Bravo, Brian Hill; Phoenix Fashion Week 2011 was spectacular this year, making Talking Stick Resort the place to be this past weekend. And Saturday night rounded out the weekend with fabulous head-turning fashion and show-stopping pieces from both local and nationally-acclaimed designers. Even the new face of Prada’s fall 2011 campaign was present, Kelly Mittendorf, who, just one year ago, walked the Phoenix Fashion Week runway.
Saturday night’s runway show spotlighted established designers, including Stop Staring! Clothing, Joy Li, Mariska, Michelle Jonas and Blaque Label. Stop Staring! was a personal favorite of mine. This line is made for women who want to embrace and show off their curves with these 1940’s- and ’50s-inspired vintage dresses. What caught my eye were the stockings, embellished with playful prints and designs.
Joy Li‘s line is inspired by her mantra, “Less is More,” as she revealed in the brief video interview, which aired prior to her runway reveal. Her designs had a modern, edgy vibe, with combat boots paired with silk, lace and furs — fashion that “projects inner strength, beauty and confidence.”
The high-end, contemporary women’s line Mariska, from downtown Los Angeles, really took us back in time with psychedelic prints, as models stomped down the runway to the Cher hit blasting from the speakers.
Michelle Jonas Travelwear was next in line with a premium resort wear line, catering to travelers who want to be comfortable and sexy, emphasizing their silhouettes. And lastly was Blaque Label, which won the Outstanding Brand Award 2011, due to its unique vision, trendy, high-fashion designs, as well as its ability to exhibit constant improvement and consistency. Blaque Label was an audience favorite — and rightfully so considering the collection is worn by celebs, including Kim Kardashian, Rihanna, Kourtney Kardashian and Demi Lovato, to name a few.
And let’s not forget about the emerging designers, including Arizona-based HourGlass Apparel, which, you guessed it, is a clothing line of hourglass apparel; Joli Richard, from Texas, a modern take on old Hollywood glam; Ohio’s Jones Select, a contemporary line for men; and Sylvia Bours from Mexico, for those women looking for something unique.
Thanks for an incredible weekend of fashion, wine and networking, Phoenix Fashion Week team!
Take a look at some of the designs from Phoenix Fashion Week 2011’s Saturday night runway show:
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