WHAT: Fashion NOW: Spring Fashion Party
WHEN: Thursday, April 28 8 p.m.
WHERE: Fine Line Music Café, 318 First Ave. N., Minneapolis
COST: $15 in advance; $20 at the door
Top 40 radio-sponsored events are usually promoted by their inherent depravity. ItâÄôs always booze cruises and ladies nights and sexually immature disc jockeys attempting lukewarm humor.
However, in the spirit of spring fashion and as a jam-packed and illustrious MNfashion Week has come to its close, Minneapolis has the chance to experience the golden elements of top 40 music and runway glamour combined at local radio station 96.3 NOWâÄôs Fashion NOW.
The event, in its third year, seeks to showcase trends of the season through a live runway show of local designers and establishments, mainly tailored to the broad scope of 96.3 listeners. This means that, along with the more distinctive work of Twin Cities designers, there will be looks manufactured from mass marketable corporate franchises (the mall).
This year the lines showcased include the Buckle at Mall of America, Betsey Johnson, Second Debut and local designer Adrienne Yancy. Accompanying the runway show will be a live DJ set and a performance by MinneapolisâÄô own R&B dance-pop sensation Auburn.
Yancy, under her label ArielSimone, one of the sole individual designers for the production, has been involved since its genesis and will be exhibiting two separate lines for this yearâÄôs event.
âÄúIâÄôll be showing a swimwear and summer ready-to-wear line,âÄù Yancy said. âÄúAs far as trends go this year IâÄôve taken ahold of the sheer, but I also love bright colors and neon.âÄù
If weâÄôre talking about where YancyâÄôs characteristic design tendencies lie, she definitely projects one of the spunkiest local visions. Often utilizing gorgeous printed fabrics in vivid hues to add flair to boldly structured silhouettes, Yancy designs for the woman who wants to be seen and be remembered.
âÄúIâÄôm not very traditional when it comes to anything,âÄù Yancy said.
This season nontraditional means focusing on inventive, geometric swimwear, pairing neons with grays, and styling with jewelry. For âÄúFashion NOW,” many of her looks will be paired with jewelry from local design outfit Realia.
Think big, striking crystals and lots of flat, ornamented metals. RealiaâÄôs collection, available at local boutique Cliché, is built on the juxtaposition of dense looking substances that have been formed into delicate structures.
Though YancyâÄôs been involved in a handful of runway shows this season (e.g. Iconoclash and Fashion Dance for Life), Fashion NOW will mark the principle showing of her spring line. And though the work for such a fast-paced function has been hectic, as it has for almost everyone involved in local fashion, Yancy appreciates the inspiration that comes with seeing the work of other Twin Cities-based artists.
âÄúI really love Emma BergâÄôs stuff,âÄù Yancy said. âÄúI think we have a similar taste in thinking outside of the box, so I can really relate.âÄù
If thereâÄôs any sort of all-encompassing objective of fashion week events (along with simply bolstering excitement), itâÄôs that inspiration spreads among the designers. And although âÄúFashion NOWâÄù âÄî with some exceptions âÄî highlights a more corporate end of spring style, thereâÄôs no reason it canâÄôt have the same effect.
