March Madness: Fashion Edition

I know that March Madness is usually used in reference to college basketball (or that one rap song by Future, depending on what you are in to), but for me it had a whole different meaning. The month of March is usually the beginning of a new fashion season and fashion shows and events start popping up all around Cleveland, as we all try to unthaw and enjoy the hope of a glimpse of spring. In between the high energy fashion shows I attended, I participated in a few cool fashion events as well...

Hi, Fashion Sustainable Fashion Event
Hi, Fashion was a two day event at the Near West Theater hosted by Project Runway alumna and Cleveland based "Yellowcake" fashion designer, Valerie Mayan. The theme was sustainable fashion and educated guests on cool ways upcycle their wardrobe with a clothing swap, free screen printing, a few easy DIY tricks and they even offered free alterations while you waited. I attended on Saturday, March 22nd, and stopped in briefly to hear a talk on shopping thrift/vintage from thrifting expert and blogger Dina Younis of Dina's Days and to get a quick fashion sketch by artist Tammy Davis, which I loved!

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Squad up Models Photo Shoot
I had to dip out right after I received my fashion sketch and head across town to style a promo photo shoot for my model friend and fashion show producer Donnella Swanson of Squad Up Models. She had asked me to style four models including herself in something high fashion and couture worthy, so I dug through my wardrobe and came up with several looks that I thought would work based around the theme and the measurements and photos of the models she gave me. I had several "hero" pieces to work with whatever the models bought me and I quickly styled all four ladies. We met the photographer downtown and shot outside in freezing cold temperatures. All the models took it like champs except for one who decided to stay in the car...

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Re/Dress in My Bag Sale
The next event was a plus size resale event on Sunday, March 23rd, at the really cool modern vintage store Re/Dress. I have tons of cute plus size clothes that I have a hard time selling online (mainly due to laziness, but I have a solution that I am currently working on!) and since most vendor events are not geared towards the plus size woman, I was super excited to be asked to participate! It was my first vendor event of this capacity and I had no idea what to expect, but luckily the owners and other vendors were super helpful and I actually sold a lot of clothes. I hope to participate in more of these types of events in the future!

​In addition to the three events, my 36th birthday was on March 5th, which I celebrated with family, followed by the He Loves Curves fashion show on the 10th, and I ended the month out by attending designer Vaughn Glover's fashion show, #HighSewcity; The Sewcial Runway of Life. Every weekend was something fun and filled with enough excitement to shake off any remaining winter blues. March Madness indeed! How was your March and did you attend any fashion events?