Fashion Institute Guild Exclusive: Looks from the Runway

Last night, we sipped champagne with the beautiful people of the Fashion Institute Guild, learning how to transform runway fashion into something you could actually wear on a daily basis.  The presentation was given by Guild President, Alyssa Dilts of Develop Model Management and Guild Board Member, Autumn Foland of Design Parliament.  I loved this presentation because they not only showed pictures and videos, but they also had live models showing looks that I could actually wear! It makes such a difference seeing the look live on a model.

Quick review of Spring 2015:

The big closet-friendly theme from the S/S 2015 runways is Athleisure. This trend became a "thing" when ladies wanted to look good coming from the gym.  They needed the versatility of a workout look that could go from the gym to a business lunch.  Suddenly, we saw leather bombers paired with yoga pants and smart bags...and then the $200 track suit bottom was born.  From Target to McQueen, this trend is here to stay.  You'll see Athleisure looks made out of everything from scuba fabric, to tennis shoe fabric, to cashmere spun with cotton and spandex. Its hallmarks are versatility and performance...meaning sweat-wicking properties, stretch and durability. These high-tech fabrics can be seen in dresses, skirts and tops as well as the traditional track suit.

The key to pulling this look off is to make it look purposeful.  It can easily go "Momma June" if you aren't careful with how you put it together.  Be wary of the see-through yoga pant, which really isn't a pant at all.  Pay attention to the fabric and buy quality to avoid an unintended wardrobe malfunction. Good news is, you can buy Athleisure pieces at just about any clothing retailer...Omaha options include Target, Renu at Shoppes at Legacy and Design Parliament.

Fall/Winter 2015:

Designers really took an introspective approach to this season.  Especially after Anna Wintour announced that "trend" was a dirty word.  Designers are speaking to the woman who wants to purchase an investment piece and define her own style, and they've (designers) gone back to the roots of their respective fashion houses.  Rather than focusing on trend, they are working with the ideas of individual styling and how a woman presents herself authentically to the world. Despite all of that, there were some themes that surfaced...

• Leather: We saw it in bright colors and feminine silhouettes this spring, but it's coming back in dark colors and longer lengths for fall.  We are seeing it mixed with suede, accented with fringe and cut with square shoulders for a more androgynous effect.
• Car wash skirts and flared pants are the "it" silhouettes of the season. Glad I didn't get rid of all my flared pants from college...now if I could just fit into them!
• 70's Boho is not going away any time soon. Ponchos, chunky knits, lace, shearling, velvet.
• Accessories of the moment: Statement earrings and geeky glasses.

Alyssa and Autumn also covered what we can look forward to in menswear:

• Athleisure: Track suits and trainers, some with a ballet flair
• More focus on day wear and a movement away from evening wear to more accurately reflect the lives of real men.

If you are interested in getting the inside track on the fashion scene - from the runways of Omaha to Paris - I strongly recommend joining the Fashion Institute Guild! Benefits include invites to exclusive events like this, plus special deals on OFW tickets and other exciting fashion happenings. Join the  Fashion Institute Guild  here!

Hair Stylists & Make Up Artists: Apply for the Develop Model Management Beauty Show at OFW!

OFW is looking for 8 teams of hair stylists and make up artists who want to compete for a $2,500 prize package at the Develop Model Management Beauty Show at Omaha Fashion Week on Sunday, March 15. The package includes $1,000 cash prize, an exclusive VIP table at the August 2015 Finale valued at $1,000 and a full-page ad in Omaha FASHION Magazine. Applications are due by January 23.

If you want to enter this contest, complete this form: Application Form

We've gotten lots of great questions about how we are running the competition…here they are + answers:

How does the Beauty competition work? Style teams will draw a theme from a bowl on Friday, March 13  during the Designer Show Case II (tickets will be provided to contest participants).  They'll have 48 hours to develop & execute their concept based on the theme they've drawn. Sky is the limit on creativity!

What are the themes? You'll have to find out on March 13!

How many people can be on a team? We recommend four – a team leader, hair stylist, make up artist + stylist to put it all together.

How many models can be in each collection? There will be 8 looks in each collection.

What will the models will be wearing? (Leggings & tank top? Button down & dress slacks?) Good question. It’s up to your team! We want this to be a visual explosion! Bring your theme to life however you want! ...however no swimwear or lingerie allowed :)

Will the designers be choosing their own models or are they assigned? Models will be assigned by Develop Model Management on Friday, March 13. You will be given all of your models' contact details immediately after the show.  We encourage you to reach out to your models ASAP when you receive their information.

