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!

What a NICE writeup on the IMA blog!

Emily from the Indianapolis Museum of Art  has done a nice little writeup on the growing Indiana fashion scene, and its respective stylists, bloggers, and such. She made it out to the first Indiana Fashionista Meetup, and Circle City Style TOTALLY gets a mention in this story. Check it out for nearby fashion resources and community members you might not have known before!

Viva Indianapolis Fashion!

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

High-fashion in the style of Gemma Teller

Gemma Teller-Morrow is a total badass. If you've ever caught an episode of Sons of Anarchy, you know what I'm talking about. If you don't you're missing one of the best and highest-rated shows currently on television.

Portrayed by the multitalented Katey Sagal, Gemma is the wife of the leader of the Sons of Anarchy Motorcycle Club, Redwood Original charter. Set in the fictional town of Charming, California, SOA is a grim, gritty, beautiful, dramatic, and often darkly funny drama centering on the hard-knock lives of the biker gang members.

As Sons of Anarchy finished its third season recently, I found myself again admiring Gemma's wardrobe. Sure, it's a bit trashy. They're bikers. They're going to be a little white-trash. But there is something in her rough, yet feminine wardrobe choices that demands a second look. She's partial to silver pendants, leather, studs, fringe, perfectly fitting jeans in both darkwash and distressed styles, feathers, black lace, uber-cleavage, lace-up detailing, crosses, big silver earrings with intricate detailing, and boots that are high-style, but sensibly made for maximum butt-whoopin' ability when necessary.

I've put together a few style collages inspired by the attitude and appearance of Gemma. I added some skull accessories here and there to go with the official Sons of Anarchy logo. Also, any biker babe worth her salt is going to be sporting some ink. If you shy from the needle, and think temporary tats are cheesy, there are plenty of camis, purses, and shoes with tattoo-style detailing. (Just try to steer clear of Ed Hardy. Friends don't let friends wear douche brands, and ol' Ed is right out there with Tapout Clothing on the douchery scale.) Click any of the collages to embiggen.

The Pricey Version:

If you've got the cash, these are some great items to work into your wardrobe for a little high-end biker flair. These items' prices range from about $100 for the Fossil belt to over $2,000 for the Cavalli jacket.

Jacket and skull necklace: Roberto Cavalli
Boots: Louboutin
Skull bracelet: Alexander McQueen
Belt: Fossil
Bag: Jimmy Choo
Lace Tank: John Paul Gaultier
Jeans: Joe's Jeans
Studded Bangle: Juicy Couture
Belt: Fossil
Earrings: Alexis Bittar

 The Affordable Version:

If high-end designer prices make you hyperventilate, try out something more midrange in price.

Jacket: Cripple Creek
Cross Necklace: Guess
Filigree Earrings: Target
Studded Bracelet: Hot Topic
Rhinestone Skull Bracelet: The Pyramid Collection
Boots: Journee at Target
Jeans: Mossimo at Target
Belt: JC Penney
Clutch: Loungefly
Tank: Arden B.
Feather Necklace: Charlotte Russe

Saving the Best for Last:

Hey! What's a Circle City Style blog without a heaping helping of locally-sourced style finds?

Bag: Greenwood-based Handbag Heaven
Earrings: Sage Boutique, Mass Ave
Leather Jacket: Rag-o-Rama, Broad Ripple
Spike Ring: Studio AMF
Cross Pendant: Silver in the City, Mass Ave
Turquoise and Silver Bracelet: Eye Candy, Mass Ave
Black Lace Tank: Pitaya, Broad Ripple
Feather Necklace: Pitaya, Broad Ripple
Belt: Sage Boutique, Mass Ave
Jeans: Sage Boutique, Mass Ave
Boots: Pitaya, Broad Ripple

What do you think? How would you translate a little Gemma-style badassery into your own looks?

Check This Out: Project IMA fashion show

If you missed out on Project IMA this year, please accept my condolences, because you really missed out.

Fortunately, the museum has posted video of the whole show! Enjoy: