Christopher Straub Spring 2012 show

I had the pleasure of attending the debut of Christopher Straub’s spring 2012 line at the Westin Edina Galleria yesterday. I got a sneak peek of some of his pieces at the 96.3 NOW show last month so was eager to see the full collection.

Proceeds from the night benefitted the Child Neurology Foundation and the sweetest part of the show was when Straub took the stage with Maya – a girl who is dealing with neurological issues and who he dedicated the show to (she’s wearing a Straub original, btw).  She was so cute and pretty much stole the show.

Straub described his collection as a day in a life spent under the sea. You definitely got the sea urchin feel with some of his looks. Especially this one (styled with Black Swan makeup?):

I’m not sure how one would sit down in this number. Clearly this was one of his more avante garde pieces, but this patteren was also used in a few more everyday looks as well. If Ursula were an everyday woman, I would think she’d wear something like this:

I wasn’t particularily fond of the colored patterns used in this collection — the color combos just weren’t speaking to me. I was more drawn to the solid white looks. This was Straub’s final piece on the runway which I thought was really well constructed, super chic and incorporated a just a pop of his aquatic theme (in the back) to make this very wearable. This would look awesome with some bomb-ass accessories:

A few more shots:

I must’ve really been feeling the sea life vibe because I ended up topping the night off at Fuji Ya with some delish sushi. Yum!

Be sure to check out Metromix.com for more photos.

People still read the paper

…As evidenced by how many people noticed my mug in the Star Tribune last week.

Photo by Ellen Dahl Lawson. Also, check out her street style blog The Minneapoline.

And yes, I’ve made a mental note never to drive somewhere while wearing linen again. Oh, well. Real women wear wrinkles.

Networking tips for the college student

This past weekend I spoke at the Minnesota PRSA Leadership Retreat held at Padilla Speer Beardsley. About 30 go-getting public relations students gave up their Saturday (that’s impressive right there) to hear tips and tricks about getting starting in the industry.

I was asked to focus on networking and how it can lead to internship/job opportunities along with connections that will benefit their respective PRSSA chapters.

For those who asked, here a couple points I talked about:

Network to meet people — not to find a job. You’re not going to walk out of a networking event with a new gig. I mean, typically speaking. It takes time and effort to build genuine relationships with people that will be mutually beneficial down the line. Just like real life, right? Be prepared to make time for meeting with people even if they won’t be able to help you immediately.

Know what makes you different. There are a ton of graduating PR students with similar interests. That’s fine and all until you need to stand out. Figure out your differentiating qualities before you head out to a big networking event. It doesn’t have to be PR-related. It could be you’re working to be a yoga instructor. Or you’re a karaoke champion. Or you’re passionate about volunteering. Find something that makes you memorable.

Blog! Showcase what you know and prove you can structure a sentence. Your name will be Googled if you’re out and about meeting people. Having a blog is a great reference point for people to get a sense of who you are.

One business card is sometimes better than 20. Don’t worry about meeting every person at an event. If you walk away with one solid contact, I’d say you did your job.

Focus on how you can help others. We all have a network and we all know people who could potentially help out someone else. If you keep that in mind, you’ll be setting yourself up for some positive networking karma.

Follow up and engage. Email, tweet, write a note or send a LinkedIn request to those you connected with. The more personalized the better. And don’t disappear. If you enjoyed talking to someone make sure you set up another time to meet or interact on other platforms.

So those are just a few nuggets of advice.

A lot of the students there reached out and connected with me right away which tells me that (I think) they were paying attention. And for that, I’m flattered! Being around students who are so enthusiastic and excited to learn is really contagious. Thanks for having me, PRSA!

So what is your top networking piece of advice you’d give to college kids?

Summer 2011 recap: Part 2

My cruise down Memory Lane over the last few months continues…

Andrea was kind enough to extend a last-minute invite to the Starkey Gala sponsor party and was a good sport about putting up with me being star-struck by all the celebs in attendance. Spotted: Miley Cyrus, Jordin Sparks, Kyle Massey, Michael Irvin and – let’s not forget – Kevin Costner and his band. Yes, apparently Kevin Costner has a band.

