Today's jam, and an announcement.

If you've been following my Twitter account and/or my personal Facebook, you already know. But, officially and on the record, CCS supports Occupy Wall Street.

I'm working as quickly as I can on a line of products. Nothing too fancy, T-shirts, a hoodie, some stickers, that kind of thing. And 100 percent of profits will go to the cause. It's already getting chilly around here, let alone in NYC. They're going to need donations to keep warm. To accompany the official release, probably late this week, I will be posting some DIY tutorials on how to pretty up your statement shirt. Bling it, sew it, cut-and-tie it, use your mind and your hands to make something good beautiful. Yeah, we're talking liberation fashion. Politics getting into fashion is nothing new.

Stay tuned for this launch. I'm totally going to see if sherpa-lined warm hoodies are available, and if so, if I can bulk-discount them if the buyer is sending them to the occupiers in NYC, Chicago, etc.

How to support, via The Nation.

If you'd like to donate directly, click here.

Mailing address:
The UPS Store
Re: Occupy Wall Street
118A Fulton St. #205
New York, NY 10038
Money orders only please, cannot cash checks yet. Non-perishable goods only. We can accept packages of any size. We're currently low on food.

I post links: Midwest Fashion Week 2011 agenda is UP!

Hooray! It's that time again!

Agenda for Midwest Fashion Week: October 19-22, 2011!

October 19th, 2011
Event title: Home and Fashion Fusion-The Kick-Off for Midwest Fashion Week Location:SkyLine Club,
One America Square,
Indianapolis, IN 46282
Time: 5:30pm
Invitation only


October 20th, 2011
Event title: Empowerment Revealed: An ImageCube Naturally You Makeover Reveal presented by Midwest Fashion Week & MePower Events
Location: The Fashion Mall at Keystone,
8702 Keystone Crossing,
Indianapolis, IN 46240
Time: 5:30pm
Free to the Public
VIP Reception: $25


October 21st, 2011
Event title: “Taste of Fashion at Sensu”
Location: Sensu Restaurant and Nightclub
225 South Meridian Street,
Indianapolis, Indiana 46225
Time: 8:00pm
Price: $65


October 22nd, 2011
Event title: “Fashion is Empowerment”
Location: Corinthian Hall at Old National Centre
502 North New Jersey Street
Indianapolis, IN 46204
Time: 6:00pm
Price VIP: $65
Price regular: $35.00

More details at the MFW official Web site! Please take the time to support and check out this part of the Midwest scene! Talented designers from Indiana all the way to the Ukraine are represented in this year's line-up.

I do like this year's event title: Fashion Is Empowerment. I just may or may not have hatched an E-book idea over the weekend on a similar premise, so darned if that isn't a pleasant coincidence.

I post links: Harajuku Fashion Walk

TokyoFashion got some GREAT pictures of a Fashion Walk that happened on September 25.

Dolly kei! Mori! Lolita! Decora! Fairy kei! Gyaru! Is... Is that a Guro-Loli??! So! Awesome!

Does ANYONE on this side of the Pacific have this much fun with fashion? My Lord, what I'd give to have been there. Truly looks like an amazing time. And TF got some amazing individual street-style pics, too, but I don't want to steal any of their much-deserved thunder. Check it out, my loves! Observe and learn!

In honor of 90's fashion making a comeback...

Let's go visit 1990, shall we!



What's your favorite trend you want to bring back? What do you hope stays faaaaar away in the annals of recent history?


(psst! Three more days ti' the next Fashionista Meetup Luncheon! Have you RSVP'd yet?

Thanks for coming out to Fashionista Meetup Luncheon 2.0!

 Thanks to everyone who came out on the 5th! We had a crowd large enough to be interesting, but small enough to feel a tad cozy. Only about half as many people came out as those who actually RSVP'd. I blame the very nasty weather. Perhaps I'll have to start hosting these events only in the summer months.

Fun times were had! Tasty, flaming sushi was eaten! Our waiter, Sean, was the bomb! And I discovered that, yes, you *can* still talk fashion while carrying a healthy-sized foodbaby.

Sean = awesomeness.

Many thanks to Maggie the Haute Hoosier, Emily, Kailee, Rachel, and Jenny from the Indianapolis Star  for coming out to meet me and Jared at Naked Tchopstix.

Latecomer Emily!

And many congratulations to Rachel for winning the F-You Prize Package! Fresh fudge and a stylin' fur. Wear the fur well, Rachel. (But please no wearing the fudge; that would be awkward.)

NYFW highlight: I love you, Betsey!

Betsey Johnson showed at New York Fashion Week this Monday, February 14, at 6:00 p.m. As always, her clothing was outrageous but still wearable, she was adorable, and her models looked like they were having a blast. If I were about 20 pounds lighter and 6 inches taller, I'd love to model for a Betsey show.

Highlights:



The whole shebang from last year's show:

For those of us who *sigh* can't go to New York Fashion Week...

Gabrielle at Haute in the Heartland comes to the rescue! Clicky for live-streaming goodness. It's not quite being there, but it's not too shabby.

Catch Perry Ellis Friday at 11am, Jason Wu at 1pm, Rebecca Taylor at 2pm, Rebecca Minkoff at 2:30 pm, and Nicole Miller (yay!) at 6 pm.

Hit up http://hauteintheheartland.blogspot.com for the whole shebang of livestreaming listings.

Happy Fashion Week!

Upcoming: Kiss of Fashion! This weekend!

The Fab Fashion Meetup 2.0! Get ready! (plus pics from the last one)

Family portrait, by David Van Deman

Well, I was still in the midst of some moving madness when the first Indiana Fashionista Meetup Luncheon went down. Now that it's sorted, it's already high time to be planning the next one!

Given that the costume-construction major at VU is a very time-intensive one, plus the fact I have TWO jobs right now, I'm gonna need help pulling off the next one. It's no sweat -- I will put together the brochure/flyer/promotional reading material decided upon, just like I did for the January 10 meetup. I will call for the reservation, unless things get RIDICULOUS. Basically, I'm still doing all the heavy lifting. I just need a pinch-hitter. And you'll get free publicity out of it, if you help out!

I just need basic help, like the MOST IMPORTANT question getting answered: Where should we all meet up? Indianapolis is a bit of a sizable place. I'd like to have a place with better parking than the cafe' in Bloomington, as I got a few complaints on parking. Taking this into consideration, what sounds good? Tentative ideas include Scotty's Brewhouse, Bella Vita, PF Changs (downtown or northside location), or a sushi/hibachi place. It's VERY important that I get your feedback early on, Indiana fashion-freaks!

Now for tentative date. A February meetup is nearly impossible given how busy-as-heck I'm going to be. The last weekend in February may work; I also have spring break starting March 5 and going through that week. I assume a Saturday meetup is preferable. So. February 26, March 5, and March 12 are the dates presently on the table. Please give me feedback here in a comment, on the Circle City Style Facebook page, or via Twitter. I will be putting up an EventBrite page as soon as I have an idea of which of these 3 dates is best.

As a digression, The play I'm doing costumes for, "Days Without End," opens at the Red Skelton Center at VU on February 17, and my attendance is mandatory. SO, if you'd like to see me on that weekend, you know where I'll be. It's a good play, albeit depressing, and we're working some FANTASTIC 1930's period costuming, so you may deem it worth the trip to come see.

I will also need someone to act as co-host/hostess, which basically just means you help by acting as greeter if I end up running late on the drive to Indy. And, your site's address (and logo, if applicable) gets featured on the front of this event's brochure. Not too shabby!

The first Meetup went off better than I could have ever imagined, and I'm way thankful for everyone who made that possible. Hope you can come out to this next one. The best chance for that is to have advance notice and a hand in the final date chosen.

