon Perdis’ loose eye shadow dust in color 37—a sexy champagne nude color that’s perfect as a shimmery eye accent on top of an eye shadow or in the inner corners of the eye. Napoleon Perdis is sold locally at PREP Cosmetics.

I’ve been having a bit of seventh-grade nostalgia—in my nail polish preferences, that is. My favorite colors back then were silver, white, neon orange, neon green and royal blue. Most of these polishes were by Wet ‘n Wild and at 99 cents, they were an indulgence I could afford back then. My color tastes have grown up a little bit this time around—though I was sporting a sunshine-y yellow a week ago ☺.

The colors I’ll be sporting this summer include gray, nude, yellow, safari green, tropical blue and deep plum, and they all reflect summer trends right now.

We’re seeing gray and nude in clothing as well as accessories—gray and nude scarves and shoes for example, are a hot ticket, while celebs seem to be sporting nude sparkly cocktail dresses left and right. Consequently Sally Hansen's nude (not shown) and Pure Ice's "Kiss Me Here" polishes are my go-tos for nude and gray shades for the nails.

The green color I purchased—“Camouflage” by Rimmel—is a direct reflection of the tribal/safari trend that’s going on. Items like multistrand necklaces, chunky bangles, maxidresses and even crazy headbands have all made their presence known in stores.

Of course bright colors always make a comeback come summer—shades like sunny yellow ("Lightening" by Sally Hansen) and aquatic blue ("Marine Scene," Sally Hansen again!) reinforce our need to have a little brightness in our lives—right down to our fingernails.

Deep plum is a holdover from our darker, winter days—but I can’t seem to let the dark colors go. As far as nail polish, dark shades are still popular and fit right in with urban/rocker looks for summer: studded purses; racerback, embellished tanks; skinny jeans; metallic pieces and gladiator heels. "Uptempo Plum" by Sally Hansen offers me a glimpse of the dark side.

Find most of the makeup above at Sephora, 71 West Towne Mall. 827-5958. sephora.com

Napoleon Perdis available at Prep, 553 State St. 442-3366. shopprep.com

Nail polishes available at local drugstores.

This Weekend: Green Goods

2009-04-30T18:37:00.002-05:00

I hope you’re stopping by the Going Green Wisconsin Expo. Read more about it here:
www.channel3000.com/mm-green-expo/index.html

Chic Coifs

2009-04-17T17:08:00.021-05:00

Last night I attended the fanciful Hair Affair show put on by the Art League of MMoCA. As I blogged about earlier this week, organizer Elizabeth Tucker says this event is a first for the museum. I sure hope it’s not the last. Everyone thoroughly seemed to enjoy themselves and dressed fab! I saw a silver dress with blouson sleeves over leggings and uber-trendy heels on one woman; a hot-pink strapless short cocktail dress with a flared skirt on another and a Jessica Catherine design on Natasha Vora (see picture!)

More importantly this event signifies that there are people in this city willing to put on an edgy, fun, FASHIONABLE event! An event that raises funds for the museum and is more than the standard cocktail party—it’s a (trendy) feast for the eyes!

The looks were part fantasy—but part reality: many of the looks rocked trends we’re seeing for spring: tribal/nature inspired looks, rock-n-roll edginess, metallics and touches of retro glamour were all woven in.

The models looked so different that I didn’t even recognize someone I knew—Lissa Koop, who gracefully modeled the nature-inspired look designed by Rachael Drechsel of Elements (photo, left). Nice job, Lissa!

Photos, top to bottom:
"Spring Fantasies" by William Jon Salon. Hair: Jekaterina Agapanova; Fashion: Egita Pearson; Model: Ashley Nelson.

"TexturEvolution" by Hair. Design team: Julia McConahay, Zach Zaricor; Model: Cat Ross.

"The Fix" by B.fix Salon. Hair: Adrian Borseth; Makeup: Shiva Borseth; Jenna Kundert; Fashion: Meg Koglin, Kyra Lawrow-Svedvik; Model: Kyra Lawrow-Svedvik.

"Earth and Air" by Elements. Designer: Rachael Dreschsel. Model: Lissa Koop.

"Migoto" by Aniu Salon Spa Yoga. Design team: Bentley Kreier, Melissa DeNure, Kim Martens; Makeup: Kendall Frisbee.

"'On' Wisconsin" by Ultimate Spa Salon. Design team: Mitchel Levey, Donald Fredrickson, Ericka Stellflue; Model: Carisa Meyer.

"Rockabilly Mama" by Cha Cha Beauty & Barber. Hair, Makeup and Fashion: Alice Ezrow, Sigrid Fanalé, John Bass, Gen Smith; Model: Marilynn Johnson.

"Post-Apocalyptic Warrior Princess" by Deonne Salon & Day Spa. Designer: Jenny Polito; Model: Jessica Fanone.

These gals were awesome, left to right: Kym, Mesa, Jenn Schultz, Angie Riker-O'Sheridan and Karen Wenning went all out.

I loved these table centerpieces—Barbasol comb jars with goldfish! The jars are very retro-chic, and reminds me of my grandpa's barber shop, where they have these!

Mad Mag unite: Tiffany Thom, our marketing director, dons a purple wig in her own photo. Myself, Katie Vaughn and Tiff also posed. I tried to fit in at the event with my feather headband, but it's pretty hard to see in the photo!

Ladies in red: Natasha Vora (wearing Jessica Catherine) and friend Sarah matched in red.

Read Kative Vaughn's blog, Liberal Arts, for her take on the event!

Timeless Weddings

2009-04-17T16:39:00.017-05:00

’Tis the season for “something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue” … and of course, our annual wedding photo spread. Our “Modern Vintage” spread showcases a look quite different from our two previous years’.

In 2007 our theme was modern elegance, shot at the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art. The bride donned a breathtaking silk gown with a fitted bodice and gently draped skirt whose simple lines reflected the stark, minimalist museum. The wedding party’s equally upscale look fit right in.

Then in 2008 our shoot took on a decidedly different look: spicy high fashion at Samba Brazilian Grill. The bride’s mermaid-style gown was au courant, with a ruched bodice that gathered dramatically at the hip and set off with a flower and sassy feathers. Her feather hairpiece was the perfect accoutrement for the look. The wedding party shined in a champagne bridesmaid dress and in chocolate brown tuxes.

So what to do this year? My concept crystallized upon visiting the Bridal Expo back in January (yes, that’s how far back I started thinking about this!). I started noticing subtle hints of classic, timeless looks. Almost vintage—but not quite. Gowns were understated—with clean lines, sparkling accents and lots of lace overlay. That meant one thing: Modern Vintage. And so it came to be. In order to plan photo shoots I have to work closely with our art director and photographer to make sure that they’re not only on board with the idea, but that they can carry the vision through, too. Judging from our past shoots and this year’s shoot, I’d say we hit the mark again. Shown is the actual photo above that appears in the magazine, as well as some additional "behind the scenes" photos that I shot the day of the shoot.

The silk satin Jim Hjelm gown Becki Gongora wore in this year’s shoot was truly a winner. Her and I both absolutely loved it. It’s even more spectacular in person—and the back also had fun crystal and silver accents on it too! It was a very feminine, and almost evening gown-ish in its look—but thoroughly appropriate for a special day! And how can you not love the hairpiece?! Here’s what I wrote in the article about it: “ … [it’s] reminiscent of a fascinator—those quirky little hairpieces women wore in the early part of the twentieth century. Our bride is so beautifully wearing one, too … ”

So a toast to all of those planning their weddings for this summer—if it’s as much fun as planning the look for this photo shoot (well, maybe this is a little less stressful than planning a whole wedding!) I can see how the “I do” is for you!

Top photo by Luke Severson.

Photo with wedding party, from left to right: Ryan Berry, Caitie Taylor, Becki Gongora and Memo Gongora all did their "fiercest" poses throughout the day for us.

Bottom photo: Yay, Madison Magazine interns! Meredith Beverstock, Kimberly Ecker and Lex Graves came to check out the shoot.

One Look, 10+ Ways

2009-04-17T16:33:00.003-05:00

I love wearing things different ways: a cotton dress with gladiators for day and with heels and cardi for night; skinny jeans with boots and sweater and with heels and a tunic for night; and a blazer with a cotton tank for day and slinkier silk top and necklace for night.

Clearly, I like to make my dollar stretch. That’s why I love bop’s “Our Ultimate Closet (spring edition)" slide show. It’s not a new idea: taking fashion essentials (pencil skirt, belt, heels, button up shirt, whatever) and mixing and matching the pieces for different looks. But what bop does is showcase the pieces you need for THIS season—cutout platforms, scarf, fringed mini and jersey minidress—and pairs them all up in polished, fabulous looks. I’ve found that it’s worth it to spend extra money on those items that you’ll wear season to season and mix it up with less expensive items that are trendier.

I also think the cute Alexander Wang jersey minidress might be the least expensive item I’ve seen by the designer: a mere $85.

Shop the Closet:
http://www.shopbop.com/ci/features/fashion/ultimatecloset/ultimatecloset_0.html

Hair Flair

2009-04-14T13:09:00.008-05:00

As I included in my events last week, the Art League of MMoCA’s Hair Affair event is quickly approaching—this Thursday, to be exact. This is the first year the Art League is holding the event—and I think it’s an utterly fashionable way to raise money for the museum’s exhibition and education programs.

After all, fashion is about fantasy and fun. Take John Galliano, someone I’ve talked about on this blog before. Mr. Galliano is the master of fashion escapism—designing some truly out-there looks and pairing them with a fantastical runway experience. I’ve always longed to attend a John Galliano runway show—his crazy genius has always enthralled me. Yes, Mr. Galliano, I’ll take an extra helping of models that appear as though they’re wearing muppets on their heads and models dressed up like elaborate Russian nesting dolls in coats ten sizes too big. Thanks!

I really don’t think there’s a better way to spend a Thursday night than viewing “extreme hair sculptures designed and executed by premier area salons and stylists and displayed by live models.” Fashion fun and a good cause … a great combo.

I asked Elizabeth Tucker, project consultant with MMoCA, about why they chose to hold this event for the first time this year.
(Photos © Tom McInvaille)

Madison Magazine: What was the inspiration behind planning the Hair Affair event?
Elizabeth Tucker: I was brought on after some of the initial concepting of the event. The event was the idea of Annie Levihn, one of the chairs of the Art League committee. Other museums across the country do something similar—there’s an event that the Des Moines Art Center does that’s a similar concept (the Big Hair Ball).
The idea the Art League had was to do a fresh, different fundraiser to bring a new audience to the museum. [The audience will be] a really diverse group; probably half will be regular museum attendees and supporters. The other half of the crowd will be people that are newer to the museum, like people from the salon community or clients of the salons. In terms of ages it’s going to be a really diverse audience, which is exciting.
The salon community has been a new group to reach out to.

MM: What is the timeline of the event?
ET: The event begins at 7 p.m. We’ll have a silent auction and complimentary hors d’oeuvres, and cash bar will be available. Every guest [can try] the complimentary signature cocktail, which is a Red Mohawk: a martini made with Prairie Organic Vodka and pomegranate.
At 7:20 p.m. there will be a live music performance by the Ahn Trio. They’re a contemporary classical music trio from New York City. They will be playing a full concert the following evening at Overture, so this will be a preview performance.
The main event for the evening is at 8 p.m., which is the hair show. All of the hair sculptures will be shown on live models and they’ll walk down the museum’s main glass staircase. There are thirteen salons participating (Salons include: Aniu Salon & Spa, B.fix Salon, Cha Cha, Cinema Hair Studio, Deonne Salon and Day Spa, Elements, Hair, Hybrid Salon, Millenium Salon & Spa, Rejuvenation Spa, RZ & Company, Ultimate Spa Salon and William Jon Salon). Each design is wildly different and there’s a great variety. The models and stylists will be around after the show to talk to people about the inspirations [behind the looks].
The event concludes at 10 p.m.