Best party of the year? By far! Metromix helped promote this year’s Glamorama which benefited Children’s Cancer Research Fund. Bruno Mars performed, high fashion graced the Orpheum and the after party was like nothing I had ever been to before. This is a pic of the Metromix crew. View more photos here and here.

Metromix was a sponsor of the first SoundTown Music Festival in Somerset in August. I went out the second day where I enjoyed some sun, Summit and this clogging percussionist from Pert’ Near Sandstone.

Ahh, the State Fair. I spent a handful of days working at the KARE 11 Barn. I enjoyed some deep fried cookie dough, but my biggest takeaway was meeting the Soup Nazi. I ordered the jambalaya in case you’re wondering.

Happy Labor Day weekend! Bring on fall…

Summer 2011 recap: Part 1

I’m a Minnesota gal which means I know how to appreciate a good three months of summer. And this summer was particularly action packed with work, weekend getaways and an inability to turn down patio happy hour invites.

Since I’ve been painfully absent from this blog, I thought I’d do a quick photo recap of what I’ve been up to the past few months.

Broken into two parts because I wasn’t joking about the being busy thing…

Photo by Nic Abrego Photography

Summer started out in May with the Lady Gaga CD release party we started planning for Metromix back in February.  There was music, Gaga-themed drinks, crazy costumes and drag queens. Success!

Photo by Christian Betancourt

I had my first Rock the Garden experience in June. The rain turned the outdoor concert into Poncho-fest 2011. Christian snapped this shot of me in the photo pit. The guy behind me is not amused.

June also had me jet-setting to Chicago for a little college girlfriends reunion and a birthday celebration for Miss Brienne. Since she is a Twitter goddess down there, we were treated to a coveted table and free dessert at Sunda. A bottle of Dom Pérignon also made an appearance as well as a trip to recover a lost iPhone.

The gods of summer were looking out for us over 4^th of July weekend as we rented a “cabin” up on Cross Lake. Seriously perfect weather. Nothing beats a day out on the lake, a pontoon full of friends and dancing at Moonlite Bay while breathing in the fumes of the janky fog machine. Magical.

Stay tuned for part two of my summer shenanigans…

U of M Apparel Design Class Gears Up For Distortion Show

I had a really fun opportunity to visit the University of Minnesota Senior Apparel Design class Tuesday morning as they presented their first round sketches and test garments for their final showcase, Distortion, happening February 19, 2011.

Shows are great because you get to see a designer’s final, cohesive collection that’s styled and sent down a runway on a gorgeous model. But it’s not often you get to see the process of putting a line together from start to finish. My only exposure to that has been through watching Project Runway, so this was a cool experience to see students testing out patterns and tailoring techniques for the first time and observing their collections in the very beginning stages.

The class has 18 students, and I watched 9 of them present their ideas to the class and a few guest critics. Going into it, I wasn’t sure what to expect as far as what I would see. But I was pleasantly surprised when each student presented a collection with a very different focus. I saw men’s wear, lingerie, outerwear, gowns and more.

A couple of looks that stood out to me were a green polka dot jacket, red flowy skirt, and tie-shouldered tank from Hilary Hubanks. Or a red pencil dress with an unexpected attached voluminous skirt from Autumn Kirchman (Excited to see more from her. With a collection titled Blood, Glitter, and Gin, how could you not?).

I was able to snap a couple shots from the morning:

Jessica St. George was the first to present her line. She went for a young professional feel for the stylish career girl. I was drawn to her gray, pleated blouse on the right. Looking forward to see how she finishes it.

This was one of my favorite looks of the day by Carol Lee. What you don’t see is that the gray piece comes off and you get a really cute strapless dress. She told me she’s still playing with different colors of fur, but I can already see this as something I’d want to wear.

More sketch ideas from Carol Lee. Fun!

Heather King’s line is all about nudes, pinks, sheers, and the human form. This gown was one of the more memorable pieces from the day for me. I love how ambitious she’s getting with the draping of the dress.