Can style teams choose number of male and female models? Teams do not get to pick their models.

What are the judging categories and who will be doing the judging? A dedicated panel of beauty industry experts will judge teams on creativity and visual impact.  This panel is separate from the OFW Selection Panel.

Do we have to pay for tickets to the show? Participating styling teams will receive backstage passes plus a set of complimentary tickets for additional guests.

Styling teams will be announced on Jan. 30!

Email us at info@omahafashionweek.com if you have other questions to add to this list.  Thanks!!

OFW Team

Get Red Carpet Ready for Fashion Week at Borsheims

Wondering what to wear to OFW? Nervous about walking the Red Carpet? Get Red Carpet Ready with us!  Join OFW and Borsheims against a glittering backdrop with sparkling cocktails and fabulous prizes!  So gather your girlfriends and make a night of it!

Guest can enjoy complimentary hair and make up done by Kontempo Salon,  hors d'oeuvres and sparkeling cocktails, and play our Jewelry Stylist game where the winner  receives a prize package including a pair of VIP tickets to one weeknight OFW show and a little something from Borsheims.   A special trunk show by Florida jewelry designer, Stephanie Kantis will also be featured at Red Carpet Ready!

The first 5o guests will receive a gift bag!

RSVP to Red Carpet Ready at Borsheims Fine Jewelry & Gifts! Very excited to have more friends from Peroni Nastro Azzurro, Kontempo., Design Parliament and Develop Model Management involved!  It's free and we hope to see all of our fashion fans there! #omahafashion

RSVP Here: http://omahafashionweek.com/redcarpetready

The event will be held at Borsheims Fine Jewelry & Gifts which is located in Regency. Mark your calendars for Thursday July 17, at 5:30 p.m.

A look back at past events! 

RSVP Here: http://omahafashionweek.com/redcarpetready

For more information check out our Facebook event.

Summer 2014 Tips and Trends feat. Gramercy

Last week, Esoteric Velve'ts Meghann Schense had the opportunity to put together a few looks from the amazing clothes at Gramercy, a women's RTW boutique located in Countryside Village, for a group of young professionals. She had so much fun styling their clothes and answering questions from young professionals about how to best dress for work, travel, weddings or errands. Here are some of the outfits, tips, tricks and Summer 2014 trends she loved:

This first outfit is great for travel. Maxi dresses are super comfortable and lightweight which makes them easy to wear and easy to pack. You could also layer a cardigan over if a plane ride or car gets too chilly. The accessories I found were perfect for a day in the sun, the blue hat is actually packable and folds down but still retains it’s shape. I decided to keep it simple with a statement necklace for jewelry. Pair this with some flip flops and you’re good to go.

I thought this outfit would be perfect for shopping, brunch or a girls night out. The white skinny jeans have a forgiving 360 degree stretch as well as a “butt lift” in the back so it’s flattering on every figure. The outfit pairs great with the Chinese newsprint flats Gramercy has, as well as the brown clutch.

This outfit is also perfect for day to day activities, especially if it’s a little warmer. The shorts have an elastic waistband and the grey silk top is a very breathable fabric for summertime. I paired this look with one of Gramercy’s fun printed scarves. You could wear it as an infinity scarf, tie it like a regular scarf, throw it around your shoulders if you get chilly or even use it as a beach cover up.

For a more modest look I found this wonderful printed kaftan and belted it around the waist with a matching coral belt. I paired this with the same white skinny jeans and dressed the look up with a big statement necklace.

 

I loved this laid back look for running around with kids or running errands. The army green pants are some of Gramercy’s best sellers, the drawstring front is popping up here and there for summer and they are super comfortable. I paired this with a graphic tank with a slightly open back, rose gold jewelry and this fun light pink bag that will hold anything and everything. Graphics, open banks and gold hues are huge for summer so this outfit is perfectly on trend.

This dress is perfect for a summer wedding, and I know there are going to be plenty of those this season. I love the bright neon color, a huge trend, and the silhouette is very flattering on most figures. I added a pair of fabulous earrings and a long statement necklace, some of our favorites from Gramercy’s top-notch jewelry. They have jewelry designers from both India and London that are huge sellers with great statement pieces like the ones pictured above. The great thing about long necklaces that hit at a natural waist is that they are going to draw eyes downwards and give the illusion of an elongated torso. This will make anyone look and feel slimmer.