MM: Is the hair show a competition?
ET: It isn’t a competition. It could be in future years; maybe we’d put out a call for entries to salons in the beginning of the process and have a jury process to select. This year all of the salons were invited and they didn’t have to submit a proposal.

MM: What about the outfits that will be paired with the hairstyles?
ET: Almost every salon has designed a dress or outfit to complement the hair sculpture. Or they’ve put together some sort of wardrobe selection to complement the hair. Some of the descriptions we’ve received … the hair and wardrobe almost become one… In one case the salon is doing 35 mm filmstrips in the hair and the dress will also have filmstrips incorporated in it.

MM: Will you be doing this event every year?
ET: Another event you’re probably familiar with was the Design MMoCA event in 2008. Designers were asked to design a room for the weekend. So in this case we asked area salons to design a hair sculpture for the museum. With both events one of the really great things has been drawing in a new and different audience. We might rotate [the events] every other year.

MM: Are tickets available?
They are $65 per person and some are still available. We will be selling tickets through the end of day Tuesday and possibly still the day of the event. There always seems to be a rush at the end!

Madison Museum of Contemporary Art, 227 State St. 257-0158

Lucky Liz: Isaac Mizrahi Makes Over the Iconic Brand

2009-04-08T14:21:00.009-05:00

Isaac Mizrahi Reinvents Liz Claiborne - The New York Post by style observer on Polyvore.com

(I posted the above for the photos so you can see Mizrahi's looks for Liz Claiborne!)
I don’t think I’ve ever bought any of Isaac Mizrahi’s line for Target before—his first foray into clothing at a lower price point for a mass merchandiser. I do think I would buy Isaac Mizrahi’s line for Liz Claiborne, though. Once again Mizrahi shines in the classic sportswear genre. He masterfully combines a number of eras in his looks—fifties Americana, sixties mod, eighties silhouettes—and combines them wonderfully for today. Bright, cheerful colors, sleek metallic accessories, mixing and matching, and tailored fits provide the necessary updates to his looks to prevent anything from looking too old-timey.

Mizrahi incorporates the true staples of a woman’s wardrobe in his first collection for Claiborne: a classic belted cardigan, fluid wide-leg pants, a tailored safari shirtdress, a sweet strapless party frock, a bateau-neck dress, sharp blazers, Bermuda shorts, a tie-neck blouse, a classic mackintosh coat and a satchel or two thrown in.

His cheeky "Colormath" philosophy on the website shows goof-proof ways to wear some of his looks—whether you mix one gingham piece with a neutral outfit or do the full-out shebang—head-to-toe gingham outfit with brightly colored accessories to boot.

Of course, his looks for Liz Claiborne run the more conservative route, and that’s OK. After all, Claiborne’s customers probably aren’t looking for cutting-edge harem pants or ripped white boyfriend jeans.

I speak with a (tiny) bit of authority on Liz Claiborne as I used to sell that line when I worked at Marshall Field’s (now Macy’s). Claiborne’s looks were always strong; dependable. Year-round you could find the pleated khakis in navy, khaki and white, the T-shirts were always stacked neatly on a fixture near the aisle and you’d always know to look for the non-wrinkle dress shirts (which changed colors with the seasons, of course). I cannot say that I ever contemplated purchasing any of Liz Claiborne’s clothing—as a college student her pieces just seemed way too old. Blouses and dresses were typically boxy and pleated khakis?! For shame.

But I like Mizrahi’s fresh perspective for Claiborne. Sure, it’s a little on the safe side—a gingham cardigan, high-heel loafers and a floral shirtdress are, admittedly, looks we’ve seen before. But I’ve often read (and seen) that when the economy goes awry, we turn toward “safer,” classic looks. Looks we can wear a long time. Hey, not having to buy clothing for a while always helps … well, not buying clothes for a while in an ideal world, right? ;)

Liz Claiborne is available at Boston Store, 215 West Towne Mall (I checked!). 833-9799.

lizclaiborne.com

Events

2009-04-08T13:53:00.009-05:00

Fair Indigo Employee Pricing on Best Sellers
When: Now
Where: Fair Indigo, 570 N. Midvale Blvd. and fairindigo.com
Details: Everyone needs wardrobe basics: long-sleeve tees, tanks, cardigans, jeans, V-neck and scoop-neck sweaters and more. Fair Indigo is giving anywhere from forty-five to seventy percent off regular prices on these basics for men and women. I spotted a women’s cashmere cardigan sweater for $60 (marked down from $129) and a men’s pima cotton dress shirt for $20 (marked down from $50).
More info: fairindigo.com

Wine Tastings
When: April 8, 5:30–7 p.m., April 11, 2–5 p.m.
Where: Savoir Faire, 5 N. Pinckney St.
Details: Did you know Savoir Faire moved to a NEW location—and it’s back downtown again? Originally located on King Street, Savoir Faire moved to Greenway Station a few years ago. Now the shop is back to its downtown roots at a slightly different location. I’m guessing owner Kathie Retelle will still have all of her great gifty items, cards and wine for sale.
More info: 819-8066

Hair Affair: The Art of Hair
When: April 16, 7–10 p.m.
Where: Madison Museum of Contemporary Art, 227 State St.
Details: Give me hair! “Extreme hair sculptures designed and executed by premier area salons … displayed by live models” are what you’ll get at this event benefiting the Art League of MMoCA.
More info: 257-0158. mmoca.org
Photos above © Tom McInvaille

Wacoal Fit for the Cure
When: April 22, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
Where: Boston Store, 215 West Towne Mall
Details: Get a complimentary fitting in a Wacoal or b.tempt’d bra by a Wacoal specialist. After all, stats show the majority of women are wearing the wrong bra size! Wacoal will donate $2 to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure for every woman that participates. Wacoal will also donate an additional $2 for every Wacoal bra, shapewear piece or b’tempt’d bra purchased at the event.
More info: 833-9799

Atticus Presents Meet the Cool Kids
When: April 23, 6–9 p.m.
Where: Atticus, 18 N. Carroll St.
Details: Do you like smaller, indie designers and one-of-a-kind items? This event is for you—a trunk show featuring apparel and accessories from local designers.
More info: 204-9001. atticusshop.com

Absolutely Art’s Re-Art Swap
When: April 25, 9 a.m.–3 p.m.
Where: Absolutely Art’s backyard, 2322 Atwood Ave.
Details: Perhaps the feathers your kids used for an art project are floating around. And you don’t need those extra beads for the necklace you made anymore. Bring them to the Re-Swap and swap them for new inspiration or simply donate them to someone else. Also don’t miss the Alley Sale for great deals, too.
More info: 249-9100. absolutelyartllc.com

World Fair Trade Day
When: May 9, 10 a.m.–9 p.m.
Where: Fair Indigo, 570 N. Midvale Blvd.
Details: Fair trade has long been a buzzword in retail—paying people fair wages and helping promote ecological practices just makes sense. On May 9, Fair Indigo is donating 100 PERCENT of its sales that day in honor of World Fair Trade Day—fifty percent will go to a local school and fifty percent to the Fair Indigo Foundation. The Foundation “is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to improving educational opportunities in the developing countries where Fair Indigo factories are located,” per a press release. World Fair Trade Day is the second Saturday in May and is organized by the International Fair Trade Association across seventy countries. It focuses on trading fairly with millions of producers.
More info: 661-7662. fairindigo.com

Flux Fashion Show
When: May 9, 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Where: Monona Terrace, 1 John Nolen Dr.
Details: Every year the School of Human Ecology at UW–Madison sends off promising young design students looking to make their mark in the sartorial world—like a junior Karl Lagerfeld, or perhaps a younger Donna Karan. See their work at this show.
More info: flux2009@mail.sohe.wisc.edu or 262-4897.

Meet Madison's Eco-tailers

2009-03-27T12:06:00.006-06:00

Our Going Green EXPO is fast approaching—on May 2-3. According to event materials, the "Going Green Wisconsin EXPO is the premier green lifestyle show in the state. The event showcases diverse local and national green businesses..." For more information visit goinggreenwisconsin.com/expo

I wrote an article for the EXPO's program on Eco-tailers. Read on!

(Photos: left: Fair Indigo. Right: Kristin Wild, owner of Atticus)
--------------------------

Eco-tailers

Want to know where to shop in the city that’s got green goods in the bag? Interested in introducing baby to organic? Maybe you want to clothe yourself in sustainability. Read on for where you can find eco-friendly, organic, sustainable and more in the city.

Atticus
18 N. Carroll St. 204-9001. atticusshop.com

Background: Although the main focus of the business isn’t “green” per se, owner Kristin Wild weaves in green items in her store’s repertoire. Opened in 2008, Wild has sought out lines that are primarily exclusive at her shop—some of which are designer diffusion lines, like Kerrigan and Loomstate.

Green practices: Using reclaimed items as décor for the shop adds a homey, lived-in feel to the place. Wild’s next-door neighbor, John Taylor, lends Wild items from his expansive antique/resale shop. Shopping bags are reusable and made out of non-woven polypropylene.

Product picks: Handbags include Seabags, totes made out of recycled sails, and Ashley Watson’s recycled-leather handbags: “Ashley Watson is great, she goes to vintage stores and finds old leather coats and makes them into handbags; it makes each one special,” says Wild. Clothing includes Trove organic cotton basics with fun details and Loomstate’s graphic T-shirts and organic cotton denim for men and women. “A lot of times eco-friendly lines are made in the U.S., which is important to me,” notes Wild.

Hip to Bamboo
hiptobamboo.com

Background: Want to feel clothed in softness? Look no further than Hip to Bamboo’s comfy knits, designed by a yoga instructor.

Green practices: Bamboo is sustainable and able to grow three to five feet in a day. This tropical grass also grows pesticide and fertilizer free, saving tons of pollutants from entering the earth.

Product picks: In addition to being soft, bamboo is perfect to wear for working out since it has antimicrobial properties and lets skin breathe. The array of tanks, lounge pants, leggings, T-shirts and even a bubble tunic top allow wearers to sport the looks for breaking a sweat, running errands or even going to dinner.

Satara
5621 Odana Rd. Ste A. 251-4905. satara-inc.com

Background: Green living might be hot right now, but Satara, Madison’s natural and organic home and baby bedding store, has long been ahead of the curve. Open since 1995, Satara’s previous incarnation, Home Environment on Henry Street downtown, peddled products like recycled glass tiles, organic clothing and even paint.

Green practices: The entire store has been outfitted with eco-friendly materials: paint, recycled carpeting and high efficiency lighting. Fixtures are made of eco-friendly materials, like Dakota Burl and wood from sustainably-managed forests.

Product picks: Baby and parents can sleep easy on organic cotton/wool mattresses or natural latex mattresses, both of which are naturally flame-retardant. Super soft wood fiber, organic cotton and bamboo sheets make any bed spa-worthy. Satara’s also got organic wool and cotton baby clothing and crib bedding, too. Other picks include baby toys and bath and body products for baby and parents.

Fair Indigo
570 N. Midvale Blvd. 661-7662. fairindigo.com

Background: Fair Indigo’s original mission was to find and use garment workers from all over the world and pay them fair wages for their work and verify they work in good conditions. The retailer has been able to expand their assortment to include more eco-friendly items like bamboo clothing, organic denim, organic baby clothing and fleeces made out of recycled plastic.

Green practices: Their headquarters in Madison is pretty bare-bones aesthetically and is furnished with used office furnishings (“We call our dry-erase boards ‘gray boards’ because they’re used,” jokes president Rob Behnke). Shipping cartons are given to Just Coffee, a fair-trade coffee roaster in town, which they use to ship their coffee. “We don’t even have a Dumpster for our cardboard since we reuse all of the cartons,” notes Behnke.

Product picks: Check out soft bamboo polos and scoop-neck sweaters for women or their brand-new reusable bamboo shopping bags. Organic items for women include knit dresses and even a trendy skinny-fit jean. For men look for organic denim and tees. Baby gets the cutest items of all: hand-knit, colorful sweaters and bibs with animals on them; “Joobles,” soft, fair-trade, organic toys made with eco-friendly dyes, and organic cotton crib sheets.