More sketches from Heather King. And yes, she is braving lingerie. Very unexpected, yet very impressive.

I’m looking forward to following how everyone’s collections evolve leading up to the Distortion show in February. Many were still deciding on colors and fabric choices. It should be fun to look back and see how much they change.

It was cool to see these guys get ambitious with their designs — something I didn’t totally expect to see going into it. But that’s what a senior showcase is about, right? Going big and taking risks.

Twin Cities Marathon: A View From The Curb

In a workout rut? Or simply in need of some self-motivation? I suggest you attend and watch a marathon. Talk about inspiring.

On Sunday I went down to the 29^th Twin Cities Marathon to cheer on and support friends running in the race. Somehow, this was my first time attending this beloved Minnesota event. I stood at the 6-mile mark by Lake Calhoun and Lake Harriet with some family members on what was a gorgeous morning in Minneapolis.

I have to say that I was unprepared for how emotionally inspiring watching a marathon would be. First off, the fact that people actually volunteer to run 26.2 miles is beyond me and made me think how much encouragement from spectators must mean to them. Even though I was toward the beginning of the race, I could tell how much a simple sign, high five, or cheer meant to those running by.

What was even more touching was when a runner would spot someone they knew on the sidelines. Both parties would light up in a way that showed so much gratitude and support that you couldn’t help but get excited for them.

While watching on the side of the street, huge groups of runners would fly by as I would frantically scan faces to see if any of them were people I was there to support. I can’t explain how exciting it was to spot and flag down Julie, my first time marathoner friend, and a family friend who has run each and every Twin Cities Marathon to date. Very cool feeling. I wonder how they felt?

Another thing I loved watching was the extreme array of people running the race. Sure, there were definitely the typical runner types with the lean bodies decked head to toe in Under Armor moving at a brisk pace. But I was so pleasantly surprised to see a ton people running that didn’t fit that stereotype. I saw high schoolers, a man in the “80 plus” group, a girl in a tutu, a woman wearing a cherry and spoon costume, and people running for someone they recently lost, people who were clearly struggling but still pushing through. Those were the ones that were the most inspiring to watch.

I do not see any marathons in my near future. But I was still glad I went down to watch because marathons are one of those things that blatantly show how hard work pays off. Also, I’m a little less terrified to start my four-week personal training program next week (ugh).

Joynoelle Goes Dr. Seuss

When I think of Dr. Seuss, things like Whoville, the Cat in the Hat, and green eggs and ham typically come to mind. Not tulle, charmeuse, and taffeta. But that was the inspiration for Minneapolis designer Joy Teiken and her Joynoelle Spring 2011 line.

I was lucky enough to attend one of her two sold out shows held last night at a very trendy loft space in International Market Square. As my second MNfashion Week event, this show was wildly different from last weekend’s Envision. The attendee list capped at 75, which made for a very intimate setting and allowed for a close look at the clothes.

Before the show started, everyone received a complimentary Joytini (cute), appetizers from CRAVE (my friend Mici and I were loving the chicken skewer thingers), and a swag bag stuffed with goodies (hello Fashion Tape and SKYY Raspberry Vodka).

With a children’s book theme like Dr. Seuss, I was eager to see how this would translate into the collection. The loft was decorated with Seuss props and signage setting the stage for a character-like show.

As the show was underway, you could definitely see the Seuss connection through the colors, structuring, and detailing of the pieces. The top hats on some of the models certainly helped with that. Yet, the pieces didn’t venture too far into a weird or cooky territory as you often find in Seuss illustrations. The collection was whimsical and wearable at the same time.

Here are a few shots I took of the show:

This look was part of the “Put Me in the Zoo” group. I’m digging the pleather knickers.

This was the first look to get cheers and applause from the audience. And rightfully so. This dress is adorable. And I liked it even more after I read the print out everyone received describing each look. This pattern was actually inspired by Seuss’ shading technique used on the Cat in the Hat. I thought that was so clever.

Another shading technique patterned jacket.

These polka dot tulle pants were part of the “Scrambled Egg Supper” group.

This might be my favorite look of the night. The colors, the detailing at the bottom, the rose sash – even that bad ass hat. Sign me up.

