I attended the Decades of Beauty Fashion Face Off Competition at Beachwood Place on Saturday, September 24th, and it was an amazing experience! Five local designers were asked to compete in a Project Runway style competition where they were each assigned a decade and had four hours to complete a look for the fashion show later in the day. When I arrived at around 1:30 pm, all the designers were toiling away working at their machines and I could feel the frantic nervous energy that comes with a tight deadline while trying to stay focused even though dozens of strangers eyeball you and repeatedly ask what you are doing. 

I was able to peek "backstage" and watch as the models got their hair styled by the Aveda team and makeup done by Dior representatives who transformed the models into divas for their decided decades. Once their time was up, the designers rushed to fit their models and get them changed and the show started. The models walked the runway, right in the middle of the mall and I can't lie- I felt a wave of fashion nostalgia from way back when mall shows were THEE way to find out the latest fashions for those of us who could not attend New York or Paris lol. 

With only five designers each showing one look, the show went quickly but was highly entertaining. The mall was nice and full and shoppers gathered around to watch as the models strutted down the runway showing off the work of their respective designer. I was just amazed that these ladies created complete outfits- some very intricate and detailed and with multiple pieces- in less than four hours! 

There was a panel of guest judges including Allison Hess, of FashionablyCleveland.com, and immediately after the last model came off the stage they deliberated and chose a winner; Jasmine Williams of Intrendzick Couture won for her gorgeous black and white patterned 1950's inspired design which included a hat, swing jacket and dress with a contrasting skirt. Her model was styled to perfection and managed to look classy, elegant, timeless and modern all at once! Jasmine's design will be on display at the mall, so make sure you stop by and see it.

I honestly felt like this was a major step forward in Cleveland fashion, because our independent designers are often overlooked and looked over, and it's been underground for too long. People are always surprised when I talk about all the designers and brands that are located here who don't have a brick and mortar store or a large online presence, and it is unfortunate that retail stores and boutiques rarely pick up local designers, but I get it. A lot of times indie designers don't have the funds or the resources to complete seasonal collections in a range of sizes available to the stores.

Most designers I know sell by word of mouth, online or from the  trunk of their car like 90's rappers lol. So for this event to be sponsored by Beachwood Place, I felt it was a beautiful move towards recognition and I thought it was awesome. Shoppers were able to see young talent hard at work and if they wanted to, they had the opportunity to see a garment constructed from start to finish and then watch as it was presented on a model. It was genius, really... 

One thing about mall fashion shows (and maybe the reason why I loved them so much growing up) is how diverse the audience is, and Saturday was no exception. Kids, teenagers, families, couples, young and old of every color and ethnicity all stopped to watch and I was especially happy to see a diverse range of models and designers too because representation is always important- especially with fashion. All in all I thought it was a wonderful experience and hope they have more fashion events!

And because I am a visual merchandising and retail display nerd, I took a few photos of the trendy fashion displays on mannequins around the mall along with a few pics and videos from the show...

Have you ever attended a mall fashion show? When and where? Leave your comment below!

September came and damn near went in a blink of an eye. My industry celebrates New York Fashion Week (NYFW) along with all the other international fashion weeks, but this is one fashion event I sit out. It just doesn't excite me anymore since it is no longer about the clothes- instead the coverage focuses on what Insta-models are walking for who, what flash in the pan celeb is sitting front row, weird locations, hair, makeup and other gimmicks that take the focus off the clothes. The only thing I check for are the September issues of the fashion magazines and even some of those were ho- hum this year smh... So what is a fashion and style loving young women to do? I created my own fashion week.

You may ask yourself, now how does one create their own Fashion Week by themselves in Cleveland, Ohio? It's simple- I planned a week around fashion events, and decided to call it Lady Silk's Fashion Week. Voila'- do what you want lol. From Saturday, September 10th, to Monday, September 19th, I made it happen and this is  what I did...

Personal Style Workshop *Saturday*
My first event was my own. The awesome Renee Jones invited me to participate in the First Annual Collinwood Resource Fair, a wonderful event that had the People's Church of God in Christ's parking lot full of resources for the community. Local organizations participated and had information on empowerment programs, health screenings, face painting, and art stations. They had workshops on human sex trafficking, record expungement, financial empowerment and a Men of Purpose talk. Children who attended received book bags filled with school supplies and refurbished bikes! Inside Ms. Jones put together a series of workshops, both inspiring and useful. I arrived right in time to hear a presentation on Edwin's Leadership and Restaurant Institute, a place that gives formerly incarcerated adults a start in the hospitality industry and helping them regain entry back into society. I think we need more programs like this everywhere.... I sat through two empowering testimonies before my model Harmoni showed up right on time for our segment.