SERRV
2701 Monroe St. 233-4438. serrv.org

Background: SERRV’s goals include “alleviating poverty and empowering low-income people through trade, training and other forms of capacity building as they work to improve their lives.” The Monroe Street storefront (the other location is in New Windsor, Md.) gives Madisonians the opportunity to purchase handmade gifts, specialty foods and accessories from far-flung reaches like Bangladesh, Madagascar and Chile.

Green practices: “One of the seven principles of fair trade is you want to engage in environmentally sustainable practices, which is why, for example, you won’t see ebony or mahogany used in fair trade products because they’re very slow growing woods—you’ll see bamboo,” says Susan Sheldon, manager at SERRV. “Or items [will be made] so that the artisans don’t have to strip the whole tree to make it.” She points out a fair amount of items are made with recycled materials and the fair trade coffee they sell is shade-grown, which means land is not cleared to grow the crop. That prevents deforestation and protects birds’ habitats.

Product picks: Sample the shop’s Divine Chocolate bars, dark chocolate made in Africa that is, well, divine; eye up the dazzling bowls made out of rolled magazines, or try on the cuff bracelets made out of safety pins and beads. Sheldon says their selection of recycled products has tripled in the last year: things like wallets made out of rice bags, handbags made out of used saris and art made out of old oil drums showcase the artisans’ talent and their painstaking work.

Why We Should Shop Locally

2009-03-26T16:09:00.006-06:00

One of our account managers here at the magazine (thanks, Connie!) shared this interesting website with me called the 3/50 project. This project encourages shoppers to stop by three local retailers throughout the month and spend $50. Read more, courtesy of the350project.org:

3: What three independently owned businesses would you miss if they disappeared? Stop in. Say hello. Pick up something that brings a smile. Your purchases are what keeps those businesses around.

50: If half the employed population spent $50 each month in locally owned independent businesses, it would generate more than $42.6 billion in revenue. Imagine the positive impact if 3/4 the employed population did that.

68: For every $100 spent in locally owned independent stores, $68 returns to the community through taxes, payroll and other expenditures. If you spend that in a national chain, ony $43 stays here. Spend it online and nothing comes home.

1: The number of people it takes the start the trend...you.

I signed up to support the "Pick 3. Spend 50. Save your local economy" idea.

For more information visit: the350project.org

Frustrated!

2009-03-19T15:34:00.001-06:00

A while back I was informed by a blog reader and friend that my blog content was being posted on another blog, without any attribution to me. Simply put, the blogger was copying content straight from my blog and posting it on theirs as if it was written by them. Not cool!

It’s odd because the site traces back to a Bangladesh online shopping website, so most of my blog content doesn’t even pertain to the blogger anyway … since they’re not from Madison, Wis. I would post the link, but then that would send readers to this person’s site, and they don’t deserve the readership if they’re stealing content anyway :)

I’ve been told that dishonest bloggers can do this to direct traffic to their site, since the blog they’re stealing from already has steady followers. Anyway, there is not much we can do about it besides take down every single post they’ve taken, and re-post it. As such, I don’t feel that’s a good solution since then my old content will be re-posted as though I posted it today ... and some of the content this blogger has stolen is from past events and whatnot.

Sad. But I wanted to keep you all in the loop in my frustration on this :)

Shopping Events

2009-03-19T15:27:00.005-06:00

Bad dog frida photo contest
Where: bad dog frida, 2094 Atwood Ave.
Details: Back by popular demand—bring in a pic of your fave furry friend and owners Carmen and Sue will post your photo in the shop’s window! Customers can then vote for their favorite photo. Votes will be counted and winners notified May 10. Turn in photos for consideration by March 31. (Pick up a cute doggie rain jacket like Geordie's sporting from bad dog frida, above!)
More info: 442-6868. baddogfrida.com

Lady Moxie Stiumlus Package II
Where: Lady Moxie, 6706 Odana Rd.
Details: The first three shoppers who spend $100 or more at the store will get a gift certificate for a free facial or waxing from Le Spa. The offer’s valid on March 20, 21 and 24, so stop in!
More info: 826-4268

Maxwell Street Days In March
Where: Fanny Garver Gallery, 230 State St.
Details: A longtime Best of Madison winner, Fanny Garver Gallery has always been known for fantastical blown glass, chic jewelry and gorgeous paintings. Here’s your chance to own some of these items at thirty percent up to fifty percent off. Sale goes through March 30. Also check out the gallery’s revamped website.
More info: 256-6755. fannygarvergallery.com

MMoCA glass sale
Where: Madison Museum of Contemporary Art Store, 227 State St.
Details: Fifteen percent off selected glass items including salt and pepper shakers by Gazelle Glass, vases, bowls and paperweights by The Glass Eye, Alex Brand, John Pomp, Jamie Harris and Pizzichillo & Gordon. Through March 31.
More info: 257-3222. Mmoca.org

Prom Dress Bonanza
Where: HospiceCare Thrift Store, 122 Junction Rd.
Details: OK, I added the “Bonanza” part above—but the Thrift Store has over one hundred prom dresses in stock priced under twenty dollars. Yes, that’s $20 and, yes, that’s a bonanza.
More info: 833-4556

Congratulations

2009-03-19T15:16:00.012-06:00

Another shout-out goes to Coni Marotz who owns Iconi Interiors. Marotz is celebrating her one-year anniversary tonight with special sales and deals. I first wrote about her store in our June 2008 issue and have stopped back many times since—she’s always got something new. My favorite items (as I’ve written about on this blog before) are most definitely the vintage jewelry pieces she hangs from jewelry trees and displays in the glass cases up front. I adore (and drool over) the chunky strands of baubles, hefty cocktail rings and statement bracelets that take up a few inches of wrist real estate. In my opinion, Iconi would fit right in in a chic Chicago neighborhood, or perhaps on a laid-back San Francisco street—and yet, we’re lucky to have her shop right here on West Washington Avenue.
(I loooove Coni's display of her vintage barware and her vintage framed wallpapers, below).
Iconi, 534 W. Washington Ave. 441-0077. iconiinteriors.com

Anthology celebrated their year anniversary last Saturday, March 14. Owners Laura and Sachi Komai already held festivities, but you can still stop in to check out all of their new items like recycled bottle-cap necklaces, vintage-inspired charm bracelet kits, stickers, books and much more. If you haven’t been to Anthology it’s one of those shops that you can easily walk in and spend under $10 if your wallet’s tight—or more if you’ve got it! I personally favor their decorative papers, cards and jewelry.
(A rack of Anthology's decorative papers and a display in the shop).
Anthology, 218 State St. 204-2644. anthology.typepad.com

A Favorite Green Product

2009-03-19T15:14:00.004-06:00

You know those green products that can be very expensive and therefore difficult for many people to afford (I’m talking to you, designer silk dresses and organic mattresses)? Well, Ecotools are definitely not one of them. With prices from $1.99 to $12.99 it’s almost silly not to check these out. And I’m championing them because, yes, I use them! These makeup brushes are made of recycled stainless steel and aluminum, crushed walnuts, soybean oil and bamboo. The brushes and sets are stored in resusable pouches and printed with nontoxic ink. Ecotools are sold at Walgreens, ShopKo and Target (May 2009). (Shown is the bamboo five piece brush set)
eco-tools.com

My Spring Wish List (Part One)

2009-02-27T17:32:00.002-06:00

… Because you never know if there'll be a spring wish list part two! Anyway, I’m getting bored of winter. You hear me, winter?! Go away! OK, so since that’s not going to happen I’m just going to sit and dream about my wish list for this spring and summer. The fashion websites I frequent (Who What Wear Daily, shopbop.com, InStyle, et cetera) have been reporting incessantly on Fall/Winter 2009 Fashion Week as well as rehashing Spring/Summer 2009 Fashion Week … and they’re making me antsy for new looks.

A maxidress
While I of course tout local, I still do shop at Target (hey, they’re still based in the Midwest, in Minneapolis!). I recently spotted some great maxidresses in beautiful, saturated hues of emerald and purple. I covet the purple one (especially because of the ruffle detail on the bustline!) and it’ll be perfect as my swimsuit cover-up. I’m hoping though, that I can wear it off the beach, too.

Pyramid-stud sandals
Part of the rocker trend, the ones I’m getting are bit more subdued—simple pyramid studs set on a crisp white flip flop. Of course that doesn’t mean I might not pick up some other items with some studs on them too … like a fab gladiator sandal or cute clutch. We’ll see.

Dressy denim
Perfect for spring and summer nights, I’d like to find a great trouser jean that’s a bit skinnier in the leg (in other words, nothing wide-leg) and looong (I’m tall) that I can pair with a cute top and blazer for spring into summer.

A ruffled piece
Hmmm, I already have this one covered—I have quite a few tops in my wardrobe with ruffles! I want more, though! A favorite detail of mine, I’m glad that ruffled items are in for spring. I’ve already picked up two affordable tanks with ruffle detail on the shoulder and plan on prowling for more when I see ’em. Ideally, I’d like to find a dressier sleeveless or short-sleeve blouse.

A tough handbag
It’s a rare instance where you would spot me with a black or brown handbag. I crave color, you see. My current handbag is fuschia. The one before that? A lovely shade of peacock blue. I’ve spotted a few handbags out and about that have made me crave a new one already.
Atticus carries an adorable fuschia clutch by Matt & Natt that’s on sale that I’d like to pick up. It would be PERFECT with most any outfit. For reals. It’s got a sort of rocker-ish look to it, with zippers and a fold-over front.
At Dazzle the other day I spotted a hot snakeskin-print pocketbook-style handbag. It’s got that perfect cocktail of ladylike chic (the pocketbook styling) mixed with rugged rocker (well, snakeskin, of course). I like the print most of all, which is hot, hot, hot for this spring.

A sexy tee
I have long aspired to be one of those model-types who look effortlessly hot in a T-shirt, jeans and cute heels. Since I don’t fancy myself a model anytime soon and I tend toward “dressier” fare in my wardrobe, I need to branch out! No more T-shirts just for working out! Bring on the T-shirts! Well, the fitted T-shirts, that is. I’ve always liked the screen-printed tees from Urban Outfitters. They’re soft, worn-in and sexy and have a nice V-neck. They come in a range of prints and they’re pretty affordable, at $24–$28 a pop.

A hot, heeled sandal
I was at Famous Footwear the other night and they had a really cute fringed sandal that fitted in cozily with all of the fringe stuff that’s en vogue for spring. I also covet chunky gladiator heeled sandal but we’ll see if that happens …

Trash to Treasure

2009-02-27T17:05:00.013-06:00

I attended Fashion Fridays at the Cardinal this past Friday and part of the lineup included recycled fashions. Dresses and skirts made out of newspapers (the old paper I wrote for in college—The Badger Herald!), magazines, grocery bags and garbage bags graced the sleek white runway.

The first black garbage-bag fashions (Made by Rosalee Eichstedt) were actually very cute—I could imagine all of them made out of fabric. The first model sported a white tank and jeans and then her hair, wrists and shoes were adorned with fluffy black flower-like puffs. The shoes were quite cute, and I’d pick up a pair!

Other models wore incarnations of garbage-bag dresses including: a poufy garbage-bag skirt paired with a sleek black patent belt and black tube top; a black (garbage bag) figure-hugging dress with a ruffly neck worn with black leggings; a halter “carwash” dress constructed of black and white garbage bags; a white tank and black leggings paired with a flower-like newspaper “skirt;” and an incredibly detailed dress made out of either paper grocery bags or brown plastic grocery bags. Seriously this stuff was genius and quite Project Runway-worthy.

Another group of designers (Jonathan, Renee and Callie; their fashions were titled "Project Runway: Witte Style") constructed elaborate designs out of magazines with a feminine twist. The first, a sheath dress made out of Vogue magazines sported a creased, fan-like top cinched with a wide waistband. Again, I could imagine the dress made out of lovely fabric—say, a heavy dupioni silk or satin. The second style was a fitted strapless dress with a poufy newspaper skirt and the third, a highly constructed dress with a sweetheart neckline and a skirt that flared out slightly at the waist like a tulip skirt.

