What to Wear This Summer

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

What Do I Do All Day?

What does it mean to be a Best of Madison winner? To me, it means that your shoppers have rated your customer service, merchandise selection and overall store look and concept as top-notch. As we know, local retailers don’t have as many resources (i.e. money, staff) as big-box retailers like Target, or department stores like Macy’s, to launch huge, fancy marketing campaigns, weather a downturn in the economy or quickly replace employees that quit or are fired. I have heard various stories from local retailers on the struggles and rewards of being a boutique owner.

In a smaller city like Madison, local retailers have to differentiate themselves from other local shops and offer something different. Shops that offer (for example) unusual clothing lines, kitchen products, furniture or handmade jewelry are going to be the ones that will do better than those who deal in the same-old, same-old. Gold winner for men’s clothing Jazzman does just that: offers lines that can’t be found anywhere else, with staffers that are friendly and approachable. Gents can find everything from casual wear to dapper suits to fit every occasion. Prices are affordable as well. Silver winner Woldenberg’s and bronze winner Context each offers its own merits of why customers of all ages like these shops, too.

Or take J. LaMore, gold winner in the women’s clothing category. Jennifer LaMore’s savvy eye for what women like surely resonated with voters. Cute shoes, jewelry, cocktail dresses and premium denim round out her shop’s selection. Of course silver winner Woldenberg’s and bronze winner Terese Zache Designs deserve props too for their genuine employees, well-crafted clothing and attractive interiors.

What about stores that didn’t win (but deserve to)? Simply put, it’s a reader’s poll and editorially, we don’t have control over what our readers say, we just report the findings. I received an email from a reader the other day lamenting Madison Magazine readers’ choice of Macy’s for the gold winner in men’s and women’s clothing (chain). He thought that Macy’s “single handedly wiped the regional department store off the face of the earth,” pointing out that Marshall Field’s was a much better department store in its day. In fact, there’s a group (fieldsfanschicago.com) that is pining to bring Field’s back! He and I had a spirited exchange about how the reader’s poll operates and how I choose the shops I highlight in the magazine.

So, how do I choose the shops I highlight? A couple of different criteria go into my choices. One, is the shop new? Is it a local retailer? Those are the two first things I look at. If the store isn’t new, why is it worthy of being covered (I only get to write twelve columns a year!)? What is the owner’s background, and are they offering something unique to the market? Is the merchandise selection quality and reflective of what the Madison market will buy? Finally, is the store interior attractive and inviting? (I have been in stores where this is NOT the case; I have chosen not to write about those places).

So, that’s what your trusty style editor does in her day-to-day doings. Now you know! And more importantly you know that Madison Magazine has high standards for every topic we cover, whether it’s retail or restaurants.

And so do our readers.

Jazzman, 340 State St. 256-2062.
Woldenberg's, 702 N. Midvale Blvd. 233-4300. woldenbergs.com
Context, 113 King St. 250-0113. contextclothing.com
J LaMore, 2701 Monroe St. 238-2119. jlamore.com
Terese Zache Designs, 702 N. Midvale Blvd. 310-4100. teresezache.com