I believe this number was called “The Cindy Lou Who wedding dress.” Cute, cute, cute.

I would love an excuse to wear this dress. The white fringe detailing was awesome. Very fun.

And there’s Joy Teiken herself.

I’m so glad I braved the monsoon-like weather last night and made it to this show. I loved the smaller setting and thought Joynoelle presented a really beautiful collection.

What did you think of the looks? The Dr. Seuss theme? Tell me!

Envision: Artopia Recap

Last Friday I ventured down to the Graves hotel for MNfashion Week‘s kick off event, Envision: Artopia. The night consisted of runway shows from local designers and boutiques, a crazy hair design demo, a pop rock violinist, and people watching of the glamorous kind.

I attempted to snap some shots of looks I liked (there were many) but due to where we were standing only a few turned out. Also, the fact that I am, in no sense of the word, a photographer might have had something to do with it.

This is a cute sheer top from local designer, Amanda Christine. I’m a huge fan of her pieces, especially her dresses, because they’re usually super flattering. I wish I had a good picture to show but thankfully there were some real photographers in the crowd. Check out Chris McDuffie‘s photos for better Amanda Christine shots.

One of the big draws for this year’s Envision show was the appearance and showcase of local designer celeb/Project Runway Season 6 contestant, Christopher Straub. Pictured above are three of his designs from his Spring 2011 collection. I really enjoyed the green, three-tiered ruffle dress on the left.

The show had some very entertaining transitions thanks to pop-rock violinist, Dani-Vi. Seriously. He made violins very sexy. Read up on and check out one of his performances here.

Aside from oogling over clothes, I was also pumped to meet two local bloggers I have been mildly obsessed with for a while: Ellen of The Minneapoline and Mary of Art of Wore. That’s always fun.

Were you at Envision this year? What did you think?

Gearing Up For MNfashion Week At Cliché

This is my favorite time of year. The air is starting to get crisp, football has begun, Caribou is offering pumpkin flavored lattes, and –the best part—stores are finally selling fall clothes!

Yes, one of the only things that can get me excited to take on a Minnesota winter is the new boot selection at Nordstrom. Bring it on, sub-zero temps. I can handle you now that I’ve got a killer pair of over-the-knees.

And while I’m envious of all the Fashion Week reports currently coming in from the Big Apple, I’m lucky because the Minnie Apple is gearing up for a its own version with its annual MNfashion Week running from September 20 – 26.

If you didn’t already know, the Twin Cities is, in my biased opinion, an under-rated hub for solid designers, boutiques, and talent which MNfashion aims to showcase and foster. There will be events taking place all next week including the Raul Osorio and Joynoelle shows next Thursday. (Both on the same night? Don’t make me choose!).

But almost as important as figuring out what shows to go attend is deciding what to wear to them. Good thing for Twin Cities shopping enthusiasts, our area is home to a number of great boutiques that sell clothing by local and national designers, many of which will be making an appearance in MNfashion Week.

One of my favorite shops in town has to be Cliché. Located in Uptown on Lyndale Ave, the store offers a mix of dressy and street wear at realistic prices. I made a visit this past weekend to scope out the current selection and see if I could find something for next week.

Andrea, the very nice sales clerk and jewelry designer herself, helped me sift through some really awesome pieces. It took me about two seconds to become obsessed with these dresses, both priced under $80:

This dress is so fun. Love the electric yellow mixed with the girly bow and tulle. (Ahem: If you’re planning on going to Envision, you just might see this go down the runway…)

This satin cocktail dress is uber sexy. The hem hits well above the knee, but would be great paired with some black tights. And how cool is that beaded snake?

Of course, you’ll also find plenty of accessory options at Cliché. I’m still thinking about these pistol earrings that I might have to go back for:

Like what you see? Cliché will be hosting its own in-store event next week called Crosswalk Fashion Show where they’ll showcase pieces from local designers and offer discounts on certain items. Find more details here.

I’m still looking for more options for next week. A daunting task, I know. Are you planning on going to any MNfashion Week events? Let me know!