At this time, I'd like to thank all the attendees at the January 10 meeting:

• Julia Rutland, Aesthetic Design Style
• Janelle Cissel, Ruby Leonne
• Jessica Quirk, What I Wore
• Michael Trace, Michael Trace Photography
• Kaitlin Elyse, T. Party Clothing and Fashion Wrap Up
• Crystal Hammond, Dressed Her Days Vintage
• Emily Lytle-Painter, Dressed Her Days Vintage and Indianapolis Museum of Art
• Freelance fashion writer Erica Sagon
• Christy Pastore, Fashion Wrap Up
• Truen James, House of Fifth and Indianapolis Fashion Collective
• Chelsea Kouns, model for Fashion Wrap Up
• Photographer David Van Deman

Christy, Kaitlin, Jessica

Me with Jessica

Julia, Jessica, Erica

Kaitlin and Christy

An artsy shot of Truen

Janelle

Emily and David. Um, Emily, you're posing the wrong way :p

Table-shot by the very talented David Van Deman

Further writeups at: Ruby Leonne, The IMA official blog, DHD Vintage, and Aesthetic Design Style.

You are all so beautiful! Here's hoping for a bigger, better next Meetup!

Quickie: Elegy

Courtesy of http://indydarkbeat.com/

I'm excited about this, because usually goth/industrial events in Indianapolis are 21 and up. Rejoice, my dear younguns! Now you get to join in on the fun!

Cover is only $3, plus a $1 membership fee if you've never been to the Dojo before. Xitng the Systm ALONE is worth twice that. I'm going to make an appearance, and then I might head to the Melody for Neon Love Life.

The 2011 Celebration!

So, I've been playing catch-up a bit since the move. The outfall of that is, I didn't actually get this happy little New Year's photoset together until... erm... halfway into January. *blush* I had to post it anyway, because it was just the best New Year's celebration in a long time. Hope was palpable in the air again, for the first time in a long time. 2010 was NOT a fabulous year for a lot of people, and neither was 2009. But for some reason, it seemed like everyone in the room, no matter what the party I showed up at, felt like we've finally turned the corner, and that 2011 is going to ROCK.

So, go ahead and re-enjoy the festivities in the collage below. As always, clickety to embiggety. (And yes, that IS a guy in a leopard loincloth. Best not to ask.)

Happy New Year from Circle City Style!

The little couple that rocks hardcore.

You're totally jealous that these are my grandparents.

Meet my stepdad's parents, Walter and Estelyn. Try not to pine too hard over that red coat. Yes, this lovely lady is my second-biggest bargain hunting muse. (First place, of course, goes to Mom.)

This is another set I got at my brother's wedding. I say this is one of the loveliest couples I've ever had the privilege to know in person. They're coming up on their 69th wedding anniversary, and still look as adorable and happy together as they do in their wedding photo. (Now THERE'S a vintage fashion shot to show off, if I could get a scan.) Given their own successful marriage, the DJ at Alex and Jessica's reception handed them the microphone and asked them to impart their best advice to the new family, on how to make a marriage last.

Estelyn's words: It's not always easy, but just hang in there.

Walter's words: Always say, "Yes, dear!"

Glorious Gigi!

This is Gloria. She is the grandmother of my sister in law, Jessica. This woman is hilarious, awesome, and a stunningly good dresser, as you can see. The grandkids call her Gigi. She prefers that to "Grandma."

I was handing out programs at Jessica's wedding to my brother, Alex. Then I saw her. "God, you're an awesome dresser!" I gushed. "You can't have any of it," she said. We both laughed. I was in insta-love with this new family member.

She said if I want to dress as well as she does at her age, "marry a wealthy man." Well, I make my own money, and I'm marrying a broke musician. It's all good, though. Now, to the outfit: The coat is a high-quality mink. "I bought it with my last real estate check," she said. The dress is 100 percent silk. She bought it in Hungary. She didn't say where the hat or shoes were from, but when I told her I have a similar hat in black, she did give me a brief tutorial on the proper use of hat-pins. Allrighty, then! Long live Gigi!

ATTENTION: Indiana Fashionista Meetup Luncheon is on!

It's Circle City Style's first major event!

Hide yo' kids, hide yo' wives... Just kidding! Dress your best and come on out, the lot of you! I decided it would be a great idea to bring some of the brightest fashion-minds in the state together for an afternoon of tasty food, decent music, shop-talk, and whatever else y'all come up with!

Date: Saturday, January 8
Time: 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Place: Cafe Django, Bloomington IN
Facebook Invite here.
EventBright invite here. (With ever-so-helpful Mapquest action!)