Bravo for turning trash into couture-like treasure.

(Photos courtesy of Abby Schoofs, Avalon Sky Photography).

P.S.: Local designer Jessica Catherine's designs were also featured in the show—which I loved, too!

Stylemaker Q&A: Tim Lovejoy-Dailey

2009-02-19T16:37:00.004-06:00

Up Spatique opened in August 2006 on the lower end of State Street with an innovative concept—tempt shoppers with clothing, throw in a mani-pedi area and delight all of the senses. In a world where shopping at chain stores can become an impersonal experience, Tim Lovejoy-Dailey's Up is the antidote to shopping blahs—literally and figuratively. Literally because once shoppers step into the candy-hued world of Up and spy the swimwear, scarves, and accessories one can't help but feel a little, well, "up"lifted. Figuratively Up's purpose is to make shoppers feel welcome and offer them something they can't find at the Wal-Marts of the world.
I talked to co-owner Tim Lovejoy-Dailey (wife Kelli is the other owner) about what's changed, what they've got on tap for spring, and of course, what it's like to be a guy in a girl's world …

You used to be called Up Spatique, and now you’re just called Up. Why the name change?
Up Spatique was half-spa, half-boutique. The spa part was good in the spring and summer, but it was really hard in the winter. The retail side was doing great, so we decided on [expanding] that; the issue became growing the apparel. We tried out [the spa side] like any store with our customers and thought we’d see how she’d respond, so we thought, ‘how do we grow?’ Because expanding in size wasn’t an option.

What is your general price range?
Fifty to one hundred dollars—that’s perfect for us. Just because of our experience in the market, there are these small companies that have great stuff for one hundred dollars instead of two hundred dollars. And [those brands have] a better value ratio for what you’re getting for the money.

What are your best selling brands?
In swimwear the most news worthy brands are probably LSpace and Ella Moss. LSpace has been getting a ton of press. I think because of that it’s been generating a lot of customer buzz. I get a lot of calls from customers asking if we have it. Ella Moss is a hot brand right now, she just launched swim, and we have the exclusive on it in town right now.
Once we got the reputation that we had a nice assortment of swimwear we had people coming in during Christmas asking if we had any swimwear, so we decided we should carry it year-round. Obviously in the spring the selection gets really big.
For sportswear, popular brands include Maxx Studio and we just introduced Ben Sherman from London, which is cool.
In denim LTB is an Eastern European brand. We’ve scaled back on the denim brands because the denim market has gotten soft nationally and locally. There has been a growing resistance in price to denim. When we first opened the store our philosophy was always to have a good, better, best assortment as far as customers go. There are a lot of cute things out there under one hundred dollars instead of under two hundred dollars. LTB is right around one hundred dollars, and over the years we’ve carried 1921 and Raven, and some other brands but LTB is always the winner. The customer loves the fact that it’s one hundred dollars. LTB is still relatively unknown in the U.S. but they are gaining notoriety. The market is looking for a better price point.

Who is your customer?
Our core customer is the young-minded woman and feminine. When contemporary got so big these last few years, style started to cross all boundaries, as far as age goes. With Sex and the City, we’ve seen everybody get a little hipper. Obviously we do have a tremendous amount of college traffic but we have a lot of downtown traffic, too. We do a lot of tourist business in the summer. But it’s gotten to the point where I get the young professional twenty-something and then I get the forty-something mom, and then they share a dressing room and they trade stuff back and forth—and they leave with a big bag of stuff!
Our store is more playful and feminine on purpose. We always said fun was going to be a big part of equation.

What trends will the store be carrying this spring?
Ruffles, tops with tiers and layers, lace and crochet. Everything is very feminine—which plays right into what we do.
The other thing is the maxidress—the maxidress is great. It’s hippie chic; the bohemian thing. We’ll have maxidresses in everything from casual tie-dye jersey versions to dressier silk versions. You have to wear it with a sandal. We’re a big flip-flop store and we’re becoming a Havaianas destination, because you can’t wear a heel with that look.
We’re also known for trenches. We have a spring trenchcoat which we carry from a brand called Tulle; they do great coats. We also have them by Ben Sherman, and a couple of other brands—bright, shorter trenchcoats.
You see a customers walk in wearing a trench with rain boots, and it’s just a great look.
The other trend that’s going to continue from an accessory perspective is scarves. We have so many different styles of scarves in linen, chiffon, silk—all summer-weight scarves. We’ve wrapped all of the poles in the store with the scarves. That trend is definitely going strong. You can wear it at night, but also take it and wrap it as a pareo or as a wrap. It’s a great way to add a little color.

Is it difficult as a guy owning, doing the buying and working in a women’s store?
I was with Union Bay as the senior design director, so I’ve been a designer my whole life. Whether you’re on the men’s side (which I’ve been on) or the women’s side, quite frankly, you work with women almost four to one throughout your career. So personally speaking, women’s wear is two things: it’s more exciting and it’s more trend-driven.
With menswear, right, wrong or indifferent, it’s gotten more classic in the last ten years. And that is what I wear, but women’s wear is more challenging, fun, exciting—and I just enjoy it more.
Women’s wear is a bigger part of the industry. Guys don’t spend as much money on clothes. They spend their money on girls! It’s simplistic, but that’s the way it is! Girls are willing to take more risks, more confident and there are more choices.

What’s changed in the retail industry since you started?
I’ve been in the business for twenty-six years. Anytime we go through an economic downturn two things usually happen. The customer becomes more price-sensitive, which is obvious, but at the same time, the customer also looks for something special. It’s not just about price. You can offer them something new and beautiful that’s just a “wow” dress.
Overall I’m sure every retailer you talk to in America will tell you there’s price sensitivity. As a specialty retailer with a stand-alone shop you have to offer something that’s special. Department stores and mall stores have gotten so price-competitive and they battle each other for price. If your store is in a field with the same stuff those places have, you can’t compete. You have to work harder to sell special products, brands and cute stuff you can’t find anywhere else. What I look for are small brands that have a good value ratio that makes sense. Just because it’s cute you can’t demand $350 for it.

What’s the best thing about being a small business owner?
Two things: the relationships with customers. When you’re in corporate like I was, you don’t really get to interact with your customer. You’re in your office every day, creating a product, and once the product is done you’re on to the next season. You’re always designing for the next season.
The other thing is the freedom. You can make those decisions; design and execute your vision and see it all the way through.
Oh, and the store is so colorful, fun and bright right now. I walked around the mall and the other shopping areas in the city and felt like no one else was even close to us in that regard. You can shake off that cabin fever if you walk in the store right now—it’s so fun!

Up, 619 State St. 256-7777. upspatique.com

Frostiball Pics!

2009-02-12T15:43:00.015-06:00

What is there to say about Frostiball? In short, lots of fun, and for me, the fashion is the most important part!
Because of our “mid-sized Midwestern city” status, we’re not known for being the most adventurous city in fashion. This was no more obvious at Frostiball, where I was surprised to see the sheer amount of black cocktail dresses and long gowns that were worn! The group I attended with shrugged off the confines of black—we were a colorful bunch. As you can see in the photo we wore blue(s), red, pink and white!

My theory is as such: Although black is a standard cocktail party-frock color, I think that some people pulled out their older or previously worn dresses and wore those again. With the economic downturn (aren’t you sick of that phrase yet??) my feeling is that spending money on a new fancy dress might not have been in the budget. Hey, it doesn’t hurt to be thrifty!

The standouts I saw: a few red dresses here and there, some pretty blue gowns and a forest green cocktail dress. One gal accessorized her classy white dress with red accessories—love, love, love that. I posted images of some of these standout dresses I refer to, namely the woman in red and blue, and the lovely white dress/red shoe combo. (photo credits and names below).

I accessorized my hot-pink silk gown with turquoise chandelier earrings and chunky turquoise cocktail ring ☺ because well, I always have to stand out. Or, as a certain person in my life always points out, I frequently tend to wear two bright colors together, like a yellow shirt and blue shoes (trust me, it doesn’t look weird). He doesn’t understand that—why they don’t perfectly match—but I figure life’s too short to play it safe with clothing and match exactly all of the time. Pick up any major fashion mag or peruse a style website and you’ll see that pairing color combos is trend-right.

What I propose for next year’s Frostiball: let’s all take a little risk and don some color!

Top photo courtesy of Tiffany Thom. Second from top photo by Kris Ugarriza. Rest of photos by Adriana Gross.
Photo credits start from top; all people left to right:
1. Sarah Andler, Tiffany Thom, Shayna Miller and Katie Vaughn
2. Shayna Miller, Katie Vaughn and Nazia Husain
3. Steve and Laurel Brown
4. Anna Thiel
5. Katie Vaughn, Connie Lanter and Peggy Howard Moore
6. Bob and Toya Ablove, Milanie Cleere and Jason Oliver
7. Randy and Kate Whitson
8. Elizabeth Wewerka
9. Melissa Fellows
10. Sarah Andler and Grant Frautschi

Your Wear-Everything Piece

2009-02-12T15:40:00.003-06:00

I subscribe to ideeli.com, a website and email newsletter that offers shoppers tempting deals on brands from Gucci and Missoni to smaller indie handbag, jewelry and clothing lines. The other day I spied a deal on Leigh and Luca scarves. Leigh and Luca are Australian-born entrepreneur Gillian Leigh and European designer Susann Luca, and their scarves are hand-woven on antique looms and made out of silks, cottons and cashmeres.

But you don’t have to go through a website to buy them (ideeli is invitation-only and their sales are limited-time) Leigh and Luca is sold locally, believe it or not, at Gatherings on Regent Street. Owner Terry Hoard sells the exquisite purple/orange flocked cotton scarf shown in the image. It’s no doubt a statement piece and you’d be able to wear it year-round. It retails for $165.

Gatherings, 2134 Regent St. 236-9497.

My Buy of the Week

2009-02-12T15:35:00.002-06:00

I heart the Marc by Marc Jacobs store in Bucktown. It’s got a nice range of price points (everything from $5 jewelry up to thousand-dollar handbags) and carries urban, yet feminine looks (they carry men’s items, too). Items that can be mixed and matched, like a sequined zip-up paired with this spring’s drapey, deconstructed pants, or a cute ruffled top paired with skinny jeans and heels. I could build a whole dream wardrobe out of pieces by Marc by Marc Jacobs (locally, Marc by Marc Jacobs is sold on shopbop.com, FYI).

Don’t get me started on the handbags: my current handbag is a quilted raspberry oversize pocketbook style that looks eerily similar to his quilted “Bonnie” in fuchsia (that retails for $1,300). Oh, Marc, can’t you make your handbags more affordable than $1,300?! His current crop of spring handbags ring in at (um, a bit more) affordable ($400+) and are patent leather satchels and hobos in sunny yellow, beautiful navy and cool gray.

Since I’m not holding my breath that I’m going to win the lottery or a cash prize of any sort soon, I settled on some cheap and chic bangles ($5 apiece! see image) from Mr. Jacobs on my store visit. They’re perfect for this spring’s rocker glam look that’s still en vogue. I also snagged a cute silver necklace with a key charm.

Now if I just could’ve picked up that gold clutch dotted with pyramid studs I would’ve really been rocking … alas, another time!

Marc by Marc Jacobs, 1714 N. Damen Ave. 773-276-2998.