I asked Harmoni to bring several basics including a long sleeve white tee, a blazer, two scarves, leggings, a pair of flats, boots and heels. I spoke briefly about the difference between fashion and style (fashion is what you wear, style is how you wear it) and what a personal stylist does.  Then I ran down closet essentials that every man and women should have before buying the fun "fashion" pieces and finally I told them where to shop: clearance racks, (not the stuff "on sale") consignment stores and thrift shops. In between the three segments Harmoni changed outfits as I added and took away scarves, jewelry and switched her pants and shoes. My model was bad y'all- she quickly changed in that small little back hallway and strutted out in a series of basic outfits like she was on a Parisian couture catwalk! I wanted to scream out Yaaaasssss bish repeatedly and throw purple roses and glitter bombs at her while she  twisted, turned and posed as I described her outfit- but it was not the time and definitely not the place for all that lol.

The Best of the Best Fashion Face Off Team *Wednesday afternoon*
My model friend Dionne invited me to help her judge a team of Glenville High School students for a city wide Best of the Best Fashion Face Off Competition. It's a major fashion show in April where high school students from different schools compete with each other for the title. I agreed to meet up at Glenville, the first high school I attended for a year when I moved back to Cleveland in 1998. Of course everything looked different, newer, brighter, but still felt familiar you know? Especially sitting in that auditorium where the tryouts were held.

​​A group of about fifteen girls and boys shyly slid across the stage while Dionne and another model I have worked with named Deanna, gave them pointers. They were all nervous at first as we judged them on things like confidence, eye contact and their walk, but loosened up as they got more into it. I mistakenly thought it was a regular fashion show and was confused when I saw them swinging arms, dancing up and down the stage  and requesting their own music lol! I was like hold up, they can't choose their own music?! But Dionne explained to me that it was more about their own modeling style and I instantly got it and had to go back and changed some of my marks and comments lol...

It was fun watching them cause they were having lots of fun and I could tell, hopefully I'll be able to attend the show in April. I left right after to go to my next event...

 The Greater Cleveland Film Commission Fall Media Industry Mixer *Wednesday evening*
​I rushed off to the GCFC Fall media mixer at the Music Box Supper Club in the Flats right after I left the high school. I wanted to attend because I'm thinking about expanding the costuming branch of my business and wanted to make contacts. I am a costumer for independent films and web series which means I help decide what the characters and extras will wear, lending a certain look to the production. There is no sketching, sewing or actual building of the costume as a costumer, those are the duties of a costume designer.

The words costume and wardrobe are used interchangeably, but costume/design deals with characters for television, movies and plays, while wardrobe is for an individual personality. So let's say if Rihanna was starring in the Hollywood remake of Catwoman (which I would be totally here for!), I would sketch, design and fit the costume for her Catwoman character to wear throughout the movie. If she were promoting the movie on talk shows and with personal appearances, including photo shoots and interviews then I would style her wardrobe using items I purchased or borrowed for her to wear that particular day.

Anyway, I attended not knowing what to expect but was surprised to see how crowded it was and how of course everybody already knew everybody else. Except me. Always forever the new girl lol. I attempted to sit and listen at a lecture, but it as too noisy to hear so I sat and ate my cheese and crackers and my sugared nuts and high price vodka and cranberry and then tried to network. My film friends Jasmine and Unity eventually joined me and I felt a little more comfortable but I only ended up talking to a handful of people. Regardless to my social skills, the event was really cool and I liked the resources they seem to have available for Cleveland's small (but growing) film industry. I will attend their next event, this time with a plan and a thirty second elevator pitch to the right people lol.

Fashion Week Cleveland, 'Fashion Up on the Roof Founder's Party' *Thursday*
When I got the email invite to Fashion Week Cleveland's rooftop party at Azure on the 9, I was excited to say the least. For years I have wanted to be on the planning committee, or at least involved with FWC, every since I attended fashion school in 2009. The email asked me to join models, designers, volunteers and the staff of FWC to have an input in the planning of Fashion Week 2017. Oh baby... 

It just so happened that the evening of the party was also my son's first open house at his high school and of course I had to be there for that! I sat through four of his classes, learned about each of his subjects, how he was doing in them (my son is a talker lol) and enjoyed a celebration to kick off National Hispanic American Month with fresh chicken tacos and tortillas.