I also always think it’s best to “edit yourself” before you leave the house when it comes to accessories. This often means removing one or two pieces. There are three types of big accessories: an arm party of bangles and chunky bracelets, statement earrings or a statement necklace. I think it’s probably not a great idea to do all three, but there are always exceptions to every rule. That’s why editing yourself is so important.

Gramercy also has some wonderful work-to-night-out looks like the one pictured above. For a chilly office, I paired the outfit with this great jacket and infinity scarf and a pair of simple black kitten heels. I also, once again, added some on-trend rose gold jewelry. For a night out all you need to do is add a sassier pair of heels, remove the jacket and scarf and add a statement necklace. For a more corporate look, Gramercy also offers a variety of wonderful black dresses and neoprene patterned dresses from one of their best selling brands, Clover Canyon.  Neoprene is great fabric because it really retains it’s shape so it’s a purchase that will last a long time.

Let us know if you love any of these looks and be sure to follow us on Instagram and Twitter, and like our page on Facebook!

Hair & Makeup teams to vie for $2,000 prize package at OFW Beauty & Style Show March 9

Congrats to the following teams for being selected to participate in the OFW Beauty & Style event on Sunday, March 9! Teams will have 48 hours to create an 8-look collection.  The winner will receive a $2,000 prize package.

Welcome to the Dojo: Leslie Wilson, Rosha Taylor, Venus Watson, Corey Moore

Scissori's: Tina Spencer, Dori Walker, Bob Fouts, Jessica Billingsley, Lynn Mills

T'eez: Justine Reilly, Thomas Sena

Sirens at the Loft: Chevy Kozisek, LeeAnn, Kali, Hilary, Cory

Glitz: Gilma Lara, Ellie Nichole Jensen

Capitol's Creations: Megan Madson, Abbygayl Meyer

Garbo's Midtown Crossing: Abby Wederquist, Jen Warta, Paty Crabtree, Kalinda Mendenhall

One Drake Place: Brittany Granados, Meagan Moerles

Outfit Recipe for 100-Degree Heat

By Kelly Newell at Scout: Dry Goods & Trade

 

Okay. It's hot. Real real hot. I don't want wear anything, but of course I'll get arrested if I don't. This is my favorite outfit to wear in 100-degree-burn-your-butt-yes-you-are-sweating-and-it's-only-9am-outfit. Here are the ingredients for a great hot weather outfit...

The basics, I air dry my hair and then pull it up in a messy bun and add a cute lightweight scarf as a headband. I'm super pale or a nice way to say it, I've got "porcelain" skin. Either way, my legs are far too white for me to be comfortable in shorts without a little fake tan. I got a gift card to Sephora for Christmas so I splurged on some $35 sunless tanner/bronzer by Lorac. It works perfectly and just the way it's supposed to. In the warmer months, I usually get a pedicure every couple months and have been leaning towards these really pretty (and girly-unusal for me) papaya colors lately. When it's super hot out like it's been, I'll usually just wear a moisturizer with built in sunscreen and then a little of this cheek stain by Tarte that I also found at Sephora (also a splurge, but it will last forever, so I can justify it).

Start with an easy top that's got some visual interest and you won't need as much jewelry. Bonus points if it's a top that you don't need to wear a bra with. There are so many awesome colored shorts out right now and they are perfect with a cuff and functional with pockets. These sandals are cute and just as easy to wear as plain old flip flops and they stay on great when driving and running around town. I have a vintage Coach messenger bag I picked up at Scout a couple of years ago that looks a lot like this one that isn't too precious to throw around and drag through the day with me. I'll throw in a pen, mail, my wallet, a Diet Coke, chap stick, my phone and still have some room left over. I don't have a phone case and probably should since I drop mine phone so often, so I'm in the market for a case and this one is really cute. To finish the outfit off, you gotta have sunglasses-I personally really like aviators, but any pair would work. When it's really hot out, keep the jewelry to a minimum and wear one statement item like this cool gold ring and an interesting but simple pair of stud earrings. There you go, garnish with a few slices of watermelon and you're all set!!

TopShop striped top, $50 Aso, $26 PARENTESI flip flop shoes, $79 Cydwoq studded messenger bag, 375 CAD ASOS stud earrings, $10 Dome ring, $43 Ray-Ban metal sunglasses, $129 Tarte Natural Beauty Cheek Stain Natural Beauty, $30 LORAC SelfTANtalizer Body Bronzing Gradual Self-Tanner & Mitt 5 oz, $34 NARS Nail Polish Ecume, $17