Still fairly fresh from its March shows, Northwest Arkansas Fashion Week announces its first fall incarnation. These shows -- two nights of designer and boutique fashions -- will be held Nov. 9-10, not in Bentonville but in a private hangar at Fayetteville's Drake Field Airport. Doors will open at 6 each evening, with shows starting at 7.
"We were very interested in bringing shows back to Fayetteville or at least Washington County, since Fayetteville hasn't seen a show since 2013," says fashion week vice president of operations Payton Bridewell. "We looked into all the traditional options but when we connected with the folks at Drake Field, we knew we'd found a great partner. [It] should provide a really unique experience."
Twenty-three designers and boutiques will show a mix of fall and spring fashions. Designers include Puerto Rico native Richard Cotto, creator of clothing that goes beyond gender restrictions; and Rosie Rose, who creates "wearable art, made with sustainable, natural materials." Other designers and lines: Chavon Shree, Brittany Allen, Rulli Torres, Aimz Designs, Alberti&Co., Cordale J, Down Right Denim, Emily Mars Fashion House, Felix Bui, Junque Rethunque, Material Concepts, Melonhopper and Love, Zelda. The stores: Bride 'N Groom, Couture Bridal, HEM Apparel, Masons, Rustic Mule, She Said Yes, Steamroller Blues and Vesta's.
Tickets, $45-$120, include two levels of VIP seating as well as general admission. To buy tickets, visit Prekindle.com.
IN THE CAPITAL CITY ...
Two fashionable events will take place Thursday:
• An Evening at Esse with Christopher Belt, 6-8 p.m. at Esse Purse Museum, 1510 S. Main St. in Little Rock. In June, Sheridan native and handbag designer Belt (Dressing Room column, July 16) was a three-time winner at the prestigious Independent Handbag Designer Awards. His prototypes will be revealed during the event, then housed permanently with Esse's collection. His handbags will soon appear in Neiman Marcus stores. Tickets are $50 at Essepursemuseum.eventbrite.com.
The event will benefit one of Belt's favorite charities, Comfort Cases, which provides transitioning foster children with suitable bags for their clothing. Visitors who donate items on Comfort Cases' wish list (see comfortcases.org) will receive an admission ticket to Esse. Donors of any new small duffle bag or backpack will get 15 percent off a purchase from the museum store. Donations can also be dropped off during regular museum hours -- Tuesday-Saturday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Fashion historian Raissa Bretana will give a lecture, "Fashion and the Myth of Mid-Century Modernism: 1947 to 1957," at 6 p.m. in the Lower Lobby Lecture Hall of the Arkansas Arts Center as part of the museum's Art of Fashion lecture series. A wine reception will take place at 5:30 p.m. "This lecture will examine the incongruity between the iconic silhouettes of 1950s fashion" -- including Christian Dior's fit-and-flare New Look, which spanned these years and is enjoying its 70th anniversary -- "and the increasingly modern styles of architecture, furniture, graphic design, and the decorative arts that dominated visual culture during the same era," according to museum release. The event is $10 for Arts Center nonmembers; visit arkansasartscenter.org/tickets or call (501) 372-4000.
FOR THE FEET ...
Fall 2017 has brought its share of "maximalist" footwear ... showy, crazy shoes. "Whether they're sequined brogues, metallic jacquard booties or satin platforms, embellished shoes are the stars of the sidewalk this coming season," according to a Purewow.com fashion article.
Meanwhile you -- Miss Hard-To-Fit/Hard on Shoes -- are still longing for decent basic foot gear that'll be good to your feet, for crying out loud. Don't despair: If you would like shoes that have elements of comfort and sophistication, pointed-toe flats crept back in fall '15/spring '16 and can still be found in a sea of round-toed ballet flats. Cases in point: the Michael Michael Kors Snake Embossed Lizzy Flat, $120, or Calvin Klein's Edona D'Orsay flat, $99. A society photographer who can't always do heels at special events, I tried a sample of the Vionic Caballo Flat ($119.95), which comes in nine color/texture choices. The Caballo runs a bit large, so I stuffed the toes. Otherwise it's insanely comfortable.
For beer budgets, there's Christian Siriano for Payless' Women's Gigi Point Flat ($29.99) or Target's Hillary Pointed-Toe Ballet Flats, $19.99. And for men who want a good basic dress shoe, I also received a sample of Vionic's men's Bruno Oxford ($149.94) which, according to my reviewer, is also as comfortable as it is chic. Offered in three colors and two finishes, this wingtip shoe is at its best in black leather.
SHOPPING MAVEN
Sparrow by Shop My Closet, the faith-based nonprofit resale shop, has changed its name to Haven Resale to reflect the James 127 Foundation's widow-care program, Haven. Anna Taylor, a designer and director of the foundation, has stepped in to help Jennifer Mooney, former manager of Shop My Closet, create and establish this year-round fundraiser. A small group of Kenyan widows recently began the foundation's sewing training program there to learn the skills they need to support their families. Mooney's goal is to start a central Arkansas widow's ministry. Haven Resale is at 14710 Cantrell Road (Arkansas 10) in Little Rock. More information is at j127foundation.com.
Send fashion-related tips and news releases to:
hwilliams@arkansasonline.com
High Profile on 10/08/2017