All posts by B. shigglesworth

Dreamer / Doer / Founder of Fashion Denver

Sizzlin’ 6 with Duane Topping

It’s always exciting meeting a new designer! Welcome to the Fashion Denver world Duane! We look forward to seeing your collection and learning more about you at The White Party! In the meantime world, Check out our interview with Duane, designer behind Designs By Topping

Duane ToppingWhat were your obsessions growing up?

I’ve always been obsessed with art. It started out with my desire to be a cartoonist, then shifted to art history as I got older. Now, I love the artistic development of fashion. Seeing my art in motion is a wonderful experience.

How did fashion become the symbol for your creative expression?

After I retired from military service I had a difficult time adjusting to my new life. Numerous combat deployments took its toll. One day I bought a sewing machine and found my niche. Now, my clothes have become an expression of who I am. I’m a soldier, a biker, a feminist, a scholar, and an artist. Being a clothing designer allows me to embrace all of that at once.

Toppings by DuaneDo you see a stylistic connection between the things you do in your daily life that is reflected into your collections?

My clothes absolutely reflect me as … Read more!

Anthomania Fashion Show

13442609_10153890197327585_7399049042330129973_oThe summer fashion season certainly kicked off this past weekend at the Anthomania Fashion Show, presented by Studio Colfax. This family run artisan boutique on Colfax Avenue put on a wonderful fashion show in their very own courtyard in the back of the store.

The show featured local designers such  Minus the Dart,  Symantha Perrera,  and PUPIL Clothing. Hair was done by Jade Gordons Onsixth, and makeup by Cynthia Delgado. With yummy food provided by Extreme Pizza – Denver, and even iced tea by RL Linden & Co.

The show began with models emerging from the back exit out of the store on to a brick walk way which wrapped around the entire courtyard and made for a great runway. Guests were seated all along the courtyard and given perfect little wooden fans to keep cool during the hot summer night. While it was definitely warm out, the weather was certainly not the only thing hot about the evening. Kicking off the show, we saw designs from FACE aka Symantha Perra, one in particular was a bright orange and red floral dress and this dress was hot to say the least. Her designs … Read more!

Green is the New Black Fashion Extravaganza 2016

On Friday March 12th I was fortunate enough to attend the Green is the New Black Fashion extravaganza and transformation fashion show at the Carbondale Rec Center in the Roaring Fork Valley. For the 8th year in a row, the Carbondale Arts and Humanities Council produces this event as a fundraiser for the Roaring Fork school district. Each year, the show is done with a different theme to send a powerful and motivational message to the audience. This year, the theme of the show was transformation.

I was elated to see that the small, delightful, and quant little town of Carbondale could give rise to such a fabulous production. The show featured 20 designers based in many different locations. From Carbondale itself, to Los Angeles to even Milan, Italy; the diversity of designers was vast. To separate the designers up a bit, this show did something I’ve never seen before. It featured dancing and mime segments before, during, and after the
models strutted down the runway. The performances all emphasized the transformation message/theme to the audience with powerful scenes from a butterfly growing its wings, to a mime performance about a young girl becoming a woman. At first I thought … Read more!

Artopia Denver 2016 Recap

I am still reminiscing about the zestful and lively experience I got to share with my Fashion Denver fam at Artopia last Saturday. The event took place at City IMG_0193 Hall Denver (the night club, not the city hall where politics and other government-like stuff happens), and if you’ve ever been there you know it’s super easy to stay entertained and maybe sometimes get a little lost because of the venues three stories. But one of the aspects I loved about Artopia, was how well the setting of the event fit all that it had to offer. Three levels of art, fashion, and culture made for a perfect night for visual pleasure.

The Whiteout Fashion show portion of the evening featured eight designers; AnnaFesta Denver Bespoke, YOCISCO, Leon Designs, Equillibrium, Elyse Rainbolt, Gino Velardi, Mona Lucero and D’Lola Couture. Makeup was beautifully done by Vanity Dollz and hairstyling provided by El Salon.

AnnaFesta brought some serious energy to the show. The vibrant colors of her designs, the giant glowing balls her models carried, mixed with their awesome dance moves made me want to hop up on stage and shake what my mama gave me too. AnnaFesta is known for designing for … Read more!

Elyse Rainbolt Interview for Whiteout Fashion Show

Elyse RainboltQ: When did you first know you wanted to be a fashion designer?

A:I’ve been sewing since I was 10. I’ve always wanted to wear something I couldn’t find so I usually end up making it.

Q:Where do you draw inspiration from?

I’m inspired by music, the 1960’s and my textile designs are specifically inspired by Peter Max, Chris Jagger and the Beatles yellow submarine.

Q:What has been the most rewarding and the most frustrating part of your journey thus far?

Elyse Rainbolt

A:Rewarding: dressing myself head to toe in my own designs that I patterned, cut, sew and paint myself.
frustrating:
Internet stuff. I hate email, website etc maintenance. Im an analog hands on person and I wish I had someone to handle the Internet stuff for me. I haven’t updated my website in a year and a half and answering emails is like pulling teeth. Please don’t make me do it.
😉
Q: We see a lot of leather, silk, and fur with your designs, what do you love about working with these fabrics?
A:They are natural materials and they last 40, 60, 80 plus years and can be remodeled into a new design and
Read more!