Hey lovelies!!! It's me M. Renee' with what's coming up on the Closet. Now that another season of Kansas City Fashion Week has gone down in the history books, I'm going to keep things rolling with some of the latest looks for Spring/Summer 2015 that walked the runway along with where you can go to find them. All and more right here on M. Renee's Closet. Stay fabulous!!!
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So once again I was attending yet another finale showcase at KCFW. The last runway shows are always the saddest, because that means all the splendor and fun is about to come to an end. However Saturday night proved to live up to the mantra "We've saved the best for last." Yesterday I told you that there were many KCFW designers that I enjoy seeing their looks walk down the runway. However there are two that I would have to say are my most favorite, and Architexture by John & Christina Moncke are one of them. Now some might say that I am being completely biased due to the fact that Christina was one of my former instructors at The Art Institutes International Kansas City, but that would be further from correct. Using a chic minimalistic approach to their aesthetic, both John and Christina are masters at conveying the influences of modern technology and the characteristics of today's modern woman into every piece that they make. In fact their design concept and ability to translate their influences into said concept is so fluent, it almost borders the line of contemporary art put to fabric. It is truly inspired. Ok, so I am going to back track just a little bit on my statement on there being a top two favorite designer at KCFW. There are actually three, and Kate Walz comes second on my top three list. Being one of the youngest designer to present at KCFW, Kate brings about a whimsical imagination and raw talent when it comes to her clothing line. Her professionalism and strict attention to detail shows in her body of work that it is almost hard to imagine that she is not yet out of high school! What I really loved about this latest collection from Tomboy by Laura McGrew is how she really used cold weather layering and fabrics to create pieces which are wearable worn in the office or a night out on the town. Keeping with the reoccurring theme of modern vintage, Kansas City, MO based menswear designer Christian Michael took us back to the late 18th Century where greatcoats were all the norm for gentlemen during that era. Only here Christian Michael brought this popular menswear staple of the time into 2015 with a more updated and edgy approach. "I'm sexy and I know it!" was the takeaway theme in the latest runway looks from House of Cochon. Never be afraid to embrace those curves ladies!!! For me, when I think of evening wear the terms "sophisticated elegance" automatically comes to mind. This line by Whitney Rorah has all of that and more with the use of textured detailing applied to flowing silhouettes. I almost feel as if a drum roll sound clip needs to be attached to this section, because now we are at my numero uno favorite designer at KCFW, and that is Project Runway alumna Laura Kathleen. She is also a designer who is very big on structured apparel, only with a softer fit. For her Fall/Winter 2015 collection, she presents us with transitional wear that helps allow for easy transition from warm weather to cold weather attire. For those of you who are unfamiliar with transitional wear, these would be outfits that can easily be layered to accommodate seasonal weather change. Once again another Kansas City Fashion Week has gone down in the history books, and once again I left Union Station with three days of wonderful experiences to reflect upon. Aside from the outstanding talent presented on the runway, what really stood out for me was the major sense of community that I felt among my fellow fashion cohorts. A sense of support for art and freedom of expression in this town, and the shared hope that soon Kansas City will be among other major fashion cities in the country to take the industry by storm. As I mentioned before, KCFW is not just a series of fashion shows, and it's not just about clothes. It's about giving artists, writers, entrepreneurs, and dreamers a stage to shine. For now and the future. Until next time my lovelies, stay fabulous!!! Photos taken by Mekaile Renee' Turner
Permissions by - Kansas City Fashion Week, LLC © 2015 M. Renee's Closet © 2015 When I say that every season of KCFW is like Christmas morning for me, I meant it! I came fully ready to have my mind blown away by yet another display of stunning runway looks. Needless to say, my wish was granted. Where the previous night, I saw a cool array of smooth neutrals, and soft lines, Friday night's showcase brought on edge factor in full force. I got to tell ya, this girl loved every minute of it! When someone asks me "Who would be your favorite designer out of KCFW?", I would always respond with "That is a difficult question to answer." For me there is a long list of personal faves, and Andrea Marie Long is definitely one who makes my list. Her latest collection for Fall/Winter 2015 is reminiscent of modern Ancient Egyptian attire worn by the great kings and queens that ruled centuries ago. That twirl was amazing!!! As a woman who adores anything vintage, I can never get enough of outfits and accessories that draws inspiration from 1940's Old Hollywood. This is exactly what I found in the latest Lucia Sarto by Nataliya Meyer line. It has been a few season since I have seen a bridal line walk down the KCFW runway, and this particular collection by Sara Kahrs is every bit of feminine and elegant. A masquerade ball with a dark twist that evokes mystery and romance is what came to mind when I saw this collection of dresses by Lauren Bander. I have always believed that you can get a real sense of a designer's personality by the clothing that the produce. My opinion on Jane of All is that she might be a really fun person to hang around. If you don't believe me, just take a look at the following outfits. The