RunUp to the Runway in review
On Friday evening, budding fashion designers got the chance to unveil their original designs, and Milwaukee got a look at local couture at RunUp to the Runway, held at the very fashionable Milwaukee Art Museum.
Ten Mount Mary design major started their careers off with a bang, showcasing their interesting creations in front of hundreds of people, and on one very posh runway at that.
Their designs ran the style gamut – they gave us everything from a bad-ass female pirate to snowboarder-chic with oversized fur-lined hoods and cuffs.
The most attention-grabbing ensemble was a form fitting, tiered, scarlet dress by student Paxia Vang. Instead of a unimaginative décolletage, Vang opted for an aristocratic neck ruff which became the centerpiece for the entire dress, making it a standout among the other, more neutral garments.
It wasn’t the most dramatic ensemble — but the most classic — that won the crowd over. Alison Topcaewski designed a very proper khaki swing coat with a tall asymmetrical collar that framed the model’s face nicely. The whole look was very Mad Men, and although it wasn’t the most original design, it did seem to stand out among some of the more contemporary pieces.
Couture by Miranda Levy
At 10:15 I’m Not A Pilot took the stage and provided audio for the Couture show, featuring area designers Shannon Lee Molter and Miranda Levy. The couture was hardly wearable but what Molter and Levy provided was an exhibit in itself and that’s what people wanted to see.
I didn’t feel there was anything 2010’s RunUp lacked, but there was something I missed, that being the involvement of local boutiques that had been represented on runways past.
Big names like Lorena Sarbu are creating a buzz in the city’s upscale boutiques, but let’s not forget about the shops that have helped turn Milwaukee into the kind of city where fashion designers feel confident selling their brand.
There’s something really fun about being in a museum after hours. Throw in a bunch of good-looking, well-dressed people and fun new fashion, and it all makes for a great evening.
TCD’s Photo Editor Brian Jacobson sat front row to capture the action on the runway!
