Fashion week was this past week. Will be posting trend analysis and opinions soon! To start getting some ideas of your own, I recommend style.com . It's a thorough site that even posts backstage pictures of hair and makeup.
Thread Fashion Show
Things were happening at the Thread Fashion Show this past Saturday. I went for the evening backstage, as a stylist, and thoroughly relished in the 1940s glory of the hair.
Things were smooth sailing. The music was hot, the models were spunky and I am pretty sure every person in the room (guy and girl included) walked away with a crush in the austere model Brandon Boyer. The clothes?? I am sure a few ladies fell in love with the red riding jacket, as well. Fall classic!
Next year, I would love to see this show in a venue with a bit more panache. And, it would be great if some other local vendors were involved. More clothes would prolong the length of the show and that was one area for improvement.
(Photographs Courtesy of Mike Ford)
Things were smooth sailing. The music was hot, the models were spunky and I am pretty sure every person in the room (guy and girl included) walked away with a crush in the austere model Brandon Boyer. The clothes?? I am sure a few ladies fell in love with the red riding jacket, as well. Fall classic!
Next year, I would love to see this show in a venue with a bit more panache. And, it would be great if some other local vendors were involved. More clothes would prolong the length of the show and that was one area for improvement.
(Photographs Courtesy of Mike Ford)
Thread: Burglary and Fashion Show
Have you heard? Thread (located on South Ave) is hosting a fall fashion show at Tilt Nightclub on Saturday September 12. The theme, Outlaw, speaks to the recent burglary at Thread a few weeks ago...and perhaps the edginess of this fall's fashion as well? Can't say I quite find the fashion this fall pushing any boundaries. Either way, the fashion show couldn't have been aimed at a better week, considering Rochester's Insider Magazine did their best version of a fall fashion preview this week and Thread was in every shot.
I don't mean to be a Negative Nancy, but my last point of contention about those Insider spreads: nowhere did it clearly state where any of those clothing stores could be found or contacted OR who styled the shoots.
The Insider spreads had potential to be more interesting but stayed predictably commercial, with a Walmart-appropriate friendliness. Could this be because the inventory was limited to the whopping THREE Rochester clothing boutiques that promote a general interest in the skate/street culture? Why didn't they contact Krudco for some pieces...at least for some shoes? (I wish that they'd hire me to style those shoots...they are less than interesting. That said, I DO honestly appreciate the beautiful backdrop of Veneto's exposed brick wall).
I don't mean to be a Negative Nancy, but my last point of contention about those Insider spreads: nowhere did it clearly state where any of those clothing stores could be found or contacted OR who styled the shoots.
Keep it comin', Rochester, but let's step it up.
The Quest for Eyeglasses
For goodness' sake, you'd think you could find a decent pair of eyeglasses in this city! That was my initial thought, after my new puppy devoured my frames. I set out to find a new style.
The truth is, you can find a decent pair. Sure, finding the ideal pair, much like the ideal haircut, requires a bit of searching but if there is anything Rochester has in abundance, it's some great frames. I've recently gone from East to West Rochester checking out the frames. Here are my top recommendations:
1. Eye Openers.
Located on Monroe Ave in Brighton, you will find unique frames and attentive service. It's best to book and appointment in advance. Take advantage of their annual "Garage Sale" the first week of August. This unadvertised event is highly sought after, as designer frames are on clearance for as low as $30. One downfall is that they have mainly daytime hours.
2.Our Village Optician
Located in small town Brockport, home of SUNY Brockport College, "Lee Lee" carries an incredible variety of frames from dozens of different venders. Best variety, by far, including Coach, for the brand snobs out there (NOT my style to advertise a brand blatantly, but thank the good Lord that the world is full of diversity!). Downfall: ONLY daytime hours and you can only order frames Monday-Thursday, when Lee Lee is working...ahhh!!! It's like they are trying to lose business.
3. One Hip Chic
Located on Park Ave in Rochester, this is a true boutique. The atmosphere, presentation and selection of frames is well thought out and the most unique in the city. You want some funky frames? This is the place. European, Bob Dylan-esque, retro flare, or just plain unusual. One Hip Chic is the most fashion forward shop of the city, and its surrounding area. You will also pay the most!! (Completely worth it.) Bonus: clearance rack in the back. There really is nothing truly negative to say about this place. Keep in mind, the selection is targeted....you won't find anyone else in the city with the same pair of glasses if you purchase here, but this means the selection is limited, as well. Hours are decent; prices are $250+.
4. Empire Vision, Brockport Location
This is the best chain store in the area. Why Brockport? The Buyers/Merchandisers target this location with trendier frames, due to the immediate college population in the area. Absolutely worth checking out, especially if you are budget minded.
