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By demonizing pleasure, we set ourselves up for unfulfilling sex lives.
Opinion: Let’s talk about sex
Published March 27, 2024

“Ready or Hot” fashion show sizzles at Aria

Fashion meets passion at Planned Parenthood’s “Ready or Hot” fundraiser.
A Mardi Gras-inspired, multi-fringed chest piece by Anna Chambers-Goldbergs line ACG Designs. This will be one of the garments featured in Ready or Hot tomorrow at Aria.
Image by Photo courtesy of Kimberly Jurek
A Mardi Gras-inspired, multi-fringed chest piece by Anna Chambers-Goldberg’s line “ACG Designs.” This will be one of the garments featured in “Ready or Hot” tomorrow at Aria.

With statement jewelry, bold prints and lots of condoms, Planned Parenthood’s second-annual “Ready or Hot” fashion show on Wednesday will heat up the runway with Valentine’s Day wear.

While raising money for Planned Parenthood, local talent and designers are teaming up to create hot styles — including six garments made of condoms — and share a safe-sex message.

Creating the pieces was an exciting challenge for a good cause, said Kimberly Jurek and Jennifer Chilstrom, co-owners of local boutique Showroom and designers of the line Kjurek. Showroom is participating in the fashion show.

 “Everyone that I showed the [Kjurek] piece to the last couple days has been like, ‘Oh my god what is that? Is that leather?’ They have no idea until I tell them it’s condoms,” Jurek said. “They’re just kind of shocked, and they laugh, and it creates this fun, interesting dialogue.”

Showroom’s design team includes Kjurek, 3 Jäg design by Betty Jäger, East Fourth Street Jewelry by Susan Crow, ACG Designs by Anna Chambers-Goldberg and Style By Natalia by Natalia Prigozhina.

“Each designer took the task at hand and created something that sort of spoke to them,” Jurek said. “[Wednesday’s show is] a fun project that gets you in this creative space. It’s such a random textile — I mean, none of us had ever worked with condoms before in this element of design.”

Jurek and Chilstrom said they look forward to the show and sharing Planned Parenthood’s message.

“Designing unique, one-of-a-kind looks that will serve as an ongoing [educational] tool following the show is an incredible honor,” Chilstrom said. “We are thrilled to be participating in this way.”

Event producer, stylist and host Grant Whittaker said he prepared a condom trench coat to raise sexual health awareness.

“It’s very non-demographic, vanilla-toned and perfect for the condom bases,” Whittaker said. “They can look like fur or rosettes. … It’s interesting all of the ways that the condoms can look.”

Planned Parenthood came up with the event’s concept, but the organization left it up to Whittaker to piece everything together.

The event aims to target a younger audience, Whittaker said.

The show last year received a lot of positive feedback, but this year it’s going to be bigger and better, he said.

Before the show, there will be a silent auction and a cash bar, and the event’s DJ will stay afterward for a post-show dance party.

Whittaker said the theme of the show focuses on the words “bold,” “professional,” “forward thinking” and “human.”

“Bold” will be based on the individuals on the runaway. “Responsible” will be about blacks, whites, grays, clean silhouettes and statement jewelry. “Forward thinking” will come from the fun patterns, color and neoprene. And “human” will be about animal prints, earthy tones and natural fabrics, Whittaker said.

“I hope that people [at the event see that] fashion is fun, and not to take fashion too seriously — celebrate your own personal style,” Whittaker said. “It’s really important that people understand there is an organization out there that really wants to support people having a healthy sex life.”

 

What: Ready Or Hot: Fashion Meets Passion

When: Wednesday, 6-9 p.m.

Where: Aria Mpls, 105 N. First St., Minneapolis

Cost: $55-100

 

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