late sixties and early seventies were definitely present in Maria Behen's ready-to-wear collection for Fall/Winter 2015. This is my kind of vintage chic! Project Runway is one of my favorite shows involving fashion designing,and Michael Drummond is one of my favorite alumni contestants from the show. He has a "Bad Ass" approach to his aesthetic that strangely enough, anyone can pull off. Once the second runway show was over, my feelings of fashion euphoria was abruptly interrupted by the notion that this season of KCFW was soon to draw to a close. For me it's one of those things that one wished could go on forever. Yet a bummed as I was, there was comfort that there was one more show left before the season closed. I was especially excited since two of my top favorite designers would be presenting in the finale show. Who are they you ask? Well you're just going to have check it out in my next post coming up!!! Photos taken by Mekaile Renee' Turner
Permissions by - Kansas City Fashion Week, LLC © 2015 M. Renee's Closet © 2015 As I was editing my photos last night, a thought ran across my mind. "Do you ever fear that readers will get tired of your KCFW posts?" I quickly dismissed that thought as an invalid one. The main goal of KCFW remains the same, which is giving local fashion designers and businesses a platform to make themselves known in the community and beyond. However it also offers something new and exciting to each season from special events, charity sponsorships as well as special guests. Not to mention a beautiful showcase of the most imaginative styles one will ever see. This now being my third season covering KCFW, I was thrilled to learn that the proceeds from ticket sales would go towards benefiting Children's Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, Missouri (More about Children's Mercy in an upcoming post). Thursdays event was also in honor of Kansas City Mayor Sly James. This would have been the second time I got a chance to meet a Kansas City Mayor. Mayor James, elected in office in 2011, has made great strides in helping the local community. This includes advocating processes at City Hall for small business applications, advocacy of local childhood literacy programs, as well as promotion efforts to make Kansas City the first region in the nation to receive Google Fiber. Retrieved from http://www.kcmayor.org/about-sly-james-2# The first show was all about neutrals, however they were anything but boring. The first line to walk the runway came from Paolini Garment Company in the Country Club Plaza. Known for their finely tailored menswear, Paolini's Fall/Winter collection focused on transitional 9-5 sportswear for men. Perfect for both the office as well as a casual night out on the town. Dolyn Bags is one of the newest editions to the KCFW lineup this season. Created by designer Ami Beck, a recent Apparel Studies grad from Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri, Dolyn Bags is a mixture of simplistic design detail with high luxury quality in mind. I had the pleasure of viewing the incredibly adorable collection last season. This season did not disappoint as Marlee Ju continues to incite "Awws" with whimsical designs for children. Up until now Omaha, Nebraska boasted Kate Waltz as one of the youngest presenters at KCFW. This season saw a newcomer in the form of fifteen year old Molly Elizabeth of Molly Elizabeth Designs. In her first showing at KCFW, you will see sixties inspiration in a modern twist. Another newcomer to KCFW in children's wear comes from designer Jessica Lynn who also embraces neutrals and tribal influences in her latest collection. It seems as though that local designers aren't the only ones wanting a piece of the KCFW action. Professional athletes have also come center stage to show off their designing chops. Last season Dwayne Bowe of the Kansas City Chiefs wowed the crowed with his adorable casual dress line for little boys. This season another player from the team, Sanders Commings and his partner presented their line called Young Hearted Socks, a line of socks inspired by cartoons and video games from the 1990's. Something I can totally relate to! This evening was surely an exciting one, but then again it is always exciting to attend KCFW. I was really impressed with the turnout to view the latest looks on the runway, but also for the outpouring of support for all that Children's Mercy Hospital does to give children with all types of illnesses a chance at living full and healthy lives. Thursday night was only the beginning of all the fun so stay tuned for more!!! Photos taken by Mekaile Renee' Turner
Permissions by - Kansas City Fashion Week, LLC © 2015 M. Renee's Closet © 2015 Kansas City Fashion Week is only a few hours away from beginning, and M. Renee's Closet is ready to bring it to you. Join me on Instagram and Twitter for exclusive photos live from Union Station in Kansas City, Missouri. Plus watch out for more in depth coverage here on the blog. Stay tuned!!!
If you had of told me a few years back that I would be writing a fashion blog, you probably would have been met with laugh and an eye roll. All of the fashion blogs, books, and websites are written by people with more years and expertise under their belt than I had. I spent so much time trying to figure out what my niche was and trying to be the next Rachel Zoe or the next Stacy London. After a series of failures and driving myself close to the brink of insanity, I began to realize that I was wasting my time reverting back to my old high school ways. Trying to fit in and becoming the next whatever. It wasn't until I attended my very first Fashion Week at Kansas City Fashion Week where I felt inspired to give fashion blogging another try, only this time I was going to be true to myself. I wanted to present fashion from my point of view based off of my experiences and to show the world what Kansas City is really all about. Today to we will take a look back at seven of my favorite stories from the past year. #7 |
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