So, where did I end up buying some new frames? I found the perfect shape at Our Village Optician, but the color didn't sell me enough to spend $334 dollars on one frame (lenses included). Instead, I found and equally funky, albeit a bit less unique, pair at Stearling Optical of Henrietta in TWO colors and bought them both for a great bargain. This August special included getting $100 off your first pair of glasses and 50% your second pair. Both frames (lenses included) came out to be $342, just $8 more than the pair I had deliberated over in Brockport!! Yay for me!!
Sure, I could have hooked my husband up with a new pair of glasses instead. But after all that research, I deserved a couple different pairs to go with my ever-evolving wardrobe. This time, it was ok to be selfish.
The truth is, you can find a decent pair. Sure, finding the ideal pair, much like the ideal haircut, requires a bit of searching but if there is anything Rochester has in abundance, it's some great frames. I've recently gone from East to West Rochester checking out the frames. Here are my top recommendations:
1. Eye Openers.
Located on Monroe Ave in Brighton, you will find unique frames and attentive service. It's best to book and appointment in advance. Take advantage of their annual "Garage Sale" the first week of August. This unadvertised event is highly sought after, as designer frames are on clearance for as low as $30. One downfall is that they have mainly daytime hours.
2.Our Village Optician
Located in small town Brockport, home of SUNY Brockport College, "Lee Lee" carries an incredible variety of frames from dozens of different venders. Best variety, by far, including Coach, for the brand snobs out there (NOT my style to advertise a brand blatantly, but thank the good Lord that the world is full of diversity!). Downfall: ONLY daytime hours and you can only order frames Monday-Thursday, when Lee Lee is working...ahhh!!! It's like they are trying to lose business.
3. One Hip Chic
Located on Park Ave in Rochester, this is a true boutique. The atmosphere, presentation and selection of frames is well thought out and the most unique in the city. You want some funky frames? This is the place. European, Bob Dylan-esque, retro flare, or just plain unusual. One Hip Chic is the most fashion forward shop of the city, and its surrounding area. You will also pay the most!! (Completely worth it.) Bonus: clearance rack in the back. There really is nothing truly negative to say about this place. Keep in mind, the selection is targeted....you won't find anyone else in the city with the same pair of glasses if you purchase here, but this means the selection is limited, as well. Hours are decent; prices are $250+.
4. Empire Vision, Brockport Location
This is the best chain store in the area. Why Brockport? The Buyers/Merchandisers target this location with trendier frames, due to the immediate college population in the area. Absolutely worth checking out, especially if you are budget minded.
So, where did I end up buying some new frames? I found the perfect shape at Our Village Optician, but the color didn't sell me enough to spend $334 dollars on one frame (lenses included). Instead, I found and equally funky, albeit a bit less unique, pair at Stearling Optical of Henrietta in TWO colors and bought them both for a great bargain. This August special included getting $100 off your first pair of glasses and 50% your second pair. Both frames (lenses included) came out to be $342, just $8 more than the pair I had deliberated over in Brockport!! Yay for me!!
Sure, I could have hooked my husband up with a new pair of glasses instead. But after all that research, I deserved a couple different pairs to go with my ever-evolving wardrobe. This time, it was ok to be selfish.
Fashion in Rochester?? August 24, 2009
So, here we go: my simple thoughts, ideas, discoveries and suggestions about Rochester style, music and art as it relates to fashion.
Rochester. Great place to live. The general job fields here revolve around education and hospitals. Here I am, post college, newly married and finding life in Rochester. But, very little fashion (or, so is seems).
I am no fashionista. I am a displaced fashion major in love with inspiration, history, color, style, texture, silhouette and a good buy. I am a twenty-something year old, semi-hipster with some solid indie rock in my ipod and a love of learning. My favorite childhood game was dress-ups and I never really grew out of it.
My goal: to get an intelligent discussion about Rochester fashion into an open forum.
(That's right Emily Shearing. I said intelligent.)
Awesome. Thanks for checking me out.
~food.for.thought
Rochester. Great place to live. The general job fields here revolve around education and hospitals. Here I am, post college, newly married and finding life in Rochester. But, very little fashion (or, so is seems).
I am no fashionista. I am a displaced fashion major in love with inspiration, history, color, style, texture, silhouette and a good buy. I am a twenty-something year old, semi-hipster with some solid indie rock in my ipod and a love of learning. My favorite childhood game was dress-ups and I never really grew out of it.
My goal: to get an intelligent discussion about Rochester fashion into an open forum.
(That's right Emily Shearing. I said intelligent.)
Awesome. Thanks for checking me out.
~food.for.thought