You can print out your ticket and keep it for your scrapbook, if you want. The EventBrite page is just the best way I've found to track RSVP's. Nobody's going to kick you out if you don't present a ticket; just let the Cafe Django host/hostess know you're here with the Circle City Style group!

Psst! Check out the menu at http://cafedjango.us. Everyone who attends gets a tea or coffee -- free for you, because it's getting put on Leah's tab!

PLZ RSVP!

Bring yo' camera! Bring yo' cards! Sure, we're going to socialize and have a great time -- but do please recognize a networking opportunity when you see one!

Can't wait to meet y'all! Please pass on the word to your fellow fashion-fanatics. All who have an interest in the southern Indiana/central Indiana/Midwest fashion scene are welcome!

Event management for Indiana Fashionista Meetup Luncheon powered by Eventbrite

Quickie: Midwest Fashion Week 2011 promo vid is up!

Links To Love

Oops, I've been scooped! It's bound to happen from time to time. Here's what nearby style-mavens are going on about. I love it; I must share it!

Via Haute in the Heartland: Be the first Dressed Her Days Vintage Diva! (read: Model their AWESOME clothes as the official "face" of DHD Vintage for 2011!)

How do I become this diva?
Simply "like" the Dressed her Days Facebook page by Dec. 23 and tell them in 50 words or less why you'd make the ideal vintage diva. If you're uncomfortable using Facebook as your method of correspondance (i.e. if you only communicate in pink comic sans, which is not available on Facebook) then email your submission to crystal@dressedherdaysvintage.com.

Judges (I don't know who they are) will select 5 finalists and publish them on the DHD Facebook page on Jan. 3, whereupon all Facebook and Twitter followers of DHD will vote for the diva. The leading lady will be announced Jan. 15.

Indianapolis Fashion Collective

There aren't words. It's just AWESOME. Via the site, here is their mission:

Indianapolis Fashion Collective came into existence to Unite, Empower, Showcase, and Grow the Indianapolis area fashion industry through collaboration, education, and awareness.

IFC will do this through a combination of:
a web presence; exploring Indy as a fashion destination; marketing and events; mentoring and funding new talent; procuring manufacturing and sourcing for our members and Indianapolis as a whole; and partnerships with the community and other fashion-related businesses.

Via Planet Awesome Kid: Total Eclipse of the Heart.

Look at this sweet, beautiful kid. If he doesn't melt your heart, it's because you don't have one.

Also via Haute in the Heartland: Trashion Refashion Bloomington still looking for entries!

Creative types have til Feb. 1 to submit entries for this juried show. Proceeds from admission will benefit the benefit the Center for Sustainable Living in Bloomington. I REALLY wanted to make an entry into this one, but with the move and starting school and all, I just do not have the time to commit to creating an item up to my standards for myself. Please do go. I'll do my best to be there, and I'm sure it will be a blast.

The show, which starts at 7pm, will cost $15 in advance, $20 at the door and $10 under 18. There will be two runway shows, a silent auction, community art project, live music, cash bar and information about the Center for Sustainable Living. It is free to submit a design.

Via Aesthetic Design Style: Indianapolis named # 5 Top Shopping City!

That's right, according to Forbes Magazine, we're # 5! Top 5 out of 25 selected top-shopping cities. I'll take it. Shop local, y'all. If you don't know where to start, go with the sampling of local boutiques featured in the Aesthetic Design blog.

Via Chicago Streetstyle Scene: fun pics from Midwest Holiday Fashion Blogger Brunch

Stay tuned, Hoosier fashionistas -- I'm planning a similar gathering for us, for January. More detail forthcoming VERY SOON!

Via Glamour: Topless sunbathers in France demand equality. Male supporters don "man-kini" tops in a solidarity protest.

...police say that exposing one's breasts is sexual exhibition, and it's punishable by up to a year in prison or a fine of 15,000 euros. One feminist group in France called Les Tumultueuses is so put off by this notion that they've been staging protests at local pools, showing up with bikini tops and asking the male swimmers to wear them to create a deeper feeling of equality. Their point? "If women have to cover their breasts in a pool, then so too should guys."

Beautiful Family

A montage of footage from my stepbrother's wedding.


Alex & Jessica Eversoll Wedding Montage (12/11/10) from Sean Gowdy on Vimeo.