Events

2009-02-12T15:31:00.004-06:00

The Moxie Stimulus Package
When: Through February 14
Where: Lady Moxie, 6706 Odana Rd.
Details: “Old-fashioned retail therapy with a side of luxe pampering” is how owner Elizabeth Wewerka describes it. Lady Moxie will give the first three shoppers who spend $100 or more at the store a gift certificate for a free one-hour massage.
More info: 826-4268

Free treats and refreshments
When: February 14
Where: Three Orange Doors, 2789 Fitchrona Rd.
Details: Well…free treats and refreshments, of course! See new pendants and jewelry for Valentine’s Day as well as mercury glass votives and soy candles. New spring and Easter décor has arrived, too.
More info: 848-3336

Valentine’s Day at AttiKISS
When: February 14
Where: Atticus, 18 N. Carroll
Details: With every purchase customers get to draw out of Cupid’s candy bowl for a chance to win prizes and discounts.
More info: 204-9001. atticusshop.com

Fashion Fridays: Stylista Runway Show
When: February 20
Where: The Cardinal Bar, 418 E. Wilson St.
Details: “Four teams of indie fashion, makeup and hair stylists will show collections that inspire creative ways of looking fabulous on a budget,” per the show’s PR flyer. If you liked October’s installment of Fashion Fridays: London Calling, then you’ll most likely be interested in this show, too.
More info: madisonfashionweek.com

VIVO store opening
When: March 2
Where: 702 N. Midvale Blvd.
Details: Do you remember Studio Snaidero located in Portofino Place? They’ve changed their name and location! President Todd Huschka told me this transition has been in the works for a while. VIVO LLC is now the parent company of Studio Snaidero Wisconsin. The new location will showcase Snaidero kitchens and over seventy different luxury home product lines.
More info: 662-0448. snaidero-wi.com

Madison Magazine on J LaMore's blog

2009-02-05T17:32:00.004-06:00

Check out all of these fun blog posts on photos taken at J LaMore ... Mad Mag is mentioned and so is my blog!

Sarah Botham/Ryann Petit-Frere mention

Ryann Petit-Frere photos

Sarah Botham photos

Shop for Valentine's Day!

2009-02-05T16:31:00.005-06:00

MMoCA Museum Store Jewelry Sale
When: Through February
Where: Madison Museum of Contemporary Art Store, 227 State St.
Details: Take fifteen percent off on jewelry throughout February. Treat yourself—or, ahem—nudge someone you love to something you'd love to get :)
More information: 257-3222. mmoca.org

Be My Baby Sale
When: Feb 7 (10a–4p) and Feb 8 (11a–3p)
Where: The Bohemian Bauble, 404 W. Lakeside St.
Details: The entire shop is fifteen percent off and gift wrapping is free.
More information: 333-BOHO. bohobauble.com

Share the Love Sale
When: February 12, 5–9p
Where: Bunky's Café, 2827 Atwood Ave.
Details: A night of local shopping. Check out goods from: Absolutely Art, Cha Cha Tea, Cocobelle Jewelry Designs, Dolci Italian-American Sweets, Herb & Oyster Handcrafted Soaps, Pamplemousse Preserves and TerraSource Gourmet Chocolates (yum!).
More information: Josie Pradella, 221-0588 or josie@terrasourcechocolates.com or

What's Your Style? I Quiz My Friends

2009-01-29T11:10:00.008-06:00

So this blog is usually all about me, and what I think. And I don’t profess to be the most interesting person, so this week, I turned it around and asked a few of my friends what they thought! You see, I have made friends with young professionals and business owners alike in Madison, all of whom have their own signature style. And I love chatting with them about where they like to shop, their favorite things they’ve bought and more. So read on for what some of these fab ladies had to say!

Kristin Wild, owner, Atticus

Shayna Miller: What's your signature style? What store best captures you?
Kristin Wild: My style is usually kind of downtown and edgy with elements of practicality thrown in. I get inspired by girls who live on the Lower East Side of New York and the East End in London, but I’m a Wisconsin girl so I have to tone it down a bit. I wear flat boots all winter long, and I usually have some sort of scarf wrapped around my neck because I’m always freezing.
I’m also huge fan of high/low dressing. You know, mixing Aldo shoes with an Alexander Wang dress. It’s fun, and it just makes sense. My shop sells designer jeans, but I’m still a poor twenty-four-year-old! So, I save up for good quality, investment pieces and I buy trendy, one-season pieces at H&M or Target. Of course, Atticus is the shop that best captures my style!

SM: What’s your favorite piece(s) in your wardrobe? How long ago did you buy it, where did you get, why do you like it?
KW: My favorite piece of all time has to be the dress I got while interning at Temperley in London. It was my first designer piece, and Lily Cole wore it on the runway. It’s a mini dress with a plunging neckline and back made from silk with the Temperley Godet print in red, blue and ivory. I’ve had it now for about four years, and I wear it every chance I get!
Currently, my favorite piece is a scarf by Aude that we carry at Atticus. They make the most incredibly soft scarves from T-shirt material and they’re super long so you can wear them a million ways. I wear one every day and usually end up wrapping it three times around my neck to stay cozy!

SM: What's your favorite budget buy you’ve gotten? When did you get it, and what do you like about it?
KW: My favorite budget buy would probably be my pirate pants from H&M. I got them for, like, $10 right after the first Pirates of the Caribbean came out. Ha! I loved Keira Knightley in that movie—she made menswear look so sexy. I’ll wear heels or a feminine silk top with them to balance out the look.

SM: What's your favorite splurge(s), where did you get it, when and what do you like about it?
KW: My favorite splurge would be my soccer booties from Marc by Marc Jacobs (see picture, above!). I adore his shoes, but even the Marc by Marc line can be pricey. I first saw the booties on Shopbop in August of 2007, and I stalked them daily for five months until they went on sale! They’re completely impractical but I’m in love with them.

SM: What’s your favorite local retail store in Madison?
KW: Probably not a fair question for me—I’m clearly biased—Atticus, obviously! I also enjoy shopping at Context for men’s jeans, Bop for Wisconsin staple pieces (Uggs, Chip & Pepper Bucky Badger tees, Juicy sweats), and A Stone’s Throw for workout pants and Smartwool socks.

SM: What store do you wish we had in Madison?
KW: I know it will never happen, but I would love a Barney’s Co-op! A more realistic choice would be Madewell, the new J. Crew sister store. I think it could do very well here. It has good quality basics like J. Crew, but a little more forward in design.
-------
Kristi Moe, owner, Moe Publicity

SM: What’s your signature style? What store best captures you?
Kristi Moe: Accessories because they ALWAYS fit! [I] love bangles, big earrings, hats, shoes, bags. Store: Dazzle!

SM: What’s your favorite piece(s) in your wardrobe? How long ago did you buy it, where did you get and why do you like it?
KM: A grey tweed newsboy cap—bought long ago enough to not remember where I bought it from (see picture). It is so hard finding hats that have the perfect proportion, fit and angle/slouch. This particular hat can be casual or dressed up for a funky style.
I love hats in general because they help you to stand out in a crowd and are a lifesaver for a bad hair day. My tip for finding the perfect hat: Try on every hat you see until you find one that works pretty good. You’ll likely not LOVE it until you break it in and get used to positioning it and get comfortable seeing yourself with it on.

SM: Your favorite budget buy you've gotten: when did you get it, what do you like about it?
KM: I’ve been searching since September NY Fashion Week for an orange (orange is huge for spring) patent handbag that is large enough to carry my padfolio for meetings ... haven’t found ANY. Not even at Dazzle. Very sad. Until I went to Aldo at West Towne Mall the other weekend when they were having their eighty percent off sale and I scored a gorgeous bag for $35! It’s bright orange patent with gold accents and just big enough to fit a padfolio.

SM: Your favorite splurge(s)—where did you get it, when, and what do you like about it?
KM: My favorite splurge is the best accessory ever ... perfume. You’re not a diva until you turn heads because you smell damn good. And sorry girls, I’m not telling which one it is. It’s my secret!

SM: Your favorite local retail store in Madison?
KM: Can I plead the fifth? I have several for different reasons. Atticus because of their commitment to the environment and high-quality, fresh designers; Context because of the life they’re breathing into the fashion scene for men not only in Madison but nationally; Sukara Sterling because she’s just so darn cute and her brand is infectious; Patricia Shoppe because her fashions are reflective of Madison ... ecclectic; J LaMore because Jennifer shows that high fashion can be warm, inviting and personable.

SM: What store did you wish we had in Madison?
KM: TopShop because they make fashion accessible and fresh in a very cool way. They’ve been able to become a successful corporate entity (in the U.K.) while including young emerging designers which is risky for a big business to do; but keeps them from offering bland, cookie-cutter merchandise.
-------
Katie Vaughn, associate editor, Madison Magazine (and fellow Madison Magazine blogger!)

SM: What’s your signature style? What store best captures you?
Katie Vaughn: I’m drawn to simple clothes with clean lines, but I like to accent them with an interesting piece or two—maybe a pair of fun shoes, a bright scarf or cool jewelry. I get a lot of my clothes at Banana Republic (they do simple silhouettes with little extras like pleats, ruffles and touches of embellishment really well), but I look for accessories everywhere.

SM: What’s your favorite piece(s) in your wardrobe? How long ago did you buy it, where did you get and why do you like it?
KV: It’s hard to choose but a few of my favorites are: A black spaghetti-strap wrap dress I got years ago but always go back to because it’s sexy and simple. A dark pink cashmere wrap/scarf that’s warm and provides a nice pop of color. A silver leaf necklace made from a pair of earrings I liked but never wore. My turquoise bikini because it represents the ultimate in easy dressing—if I’m lucky enough to be on a beach, what more do I really need?

SM: Your favorite budget buy you’ve gotten, when did you get it and what do you like about it?
KV: I like picking up inexpensive pieces when I travel. I’ve found great shoes at boutiques and jewelry everywhere, especially markets. I also love buying interesting fabrics, which my mom is nice enough to make into dresses and skirts. A paisley print for a few dollars in Greece became a wrap skirt that I wear with camisoles and sandals in the summer and a turtleneck, tights and boots in winter.

SM: Your favorite splurge(s)—where did you get it, when and what do you like about it?
KV: Good denim is my best splurge. I got hooked at the Blues Jean Bar (thebluejeansbar.com) in San Francisco when I lived out west. A great pair of jeans can elevate whatever else you’re wearing—and give you a fantastic boost of confidence all day.

SM: What's your favorite local retail store in Madison?
KV: We’re lucky to have Bop in Madison. They offer ideas for pushing the envelope fashion-wise. And I’m looking forward to checking out Atticus soon.

SM: What store do you wish we had in Madison?
KV: Maybe just more stores in general? I can always use another reason to shop!
------
Elizabeth Wewerka, owner, Lady Moxie

SM: What’s your signature style?
Elizabeth Wewerka: My signature style is no signature. I like to shake it up and try new things ... to dress for whatever my mood is. I’ll wear anything from boho chic to minimalist to (gasp!) old school St John’s.

SM: What store best captures you?
EW: Lady Moxie: it’s responsible extravagance. It’s green, it’s economical and it’s styling.

SM: What are your favorite piece(s) in your wardrobe? How long ago did you buy it, where did you get and why do you like it?
EW: Currently I’m all about belts … BIG, HUGE ONES. I’ve gotten five or six over the last season and I keep coming up with new outfits that center on them. I guess I like them because they reign in the skirts that I often wear as dresses lately (see photo).

SM: Your favorite budget buy you've gotten: when did you get it and what do you like about it?
EW: My all-time favorite budget buy is an 18K gold and coral cocktail ring that I got for two bucks. I’ve had it for five years now. I love how it makes me think of a trip I took to Hawaii. I really wanted to buy coral jewelry out there but I had the hardest time paying the tourist prices on the islands. I found the ring at a consignment store right after I came home.

SM: Your favorite splurge(s), where did you get it, when and what do you like about it?
EW: My Shanel Regier custom-made corset or my brown Vicmatie boots. The corset was made for me by one of the designers I carry at Lady Moxie and I like it because it’s a one of a kind that fits me like a glove.
The boots I got down at Lori’s in Chicago and I like them because they are very unique “tough girl” boots. Everybody always comments on them when I wear them.

