Category Archives: Designer A Day

Business Profiles, Designer A Day, Designer Profile

Designer Interview: Julia Rhoden Design

The first time we met Julia Rhoden, of Julia Rhoden Design, was when we held an eco-fashion competition where designers were partnered up with an ecological fashion disaster! I need to find those photos!! Julia’s design was so innovative and clever and ever since then, she has been on the forefront of our minds as a designer here in Denver.

Let’s see what inspires this woman!

What inspired your love for fashion and fashion design?

Honestly for most of my life I wanted to be a zoologist and chase wolves around in Russia UNTIL I saw the movie the ‘Devil Wears Prada’ in high school and I instantaneously became inspired by the ‘Miranda Priesly’ character and just knew in my heart- “This is what I need to do.” Senior year of high school I changed my direction and directed everything towards becoming a fashion designer.

The first thing I ever made was my best friends bright yellow prom dress!

How long have you been designing?

I have been designing since high school but have been seriously designing over the last seven years. Really honing in on my construction, my technical skills and aesthetic.

Did you go to school for design … Read more!

Bonanza, Designer A Day, Designer Profile

Sizzlin’ 7 with Duane Topping

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We first met Duane Topping last year when he participated in our summer fashion market and since then, we have watched his fashion career skyrocket! He’s been busy gracing many runways both local and nationally and we can’t wait to see what’s next from this combat veteran who is pursuing one of his dreams!

What was your first memory of fashion inspiration that you can remember? 

That memory really wasn’t that long ago.  My love for fashion didn’t show its head until later in life.  I do remember reading everything fashion I could get my hands on while I was deployed in 2003.  I had big dreams of becoming fashion editor and I built a collection of garments I liked and ones I didn’t taking note of why.  I still do that today.   The difference now is I get to make my own fashion.… Read more!

A Day in the Life of Fashion Denver, Business Profiles, Designer A Day

Shelly Schalamon designer of Lady Jane

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This past November, I had the honor to have a Shelly Schalamon create me a custom designed for the Colorado Aid’s Project Red Ball event! We had fun picking out fabric and turning my personality into an actual couture gown. My style is very playful and I like to change outfits multiple times in an evening. Shelly created me a dress that went from formal to fun, all in the whooosh of a removable skirt / train! It was so much fun to wear her design on the runway as I emceed the event and over the course of the evening, totally convert the look into something that I could jump into the arms of strong men in 🙂

1) What is your first memory that you were inspired witShelly Schalamonh fashion?
I wanted to go into tap dancing because of the costumes. I loved dress up princess parties, I
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Business Profiles, Designer A Day, Frost Fashion Market, Frost Featured

Darlene C. Ritz at FROST

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Darlene C. Ritz
Designer, instructor, and chair of the fashion department at RMCAD

How do you define fashion?

Darlene C. RitzI define fashion with the technical definition: “a taste shared by many for a period of time” Eubank, Phyllis G. Tortora & K. Survey of Historic Costume, 5th Edition. Fairchild Books USA, 6/2009. VitalBook file. 

This may refer to clothing, art, food, interior design, literature, etc. A fashion is anything that is accepted by a group of people for a period of time. 

I use the term “style” in the way that most people use the term fashion. Style is the way a person expresses themselves visually. 

ritz-design-for-gary-lee-days-23-1How long have you be designing your collection and where can we find them?

I’ve been designing as long as I can remember. My industry experience was mostly in private label for large retailers. 

For over a decade, my focus in the industry has been in fashion education and in developing the next generation of fashion industry professionals. I do not currently sell my designs, though I have been active for the past year in using my designs to promote Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design (RMCAD) and the relatively new fashion design … Read more!

Designer A Day, Designer Profile, Fashion Denver Events, Splash Designers

Sizzlin’ 6 questions with Splash Designer Denise Dailey

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Denise Dailey, brains behind Prompt Flare Designs and OCH Couture will be joining us at SPLASH, our summer fashion market powered by 303 Magazine! Join us June 26th for an afternoon of fashion fun by the pool!

 Denise DaileyWhat were your obsessions growing up?

Color! I would color coordinate everything about my clothes and accessories… I loved matching everything together. I also loved transforming my jacket into my personalized style by applying studs and jewels and wearing my aunt’s brooches .

How did fashion become the symbol for your creative expression?

As a portrait sculpture artist, adding colorful flowers for the hair naturally evolved into wearable art- Hair made from fabric, tulle, ribbon and other materials made for a runway statement maker. And is still evolving with our belts,purses and earrings.

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

Definitely! I see inspiration for styles in plants, bushes, flowers and trees. I see humorous t-shirts made from life’s moments. I love looking at purses and the way women use them. I get inspired thinking about ways to design and add better functionality.

Denise Dailey

What is your research process like … Read more!