Thanks, Sean, for this video. In addition to being a testament to a joyful addition to my family, it's totally fitting for a blog centered on style and beauty. A happy, thankful heart is always in fashion.

Not to mention the fact that my brother looks darn good in a tux, and his bride, Jessica, picked a gorgeous dress. Also, Jess's daughter, Emery, would fit right in on Planet Awesome Kid. This is one pretty family.

I did get some good style photos of reception guests. These are forthcoming, and they will BLOW your mind.

Disco-ball beret

This is Andrea. Andrea doesn't think she truly has style. I beg to differ, Andrea.

She says she borrowed the beret from a friend. I saw some just like this two days ago at Target. Get thee to Target and hook yourself up, Andrea!

Meet Scott. Scott likes to photobomb people. Bad Scott. Bad.

OK. That's a pretty sweet suit jacket. I guess you can stay.

Andrea lives in Broad Ripple and DJ's all over Indy. She says she gets her clothes mostly at Goodwill. Scott is a West Side resident, works at a local grocery, and says he likes to shop at Kohl's. "I just like suits," he says.

Thrift-store queens: Andrea in her disco-esque top. Me in a thrifted LBD with Betsey Johnson belt.

Hot style on a cold night at IndyFringe

My friend Jared and I were enjoying the IDADA First Friday Art Walk, but it was a very cold December night. So we were drawn to a particular crowd outside IndyFringe, gathered around a cozy-looking little fire. The group was warm, inviting, and engaging, so we took a few moments to warm up.

It was around this time that we discovered Awesome Coat Girl conversing with Awesome Scarf Girl:

I zeroed in on Awesome Coat Girl first, a vision of streamlined style with her military-inspired double-breasted coat, French braid updo, and sleek leather gloves.

Name: Cris J.
Home: Downtown Indy
Occupation: Information Services
Where'd you get the coat? "Macy's at Glendale Mall on Keystone."



Now it's time to meet Awesome Scarf Girl. She kept it simple with a gray skirt, black coat, and black boots, but distinguished herself with the feathered headband, impeccable scarf, and patterned tights.

Name: Breena F.
Home: Downtown Indy
Occupation: Account manager at MediaSauce
Biggest fashion vice: "Scarves!"
Where'd you get your coat? "I can't remember -- TJ Maxx, maybe?"

A crew with some serious style

[EDITED TO FIX SOME WHOOPSIES. Brandon is Qing's boyfriend. I incorrectly said that Nick was. Sorry, guys! That's what I get for not taking notes that are sufficiently legible. *blush*]

While looking to get some darker-styled snaps of the Revenge denizens this Thursday at Tru, I happened upon a most fascinating trio. They were all too happy to show off some moves during DJ Jin-XS's set.

They're so FAST -- one second they're in frame, the next I'm looking at a bunch of cut-off heads. :(

The first member of this group I saw was Qing. Qing's got moves that'd make my idols, the Beatfreaks, proud -- and she's also got some sweet hip-hop style that I just had to get on film. Qing is a New York native, re-located to downtown Indianapolis. She dances in a student crew at IUPUI. She says her style is mostly influenced by her dancing.

This is Nick. Nick is Qing's (extremely photogenic) friend. He's also an IUPUI student, and the two dance in the same crew together. That's almost as sweet as his awesome headscarf is. I should have asked where he got his great skeleton-key necklace. He went so simple - just a black T-shirt, white hoodie, and jeans. Proof you don't have to over think it to look pulled-together.

Finally, we have Brandon, a.k.a. "Edge." Edge is lucky enough to be dating Qing. He dances professionally, touring the nation with his crew, Incognito. He paired huge, geeky black-framed glasses with a striped T and green jacket (He was doing some funky move incorporating said jacket, but he threw it to the floor right before I could get my shot in.)

"I have this quirky, dorky style that I like a lot," he said. "Other crews see me and, since I look like such a nerd, they think I won't be a threat. Then I blow them away."

You can catch Brandon's crew on Friday night, December 10th at the Vogue in Broad Ripple. Musicians that night include Twin Cats, Hyrider, UV Hippo, and Psynapse. Incognito takes the stage at midnight. Cover is $8.