I barely swallowed my last chip before I dipped off and headed towards the Fashion Week Cleveland party, determined not to be too late. I arrived at about 7:30 pm and raced into the posh Metropolitan at the 9, a converted bank made into a hotel and a living space in downtown Cleveland. It is huge with a with a restaurant, a theater, a club, a gym  and an indoor dog park. I collected myself just as the doors to the elevator opened and I made my way into club Azure. I looked around for a cluster of fashion folks, and walked around the small area before asking a bartender about the party. She had no clue what I was talking about. I walked around again and finally went over to a group of people standing off to the side and asked if they knew anything about the FWC party. I found out that they had arrived earlier than me and were looking for the same thing. No one made any announcements or let it be known that any representative from FWC was in attendance. 

Upon further investigation, we found out from another bartender that the head of FWC had been there earlier, but that it looked more like a small family gathering of only like three or four people. I can't lie, I was pissed. I was more mad at myself for getting all pumped up for FWC when I should have known better smh... I got one good photo using those lovely mirrors though lol...

Fearless Runway Stars Extreme Model Bootcamp *Saturday*
I stayed up all night Friday finishing both an essay for my Saturday morning Lit Cleveland writing workshop and a fashion article for the upcoming Haute Ohio fashion magazine, a publication dedicated to showcasing the talents of Midwest fashion professionals. I perform better on deadlines but was cutting it close and did not finish everything until about 2 am  Saturday morning. I got up and finished critiquing a story by one of my workshop peers, before leaving for the once a month class that meets at the library at 10:30 am. 

It was pouring rain when I left for the class, but after 2 hours, the rain evaporated and left a thick, heavy blanket of humidity over the city. I went back home to briefly remove some clothes, eat and then was off to the Extreme Model Bootcamp offered by runway model Dionne @diva.dionne and her partner fashion blogger Evelyn aka @fashionevesta. The free event was held at Shameless Studios on St. Clair and was already in full session when I got there. It was a workshop for models ages 13 and up to learn about the industry, hear from industry vets and learn how to walk runway. I thought it was a fun, awesome, educational event and the ladies will do it again so follow them on Instagram for updates!

I stayed for about 45 minutes and then headed off to my next destination which would have been the epic Capture Ohio photoshoot event for the Haute Ohio publication debuting in October. I took an hour long bus ride to the wrong location with a dead phone battery before realizing my mistake. It had started raining again and I was a hot, wet, sweaty, late mess and decided to just go home.

On Sunday I woke up bright and early and took my son to get our CPR certification in an intense four hour class in Gordan Square. Yay!

Shopping for the Uprising '66 *Monday*
For the past month or so, I have been researching costume  for a documentary on the anniversary of the Hough Riots. This year marks the 50th anniversary of riots that lasted from July 18 to July 23, 1966, in the Hough neighborhood where four African Americans were killed and 50 were injured while a whole community was destroyed and never really got back right. I was excited to do costume for this documentary of reenactments because it happened here in Cleveland and with everything going on today, the subject is totally relevant.  Not to mention that I would be working directly for Ward 7 Councilman TJ Dow. 

I went to work asap, reading the script, breaking down the characters and scenes, determining time and location and other things to wrap my head around the look of the film. Then I searched for images related to the riot and was extremely unhappy with Google search and even more pissed that there had been little to no official documentation- no books, movies, or other documentaries specifically on these Cleveland riots.  I decided to go to the library to conduct a more  formal search.

I spent a whole day browsing photo archives in the downtown Cleveland Public Library and then poured over the microfiche and microfilm machine looking through articles from the July 1966 issue of that week's Call and Post newspaper, The Plain Dealer, old issues of Ebony magazine and  a few more resources form that era. It was the coolest thing and I learned a lot and received nice references for my costume  lookbook.

So after weeks of preparation I was ready to shop for the period piece at my local Unique's Thrift Store early Monday morning. I had a very tight budget and an extensive list of characters and extras to shop for our two day shoot this upcoming Saturday and Sunday. I arrived early and had heaps of clothes in my cart before editing it down to enough mid '60s inspired garments to work. I spent a lot of time in there and recorded it on Snapchat (flygrlchroniclz) andFacebook Live (make sure to add me on both for fashion adventures and stories!). I made my purchases, dropped them off at the office headquarters and went on about my day.

I woke up the next morning to an email saying the shoot was cancelled until further notice. I am extremely disappointed, but hopefully it picks back up again because I feel like it is a very important piece and an awesome project for residents and the families closely related to the riots. Not to mention a very important part of not just Cleveland history, but Black history as well.  And  20 years later when another black girl is looking for information on the Hough Riots, hopefully she won't come up empty handed.

There you have it! I finessed a whole week of fashion activities for my very own Lady Silk's Fashion Week and had a blast doing it. I networked with great people, met a few new faces and got lots of new ideas by osmosis lol. I have a few projects coming up in the near future so stay tuned! 

Would you like for me to cover your next fashion and style event? Hit me up! Ladysilk@thehouseoffly.com