SM: Your favorite local retail store in Madison?
EW: Lady Moxie. But if I’m shopping elsewhere, I’d have to say Woldenberg’s; all of the staff there is soooo good at servicing the customer, even the customers who only shop the clearance racks. I remember going there once before I actually moved to Madison. I was looking at the furs and one of the ladies asked me if I wanted to try one on. I said something about them being lovely but only being able to afford vintage. She tsked and waved her hand at me, pulled one of the coats off the hanger and had me wrapped in it in
about two seconds. When staff can make you feel special like that, it makes a fan for life.

SM: Store you wish we had in Madison?
EW: Honestly, I am very into supporting local shops. So if I could have another shop in Madison, I’d hope for another locally owned boutique.

Congrats, and Divine in Domino

2009-01-29T11:00:00.006-06:00

… To Goodman’s Jewelers for nabbing the prestigious National Independent Jeweler Award. Goodman’s was one of twenty-seven winners (and the only one in the Midwest) to win the award, based on America’s Best Jewelers National Benchmarking Survey conducted by National Jewelers Magazine.
My interactions with Goodman’s have always been positive and their staff extremely helpful. Goodmans’ president John Hayes accepted the award in New York on January 19. Congrats!

Goodman’s Jewelers, 220 State St. 257-3644. goodmansjewelers.com

I was reading the December/January issue of Domino the other week and spotted Divine Chocolate bars on their “Giving Back” page. This particular page is devoted to products that give a portion of their proceeds to charitable orgs. Divine Chocolate is sold at SERRV here in Madison, (formerly A Greater Gift), the fair-trade shop on Monroe Street. I have tried Divine Chocolate and can I just say it’s, well, divine! I purchased a few bars during the holiday season to give out as little gifts and of course purchased some bars for myself, too.
The mint dark chocolate bar is fab and tastes like Girl Scout Thin Mint cookies. They also sell milk, dark, and fruit and nut chocolate bars, too. Or check out the bags of dark and milk chocolate hearts—perfect for Valentine’s Day and only $5 a bag!

SERRV, 2701 Monroe St. 233-4438. serrv.org

Stylemaker Q&A: Jane Kinney

2009-01-09T12:01:00.007-06:00

Owner, J. Kinney Florist

Jane Kinney’s shop name J. Kinney might not convey much—certainly not like how the store Dazzle implies glitzy handbags and jewelry, or Jazzman carries suave and sophisticated clothing for the well-dressed man. Like in the tradition of the Barneys and Bergdorf Goodmans of the world, J. Kinney’s notoriety is in the name of her shop and the fact that her store has been around a heck of a lot longer than most Madison retailers—twenty-six years, to be exact.
Kinney’s aptly named shop has touches of her in it—the springy green exterior sign and the wooden-slat front screen door makes shoppers feel right at home—if their home were a quaint cottage.

Madison Magazine: What had you been doing before you opened J. Kinney here in Madison in 1983?
Jane Kinney: I lived in San Francisco for a decade. I ran a store that sold green plants but no flowers, named Jane’s Plants. I had gotten a degree in horticulture from City College of San Francisco.

I’m originally from Madison, and San Francisco is a wonderful place, but it goes on without you. I wanted to be a smaller town and I missed the Midwest since I’m from Madison. So I sold the plant store.

MM: Why did you decide to open another store in Madison?
JK: When I started, I was too new to Madison to realize that people thought that the Square was dead. I thought it was cool. I saw all of the people working downtown and thought it would be a great place for a store [Ed’s note: Kinney’s original store was located on King Street before she moved to her current location on Monroe Street].

I had read about the European flower market approach, which is basically selling flowers by the stem. That seemed to be something that would really work in an urban environment. I think I was the first that displayed flowers out of a cooler and had things marked separately instead of traditional arrangements.

[I don’t] stock traditional flowers like carnations, mums and the other staples. Our focus has moved from tropicals to as many locally grown flowers as we can find.
Even during the winter we have anemones, ranunculus and irises, and those are grown here locally. Probably ninety percent of what we sell is locally grown flowers in the summer. Some are native prairie flowers, and almost all are grown locally.

MM: Why did you move from your King Street location to Monroe Street?
JK: It was a variety of things, but the most important factor was that the rents were so high. And the conveniences of downtown were few and far between, like garbage removal. Running deliveries out of a place with no parking was hard. And downtown has evolved into an entertainment district. It was a slow process and that was the end result. That was a reason that the rents became so prohibitive. Restaurants can afford to pay more rent because they have a higher turnover than other kinds of retail.

MM: What are the differences of running a shop in San Francisco and Madison?
JK: I lived in San Francisco in the ’70s. At that period it wasn’t the city it is now; it was a city that was a series of small neighborhoods that were like their own little towns. I’m sure it’s changed vastly since then. There were a lot of hippie entrepreneurs that were opening stores without much capital.

MM: What do you focus on in the home décor and gift area?
JK: We’ve always been focused on what used to be called “shabby chic” and now would be called cottage style. I mean, not everything in here fits into that category. We just have pretty much stayed focused on that. Now there’s a new emphasis on botanical renderings, and we’re really interested in that. That combines the flower aspect with the cottage style.

We have the renderings in wall hangings, beautiful pillows with botanical images on them and shadow boxes with botanical drawings on them. It’s a more dedicated focus than a lot of gift shops would have.

Another category we have is fragranced candles, which again, is sort of a hybrid of fresh flowers and items for the home. We also have fragranced cleaning products inspired by natural fragrances. Some of our bath and body items are the same pure, natural flower fragrances and high quality fragrance using floral scents.

MM: Why do you think J. Kinney has stayed in business so long?
JK: I think it’s a cross between I have a really clear vision of what I wanted to do, and I just stuck with it. It’s sort of a combination of courage and stupidity. Does that make sense?
MM: Yep, I’ve heard that before!

MM: What’s the most challenging part of being a small retailer, and the most rewarding thing?
JK: The challenging part is that the constancy of it; you have to be here ninety-five percent of the time. It’s sort of like a dairy farmer with a herd of cows that need to be milked. You leave, and the place can sort of crumble!

The rewarding part is being able to surround yourself in what is beautiful. In January and February we’re surrounded by flowers! That’s pretty satisfying.

MM: I know that you sell some fair-trade items, but you also focus on items made in the U.S. and even locally, when you can. Can you talk about that?
JK: We really look for things that are made in this country or made elsewhere under fair working conditions. There’s very little we buy that we don’t know about the producer. If you go to our blog (jkinneyflorist.com/blog), you’ll see stories and pictures of who we buy from. Five years ago when I would go to [the gift show that I buy merchandise from] you could hardly find anything that wasn’t made in China.

We also find local craftspeople. We have a woman who lives in the Monroe Street area that makes handbags. We carry handbags that are made in Colorado and the women who make them even design the fabric. We have another new company from Washington state that makes her own hats and scarves.

With the plants, Canada has taken over the market for a lot of the plants, but I don’t like the quality. The Canadian government pays a lot of the fuel costs to get the plants here. But I think their plants are weak and inferior. Or you can go into Trader Joe’s and get orchids really cheap from Taiwan. They bloom for two weeks. If you buy them here, they bloom for months.

MM: What are your favorite items you sell?
JK: My absolute favorite thing these days are these botanical pillows. They’re made in Texas and the design is silk-screened on the fabric. When you put them in a room, it’s as important as what the painting on the wall looks like. They’re gorgeous. ($139.95 by Design Legacy)

Another favorite is candles that are soy based, in a votive. They have a seventy-hour burn time and the fragrances are really interesting and complex. ($34.95 by Kobo)

[I like this] company called Lalo. It’s a jewelry designer from Israel who fashions everything out of high-quality resin. We have a keychain the designer makes that’s a whimsical design and really jazzy. She also makes sets of bracelets out of the same resin. It’s three to five bangles in a color range but can be worn together or separately. They’re really, really fun. ($65 by Lalo)

MM: Where do you shop when you’re not working?
JK: I don’t do a lot of shopping when I’m not working. I like A Stone’s Throw a lot. They have practical clothing that’s still really attractive. It’s sportswear, but more fashionable than some.

I like what Janice Durand has done to change Little Luxuries recently. I think that’s a gorgeous store.

I think Fromagination is very impressive. It looks like it was transplanted from Manhattan.

MM: Why should people “buy local”?
JK: There are so many reasons. One of them is that if people continue to buy more and more from Target and Wal-mart, more of us small retailers will be gone and the world will be a lot more boring than it is now!

And the whole idea of keeping the money in the area, rather than having it sent elsewhere. Imagine a world that had very few small retail shops. Target is good for what they do; they just will never that atmosphere that individuals create.

J. Kinney, 1835 Monroe St. 255-7500. jkinneyflorist.com/blog

Sales and Events

2009-01-09T11:50:00.002-06:00

Bop is holding their "very own Maxwell St. Days Sale." I have a feeling that this sale will be GOOD. In fact, the store was closed all day Thursday to prepare! Check it out.
Hours: Friday 10a–7p, Saturday 10a–6p, Sunday 11a–5p.
bop, 222 W. Gorham St. 255-2570. shopbop.com

Need any gently-used furniture? The HospiceCare Thrift Store is holding a forty percent off furniture sale through Saturday, January 10. Nightstands, coffee tables and more could be yours for a steal! With the current money situation, I think a nicely discounted piece of furniture will do.
HospiceCare Thrift Store, 122 Junction Rd. 833-4556.

Don't let the winter doldrums get you down—get crafty! Here's Anthology's project schedule for the next few weeks:

January 2–13: Mini melted wax collage. Bring in photocopies, text, magazine and catalog scraps and work with melted wax on a mini collage. $5.
January 14–23: Comb bound scrap books. Scraps of paper: maps, book pages, envelopes, and notebook paper, bound into a notebook. $5.
January 24–February 14: Valentine cards. $5 for 3 cards (what a steal!)
Anthology, 218 State St. 204-2644. anthology.typepad.com

Things I Love

2009-01-02T17:04:00.008-06:00

I was out and about earlier this week working on a magazine story and stopped in two of my favorite stores: Fontaine and Iconi. I thought I'd share pics I snapped of some cool stuff I encountered.
First are these gorgeous vintage slipper chairs from Fontaine, priced at $1,635. With touches of Asian, organic and luxe all rolled into one, these chairs are fit for a queen. I've long admired slipper chairs because they always look so stately and feminine in home décor magazines; though they could be fashioned into a more "manly" look by covering one in leather and adding some nailhead trim, too. Either way, I love, love, love these chairs and the fabric they're swathed in.

Next is my perennial favorite Iconi Interiors. So, I'm one of those people that like dressing up. You won't catch me in a T-shirt and sneakers, unless I'm working out. No sir—it's pumps, bangles and dresses for me! That's why I like Coni Marotz's store Iconi, because it reminds me of a time when women dressed up for cocktail parties, wore red lipstick and glammed it up with major jewelry. Men sported smart suits and had pocket squares. Marotz has quite a collection of vintage barware, seen here. She also has an awesome collection of vintage jewelry that I yearn for every time I step in her store. It's like a magnet—I'm drawn to her case of jewelry every time I stop by.
Can't you just imagine a cocktail party in the '50s or '60s, where these glasses were surely used? I sure can. So, combine the sparkly cocktail glasses with one of her major necklaces and you've got my dream world of dressing up for a party, clutching a extraordinary glass all while looking fabulous. Cheers!

Fontaine, 811 E. Johnson St. 310-8002.
Iconi Interiors, 534 W. Washington Ave. 441-0077.

What to Buy Now: Guys

2009-01-02T16:40:00.003-06:00

Congratulations to Context for celebrating their third anniversary this past December. The men's clothing retailer even held a party in late December at Natt Spil to fete their birthday.
What's their hot seller right now? Co-owner Ryan Huber tells me that this B.Son for Context hooded zip-up jacket (left) and B.Son for Context button hoody are where it's at. The price point is good ($187 for the zip-up; $145 for the hoody) for such a versatile piece. The most interesting part about these pieces is that B.Son worked with Context to create these garments just for them. If you want one of these exclusive B.Son pieces, you'd better pick them up fast as only fifty zip-ups were made and eighty hoodys produced.
Huber tells me that the store may very well produce a private label in the upcoming months. Stay tuned.

