Denver Fashion Week. The ultimate occasion to celebrate an exciting industry. I was more than eager to attend and discover how Denver defines fashion by observing not only the designers’ creations but the style of attendees as well. Always curious about the type of people that go to esteemed fashion shows, I was looking forward to seeing the types of clothes that guests felt were Fashion Week worthy.
I was pleased to find that throughout the week, the designers expressed a wide variety of styles. There was everything from dainty dresses, to loud pops of color, to slouchy street wear. I was also surprised to find that a substantial portion of the designers conveyed dark themes through their color, music, and message choices. The most memorable example of these contrasting styles was on the last night. After a stream of delicate dresses, the mood suddenly changed when a new collection kicked off with a sleek pant suit paired with equally bad ass sunglasses and ponytail, set to the type of music that calls to mind a James Bond film.
Before DFW, I never thought to consider how designers bring their looks to life beyond hair, makeup, and accessories. As the … Read more!
We’ve all found ourselves staring disappointedly at our closet of (too many) clothes, exasperated by the utter lack of things to wear. Recycled couture may be the perfect solution to switch things up and refresh your style. How about a dress made of movie tickets? Or a jacket made from packing materials? The young designers featured at Trash the Runway blew me away with their innovative manipulation of such challenging fabric to create chic apparel.
Before attending the event, I was unaware the designers were only in middle school and high school. I was shocked by the bold styles and personalities of the young artists. Their excitement was contagious as they proudly strutted their stuff for the adoring crowd. When asked about their work, almost every designer commented on how long it took them or how they had to repeatedly start over because of the frustratingly unique textiles.
The contestants were critiqued based on categories such as functionality and innovation, winning titles that included crowd favorite and best overall. There was a wide variety of ensembles decorated with everything from winged accessories to Victorian-style neck pieces. However, I was most impressed by the grand prize winner’s creation. In the blur … Read more!
This encounter is anything but chance- the amount of hard work and care woven into each hat is no accident. Encounter Hat Co. makes beautiful felt hats in a variety of styles and colors. The company draws inspiration from the quality and standard of Western felt hats and aspires to bring similarly hand-crafted artistry to mainstream fashion. The hats are meant to spark joy by complimenting and enhancing customers’ favorite outfits.
The Encounter Hat Co. was created out of a love for fashion and a desire to blend designs from all over the world. The company maintains a balance between keeping up with the latest trends across the globe and creating trends they would like to see in the industry.
In ten years, the organization wants to have a solid reputation for quality products that are pushing the boundaries of headwear fashion.
Encounter Hats Co.’s ideal collaborative partnership would have included the creative input of Bob Ross, but the company looks forward to working with other designers in the future as well. The company’s advice for aspiring designers is to focus on an ideal scenario for yourself and try to create a product that gives you the support … Read more!
This month, Floyd’s Barbershop celebrated the opening of a new Union Station shop at 1725 Chestnut Place in downtown Denver. Live music and delicious food enticed passersby to come in and check out the event. Floyd’s welcomed guests with free samples and discounted hair services. What cooler way to get your hair cut than in a mobile barbershop inside a decked-out Floyd’s truck?
The company donated all proceeds from the event to a local non-profit, Youth on Record. This organization uses the music and stories from Colorado’s most talented artists to inspires at-risk youth to graduate and enter the workforce.
Floyd’s 99 co-founder, Rob O’Brien, weighed in on his business journey and what sets his company apart from competitors.
What got you into barbershops?/What interests you about the barbershop industry?
My brothers and I got our start working in the concessions business by traveling the country with Harlem Globetrotters and Ice Capades selling a simple product to huge crowds of people. After 5 years, we wanted to branch out on own taking the experience we had as operators with us. Equip with an entrepreneurial spirit, $3,000, and cotton candy machine, we decided to move to Denver to start our … Read more!
Getting up close and purse-onal with the best of Denver Fashion Week exhibit was a thrilling experience. I spent the evening discussing style with some of Denver’s most stylish guests. I was in awe from the moment I arrived, as our night kicked off with a private tour of the gallery. Listening to the stories and inspiration behind the photos and collections on display, I was most impressed with the thoughtfulness of the interactive elements. There were sample textiles to touch and fabric arranged artfully to create the perfect backdrop for a photo-opp. Feeling the materials the designers worked with highlighted the hard work and creativity that went into making these pieces so spectacular.
I also enjoyed the wide variety of styles showcased in the gallery. There was everything from delicate flowery dresses to giant metal, spikey neck pieces. The exhibit truly encompassed all the different tastes that make Denver such an interesting fashion hub.
Another impressive aspect of the event were the people in attendance. Not only were there a substantial amount of people that came, but the guests were of all ages. I was