Context, 113 King St. 250-0113. contextclothing.com

New Store Opening

2009-01-02T16:29:00.005-06:00

Have you ever visited a lululemon store before? I have—in Chicago and Santa Monica—both with my friend Kendal who is absolutely obsessed with lululemon clothing. She's so into lululemon that she works at the Santa Monica store! The yoga and athletic wear retailer has recently opened a store in our parts at 410 State St. This is the first location in Wisconsin.
In addition to peddling clothing the Madison "lululemonade Stand" has a free yoga class every Sunday from noon to 1 p.m. Check it out! (Above: lululemon's Hipster Pant*Den)

lululemonade Stand, 410 State St. 414-510-0624. lululemon.com

Q&A With Jessica Neumann, Designer of Jessica Catherine Clothing Line

2008-12-12T12:03:00.020-06:00

Midwestern designers are few and far between. Milwaukee has a few talented designers here and there; Chicago has even more. (Do they ever—Chicago hosts the Gen Art Fresh Faces in Fashion show every year for the express purpose of showcasing Midwestern designers). But Madison? Where art thou, designers?
Madison-based designer Jessica Neumann is changing that with her clothing line Jessica Catherine. Her classy, yet sexy, line of silk party dresses was showcased recently at Atticus, Kristin Wild’s store on the Square. I must admit, I have a personal bias toward Neumann’s line—I wore one of her dresses to this year’s Best of Madison! I spoke with Neumann on her budding design career.
(Shown up top: Myself with Jess, the designer, in front of two of her dresses at her Atticus event. All dresses shown below are also from her Atticus event and are there currently.)

Tell me how you got interested in designing.
I was thirteen years old, and I started using my mom’s sewing machine. I would cut up old clothes I had and make it into new stuff. Whatever fabrics were around the house or clothes I didn’t like anymore, I would just change them. When I was younger I was always creating my own style and expressing myself.
I always liked clothing, and as I got older, I always wanted to change [my outfits].
I started making clothing because a good friend of the family and a person I looked up to got me into it. Now I work with her on projects. We’re working together, designing, right now.

What is your design background?
[My] schooling is a big part of how well my garments are made and the techniques I use. But most of my experience comes from jobs I’ve worked in as a seamstress. [Up until recently I] worked at Creative Energy. I was one of three seamstresses there. I made energy efficient window treatments.
[A few years ago] I moved to Ireland and was organic farming. [During that time] I found online an artist residence called Das Sproutbau (http://sproutbau.blogspot.com/2008/02/rubble.html). It was a four-week sustainable living experiment for designers. I had to explain what my project was going to be for an installation for a documentary. So how I was going to recycle and design a live-in installation. When I explained my project having to do with fashion, they accepted me.
When I worked at Das Sproutbau, I collected fabric around a condemned building and other pieces of plastic, hung all of it on a wall and painted it. I then took it down and used that piece to build a collection of dresses for a fashion show in Germany at Das Sproutbau.
I came back [here] and was looking for a project to work on. I wanted to work on something to benefit breast cancer. That was when I came across Milwaukee Fashion Week. I started designing dresses for my interview [for Milwaukee Fashion Week]. I applied, was accepted, and made eighteen dresses that would be ready for the runway show. I was prepared, but then the event was canceled. (Ed’s note: Milwaukee Fashion Week was scheduled to take place in Milwaukee October 3–6, 2008; organizers canceled the event due to lack of funding).
The organizer told me that my line and designs had won the [new designer] contest; actually, I tied with another designer. I never got a prize or anything, but I was told I was the winner!
The Milwaukee Fashion Week experience was a massive learning experience for me. I accomplished so much in that time, and it made me realize what I was capable of. It’s exciting to see what good things can come out of it.

What are your design inspirations?
Texture is a big part of it. Modernism is, too. I like modern clothing with simple lines.
I wanted to make party dresses that make people feel good when they’re wearing them. But also, [I want] people to feel like they have a special dress. I haven’t seen work like it. I want a woman to feel really good about herself when she wears one of my dresses.

What is your trademark? How would someone know a piece is your design?
It’s modern clothing. When you look at my line all together, the colors are very similar, and [so is] the structure of the dresses. There are about five [dresses] that are made of the same fabric but in different colors. And the way they are draped is different. I use dupioni silk and silk chiffon.
I also try to put some sort of recycled element in each piece if possible. I’ve used pieces of old wedding dresses for accessorizing a dress. I’ve taken pieces from old bridal dresses and used them to embellish a plain black dress. I use recycled zippers.
I like to add a certain element that’s little out of the ordinary to something that’s very sophisticated to make it more unique.

Why do you think women like your clothing?
They like that it’s silk. And they like the high collars on some of the dresses. Women like to show some skin, but still feel confident and covered up. And having a dress that makes you look sexy but not too revealing is really attractive. You can also wear my clothing from season to season. It’s nice to have piece like that that you can wear all of the time. And you can wear it with tights or boots or with heels. That’s important here because we have the change of seasons.

What designers are you inspired by?
I like this brand called The People Have Spoken (thepeoplehav espoken.com).
Another big influence for me is Andrea Crews. It’s a project that takes place in France. It’s a group of people who take in all of these recycled clothing and have exhibitions and fashion shows out all of these recycled things. It’s high fashion, but it’s out of the ordinary. (Photo: Kristin Wild, owner of Atticus, with Chris Berge, co-owner of Weary Traveler, Natt Spil and Magnus)

What’s the process of designing a dress or a line for something like a runway show? It must be a lot of work.
Well, I’ve found people who want to work with me and can do the same things skill-wise, so we work as a team.
I had a few friends who helped me out with the line. Basically I drew up a pattern. I had the pattern and the fabric ready, and then I explained to them how I would like the dress made. I worked with talented seamstresses and they know what they’re doing. There were two or three dresses that friends helped me with for Milwaukee Fashion Week.
In general though, all of the work is done by me. I’m excited to work on projects with others, but they have to be as skilled as I am too.
(Photo: Do you recognize that dress on me? That's right, that's Jess' design that she's wearing in the photo above! L–R: Myself, visual artist Angela Richardson and Madison Magazine editor Brennan Nardi).

How long does it take you to make one dress?
To make one dress, it depends on the fabric. Everything is timed in my workroom. A simple dress can take me two days, or about twelve hours.
Something that has a bodice, texture, boning or a different fit, or in general more tailored, will take closer to a week to be fully finished.

What’s the next big project you’re working on?
I just launched a line with Atticus. I hope that works out. I’d like to launch a spring line as well as do some work on Kristin’s [owner of Atticus] website.
I’m trying to keep the cycle going of new ideas and new outfits. My spring line will be a little more casual for summer, but still edgy and sophisticated. It will be casual enough to wear to work, but you could wear it out at night too.
I’m also designing some bridal wear for a photo shoot in Chicago Social magazine. It’s for a spring or summer issue.
This summer I’m going to do some more bridal dresses. There’s also a large possibility that I’m going to the Netherlands to design a dress for a woman there. I’m excited to be working on bridal wear. I like making party dresses (laughs).

Formalwear and recycled/sustainable accents in your designs seem to be quite different!
I want to stay somewhere in the middle. I’d like to keep doing formalwear while still accessorizing or adding embellishment with recycled materials as well. I think it adds a nice touch. Part of using the recycled elements gives me the experience of going to thrift stores and rummage sales and seeing what’s out there. I’m very inspired by vintage clothing.

What’s the best part of being a designer, and the most challenging part?
The best part is that I get to make something with my hands and I can work on it anytime I want. I can always put it down when I don’t feel like doing it too. It’s great to take a walk and then be inspired by something. I really enjoy it. It’s a job, but it’s also something I love to do.
The biggest challenge is deadlines and production. I have new ideas constantly. I think, ‘Oh, I’d love to make that.’ Or, ‘I wish I had this fabric.’ It’s a matter of having priorities and knowing what I can make. There are things I’d love to make, but I don’t have time right now. Certain things can take months to create!

Many designers have a very distinct personal style. What’s your personal style?
It’s constantly changing, like my designs. I love Miss Sixty for shoes; their boots and shoes are really cool.
I wear a lot of simple, black clothing. I like wearing something simple but pairing it with great shoes. It’s all about the shoes! If I can wear a dress out, I will. That’s probably why I make dresses, because I wish I could wear them all of the time!
Speaking of shoes, I should probably get more (laughs).

Do you see yourself designing full-time in the future?
I see myself pursuing design very seriously. If I have a chance to move, or do international work, I’ll take it.
Ideally, I’d like to design full time. My goal is to work as wardrobe coordinator for the film industry, wherever that will be. Hopefully what I’m doing now will build my portfolio and show what I’m capable of. Sometimes you just have to accept where I am right now. There are a lot of things coming up that are to my advantage. I’m just going to work with them and see what happens.

Jessica Catherine’s designs range from $195–$350 and are available at Atticus, 18 N. Carroll St. 204-9001. jessicacatherine.com

New Shopping Content!

2008-12-04T16:59:00.006-06:00

We all know everyone's crazy about their dogs. Whether you've got a Lab, greyhound, poodle or anything in between, our December issue is for you. So I hit the streets for the best in dog outerwear. After all, our furry friends need to stay warm too!

Check out the Style Sheet page (above) and behold our four adorable dog models. Behind the scenes our "models" were quite un-diva-like; after all, they'd do anything for a treat!

Our photo shoot went like this:
-Each dog came in separately with their owner. The dog would be unclipped from their lease and then they ran around the studio like crazy.
-We let them burn off some energy running around, then got down to business. We got them dressed and posed them against our white background. Then each model was asked to sit, lay, stand sideways, stand sideways the other way, stand on their hind legs, et cetera. After each of them calmed down, they did great!
-The owners prodded, cajoled, and rewarded their pup with treats. Our photog snapped away and got some really great outtakes, seen on page 34 of the print magazine.

Do you see why I love this job?

Also read my column this month on Liz Perry's Nutzy Mutz and Crazy Catz store on Lakeside Street. A haven for passionate pet owners, Perry makes each customer (and their four legged pals, of course!) feel right at home.

Stylemaker Q/A: Matt Jelinek

2008-11-18T16:24:00.003-06:00

Frustrated about the lack of swimwear options in Madison? Matt Jelinek, swimwear manager at Middleton Sports & Fitness, is trying to change that. Starting this month he’s revamping the store’s swimwear department to not only carry popular swim brands Speedo and TYR, but more fashion forward looks from Gottex, Jantzen—even Dolce & Gabbana. Since they’re known for carrying “sportier” swimsuits, I asked Jelinek about the planned changes, and how they’ll market their “new” segment of fashion swimwear.

Q: When did you join Middleton Sports & Fitness? What had you been doing before and what attracted you to this job?
A: Prior to joining Middleton Sports in April of 2008 I was running my own company, which is a very part-time job that I continue to do. I also consult for a local publishing company as well as [work for] a property management company.
The opportunity was offered to me and the prospect of providing exceptional customer service and purchasing in the swim department while also facilitating new marketing and merchandising efforts with this locally owned company was very appealing. I’ve always been an advocate for small business and this was another way for me to become more involved with other local businesses.

Q: What do you do on a day-to-day basis? What are the responsibilities of your job?
A: Our customers come first—from our young customers who are on a swim team for the first time, to our in-store customers, to our customers from middletonfitness.com. Daily purchasing is also important to ensure that we have our most popular items and styles in stock and available, which includes special orders for customers. Oftentimes I travel to meet with our teams and large customers. Middleton Sports also has two traveling stores for our teams and customers as far away as Reedsburg, Milton, Johnson Creek and Iowa.

Q: You are introducing a new swimwear/cruisewear component to the swim department. Why did you decide to do this and what physical changes are you making to the store?
A: Middleton Sports has always been a leader in offering the widest variety of swimwear. With annual inventories of more than $250,000 in the springtime, we want to continue this tradition by offering an entirely new lifestyle feel to our customers. We will be changing the look in one section of our swim department to include different lighting and a more intimate feel to the store, which will include specialized training for our employees to ensure the best look and feel for customers.
The new component brings with it a potential to reach out to new customers while also providing customers with items that they would otherwise only be able to order online.

Q: What are you looking for in what you’ll carry in this new section? What brands will you carry?
A: We’re already working with some of the largest names in fashion swimwear including Gottex for women and Andrew Christian for men. We’re still working on negotiating a purchasing agreement with Dolce & Gabbana and hope to be offering their 2009 line by early spring for both men and women.

Q: What do you think the Midwestern shopper is looking for in swimwear that’s different from other parts of the country, and how is the store catering to that?
A: It’s been my experience that Midwesterners are looking for something that is stylish, but more importantly, fits their personality and something in which they will feel comfortable in any setting. Anticipation of these needs is driving us to purchase suits in all sizes for all shapes. Whether our customers are looking to accentuate a certain aspect of their figure or to draw attention away from other areas (as one of my good friends says, “If you can’t hide it, decorate it!”), we’ll offer something for everyone heading either out of town or to our local beaches and pools—including kids. In other parts of the country these suits or replicas of them are easily found and sometimes sizes are available; sometimes they’re not. But [these brands] are much easier to find. We intend to ensure the highest quality of swimwear to fit any individual’s style and comfort while making sure we have their size available. Special orders cost nothing extra to our customers unless there’s a rush. And if the suit doesn’t fit, the customer doesn’t pay.

Q: You also emphasized carrying suits that would appeal to the gay male. What are they looking for as swimwear consumers, and what brands will you carry?
A: Gay men are very particular about what they wear. They want to be fashionable trendsetters and are often early adopters to new styles in fashion. To this end, having the latest and greatest in what is being introduced to the market on the coasts and overseas is essential. We’ll offer Andrew Christian, Jocko and Dolce & Gabbana.

Q: What pieces are you most excited about carrying?
A: Gottex has a phenomenal line of swimwear for 2009 that will be very appealing to a large portion of our current customer base as well as college students. I think that this line will bring about a change in how women feel about their bodies. Particularly because this trend-setting company offers larger sizes that are extremely fashionable and accentuate the most appealing shapes in all sizes of the female form.
For men, I’m really excited about the Andrew Christian and Jocko lines. Nike is offering some new sporty looks that are sure to please our more mature client base as well. And when we get Dolce & Gabbana in, I’m sure we’re going to be quite busy.

Q: Any services or special offers you’ll be offering to the swimwear customers?
A: We’re going to start a mailing list for customers to receive coupons through email. Additionally, with the new lines, [we] will help customers get fitted properly and ensure that specific items are available to them when they are needed.
We plan to provide every customer with a very relaxed, comfortable shopping experience and are committed to helping customers to find something that they’re proud to put on their bodies—something that makes them feel proud of their body, no matter their size or shape. Vacation is about being comfortable and that’s what we aim to facilitate with what our customers wear.

Q: What is the price range of suits you’ll have?
A: For women, we’ll have separates and two-pieces starting from $39.95 up to more than $260 for separates and single-piece suits from Gottex.
For men, we’ll have suits starting at $39.95 for Nike, Speedo and Andrew Christian up to $180 for Dolce & Gabbana, when that line comes in.

Q: When will you have everything in?
A: The changes to the swim department will occur throughout the month of November. We’ve already started receiving Nike, Speedo and TYR cruise/beach lines. Andrew Christian, Jocko, Gottex, Perry Ellis, Jag, Jantzen and the others should start arriving in the first few weeks of November. Dolce & Gabbana will be arriving around February. New arrivals for all of these manufacturers will come in during October and February annually after our launch in early December 2008.

Middleton Sports & Fitness, 6649 University Ave. 836-3931. middletonfitness.com

Events

2008-11-18T16:16:00.002-06:00

3rd Annual Atwood-Winnebago Winter Festival
When: December 5, 5–9 p.m.
Where: Particpating Atwood-area businesses like Absolutely Art, bad dog frida, Bunky’s Café, Café Zoma, Milio’s, Sugar Shack Records, Tex Tubb’s Taco Palace and more.
Details: Explore over twenty businesses in the Winnebago-Atwood neighborhood. Live music, free samples and door prize drawings will also be available!
More information: winnatwood.org

Holiday Jewelry Preview–Recession Beater Prices
When: November 15–26
Where: Fanny Garver Gallery, 230 State St.
Details: Handmade gold and silver jewelry, freshwater pearls and more will be in-store. With prices between $25–$250, prices are just right.
More information: 256-6755. fannygarvergallery.com

Indocara 3rd Anniversary Party
When: November 20–23
Where: Indocara, 540 W. Washington Ave.
Details: Have you been to Indocara? If you still haven’t gone, here’s your chance to check out this modern global furnishings wonderland. New items have just arrived! Celebration events throughout the day on November 20 include Cha Cha tea and cookies from 2–4 p.m., and a cheese and wine reception from 4–8 p.m.
More information: 251-7711. indocara.com

Premiere Couture Prom Sneak Peek Party
When: November 23
Where: Premiere Couture, 1921 Monroe St.
Details: For those attending Prom here’s a chance to check out the hot styles for 2009. Rate each design as “hot” or “not.” Snacks and prizes will be there, and one lucky girl will win a free prom dress. If Mom attends, she’ll receive a free gift, too. Pre-register for the 1 p.m., 3 p.m. or 5 p.m. time slot.
More information: email info@premierecouture.com to pre-register. 255-1921. href="http://www.Premierecouture.blogspot.com" target="new">premierecouture.blogspot.com

Ebony Fashion Fair
When: December 7, 8–10:30 p.m.
Where: Monona Terrace Convention Center, 1 John Nolen Dr.
Details: A fashion show you don’t want to miss: I attended last year and was totally wowed. This New York-style fashion show showcases the hottest designers in fashion today, like Roberto Cavalli, Anna Sui, Missoni, Vivienne Westwood and more. Proceeds from the event benefit The Madison Links Annual Student Recognition and Scholarship Program.
More information: Madison Links: 277-8548. ebonyfashionfair.com

What I Look for in Great Stores

2008-11-14T10:46:00.004-06:00

Recently one of my friends asked me: “What do you do if you don’t like a store? Do you write a bad review?”

My answer to that: No, I don’t write a bad review (technically, I don’t do “reviews” at all…rather, columns, but that’s beside the point). Madison is a small city, and I’m not interested in putting down any stores that aren’t, well, top-notch. If anything, these stores just need some prodding in the right direction. Or, if they’re really terrible, customers won’t want to go in for some reason or another and the storeowner will eventually “get it.” What I won’t do: endorse a store that I’m not fully OK with sending magazine and blog readers to. If I strongly dislike a store or feel that their customer service isn’t excellent, I won’t write about it.

The good news: I’ve rarely encountered any stores and storeowners that I haven’t liked and that I haven’t felt were worth writing about. Although some people might lament that Madison is small, there are upsides to being small: forging a personal connection with your favorite storeowner and getting first pick on cool items are two shopping advantages. I once had a storeowner tell me that the reason their online store did so well was because online customers from the coasts discovered that the Midwestern stores were the ones to hit up because all of the really popular stores in the big cities sold out the popular denim brands so quickly—whereas stores like Detour in Milwaukee and Context in Madison, for example, had A.P.C. or Nudie Jeans in stock.
On to the topic at hand: stores I love. (Disclaimer: this list is not all-inclusive.)

Monroe Street Shoe Repair and Cecil’s Shoe Repair
As every fashionista knows, your favorite shoes and handbags don’t last forever. At least they won’t without a little—sprucing up—yes? That’s where these folks come in. I have frequented both of these places and they’ve always done a top-notch job. Handbag strap need to be reattached? Stiletto heel tip need to be replaced? These places deliver with fast, inexpensive results. Recently I bought an adorable pair of shoes but a snap on the strap was missing. Enter Cecil’s. I bought the tiny snap from next-door Jo-Ann Fabrics and brought it over to Cecil’s. He squinted at my shoe, scurried away and came back five minutes later with a fresh snap in place, my shoe ready to wear. When I offered to pay him, he waved his hand and said, “Just come back in another time. Don’t worry about it.”
Old-school customer service? You can’t go wrong with that!
Monroe Street Shoe Repair, 2612 Monroe St. 238-3171.
Cecil's, 6717 Odana Rd. 833-5010.

Fair Indigo
Fair Indigo’s execs founded the company with the belief that fair trade clothing can be made affordably and the people that make it can be paid a living wage. In other words, no sweatshops allowed. Although the company started out as a mail-order catalog, their only storefront is here in Madison—cool. If you’ve ever bought something from the store, not only is the staff in-store friendly, but the company follows up with you via email by asking how your store experience was. Plus you can look up in-store or on the website stories about the people who made each item—like their cashmere sweaters or a silver bracelet. It personalizes the shopping experience even more.
Products range from baby clothing and toys to clothing for mom and dad—plus accessories and bath and body items. Many are organic. All are fair trade.
Fair Indigo, 570 N. Midvale Blvd., 661-7662. fairindigo.com

Movin’ Shoes
I am not a triathlete. I do, however, fancy myself as somewhat of a runner—you know, the kind of runner that dabbles in a few miles per week, but nothing major. Nothing Ironman-worthy, certainly. The employees at Movin’ Shoes don’t care about that. They care about getting you fitted for the right shoe. I went there on a warm August day seeking new kicks. You see, my first shoe-buying experience there a few years ago was positive, so I went there once again.
Instantly, a friendly employee approached me and asked what I was looking for. She asked me to walk without shoes on to figure out if I walk inward or outward. Then she brought out quite a few pairs of shoes for me to try on that worked for my walking style. Our search yielded the perfect shoe and I purchased them. I even had a coupon for the place—and the employee (and the owner)—gave it back to me after applying the discount, saying I should come in again. And I was welcome to use the coupon again, too. I sure will!
Movin' Shoes, 528 S. Park St. 251-0125.

Patricia Shoppe
It’s obvious that Patricia Shoppe carries cute things. Their retro-chic décor and overall polished, classy pieces emanate good taste (at good prices!). What I like most, though, about owner Jessica Meyer is that she’s not just a savvy storeowner but a nice person. When I needed to borrow a steamer for a photo shoot, she lent it to me, no questions asked. We needed somewhere to shoot our November Style Sheet page and I thought of her store. Of course we could stage the shoot there, she said. When I needed to borrow some items (mannequins, among them) for a TV segment a few weeks later, Meyer dropped them off here at our building for our use.
Patricia Shoppe, 137 W. Johnson St. 256-1111. patriciashoppe.com

I probably have a nice story or anecdote to share about each interview I’ve had with local storeowners; far too many to share here!
If you’ve noticed a common theme amongst these stores, it’s that they all offer quality goods—with that crucial puzzle piece, friendly and knowledegable customer service. Many of them go above and beyond the call of duty to help their customers find exactly what they’re looking for—whether it’s running shoes, a recycled fleece coat or repairing a zipper.

News

2008-11-14T10:42:00.003-06:00

Have you heard of Oompa? If you haven’t—you will soon. The child-friendly store opened in Middleton November 1, and it is, simply put, awesome.
Owner Milanie Cleere’s motto: “No batteries. No blinking lights. No cartoon-themed toys. Period.”
The store specializes in European children’s toys and room decor. Check out adorable all-natural wool stuffed animals, beautiful artwork, wooden toys and room décor, all for an uber-fashionable Junior. Heck, I don’t even have a child and I coveted many of the items because they were so beautiful.
Cleere founded Oompa.com in 2004 and she’d been running the business in L.A. After visiting a vendor in the Madison area a few years ago, Cleere and her husband fell in love with the area and moved here a year ago to open Oompa’s first storefront.
More on Oompa soon…
Oompa, 1970 Cayuga St., Middleton. oompa.com