Away message: I'm wood-nymphing it for a week

A lot of people are surprised when I tell them I choose to spend my biggest annual vacation in the woods, like a penchant for clothing makes it impossible to enjoy the outdoors.

Those same people are even more surprised to hear my rustic getaway has no electricity and no running water. That means no "Law & Order", no shower, no light switches and here's the biggie: NO INTERNET.

My family owns 80 acres of coniferous forest in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, in the middle of which sits a log cabin (c. 1920), decked out in Victorian stained glass, field stones and 18 years worth of antique collecting. This is not roughing it; rather it's the chicest epitome of the word "resort" I can imagine.

Instead of showering we either bathe in our wood-burning sauna or dive into Lake Superior with shampoo and a bar of soap. Instead of switching off our brains for an L&O marathon we embroider and bead and instead of blogging we sip our fresh coffee on the lawn with a good book. The phone doesn't ring, we couldn't read an email if we wanted to and we wake up whenever our eyes happen to open. It's a serenity many city dwellers have likely never experienced.

In fact the only available cell signal is out by the lake, where last summer I interviewed The Sartorialist via phone, sitting at a picnic table, bikini-clad, Stella Artois in hand.

Sure, the locals wear a lot of fleece and other things from L.L. Bean, but stylish tourists tend to be inspired by the natural surroundings. My mom and I, for example, routinely bust out our leather goods and best turquoise jewelry--a sort of glam camouflage.

And so I'll be in paradise until Aug. 1. If you need me, well, leave a message.

New fashion night life show could be on the air soon

If a nightlife show out of South Bend sounds weird to you, it's OK, it sounded weird to me, too.

But as Jason Jolliff, producer of Nighlights, chuckled knowingly at my quizzical expression from across a bowl of guacamole, I reminded myself that people have fun everywhere--even South Bend, Indiana.

And they like to be documented having fun, as is proven by the "Party Crashers" photographers who troll the Indianapolis night life hotspots on the weekends. Jolliff has been filming said fun-having since Feb. 2008.

Together with Nightlights host/model/girlfriend Amy Beers, Jolliff plans to bring that philosophy to life in Indianapolis.

In talks now with TV networks, the pair hopes to be on the air with their Indianapolis Nightlights spinoff in time for football season.

But they're not stopping there.

Assuming Nightlights is a success, Jolliff and Beers are proposing a fashion-based show, taking audiences behind the scenes at fashion shows and other events, introducing our budding fashion scene to those who wouldn't otherwise know it existed.

View the pilot of "Glitz" here.

And comment! If the network sees there are people interested, there's a greater chance this idea will become reality.

Dossier Item: Bags 2 Riches

This is still a couple months away, but mark your calendars. It benefits a homeless mentoring program and there are cute handbags for sale. Need I say more?

For all the deets, go here.

RLynda is showing at Atlanta Fashion Week, debuting her line locally

I received an invitation a few months ago to attend Atlanta Fashion Week. While I was flattered to receive it, I had no clue how an Indianapolis blogger was on Atlanta's radar. Then I met Arlinda Norris at the Fashion Wrap Up launch party, and it all made sense.

The designer will be show tomorrow at Atlanta Fashion Week, which began yesterday.

The two dresses pictured above are the only designs to leak from the RLynda Spring/Summer 2011 collection, but you can view her entire body of work July 29.

The Indianapolis launch party will be at the Indiana State Museum's Canal Overlook Bridge at 7:30.

Personally, I can't wait. Judging by these pieces alone, it's clear Arlinda has a firm grasp on fitting a garment to the feminine form along with a healthy imagination.

Learn more about the designer by watching her IndyStyle interview below.

Homespun: gifts for your friends who have everything

In a recent discussion about Homespun, my companion attributed her absence at the grand opening to being "over the whole craft thing."

While I respect her feelings and admit that the modern craft movement isn't exactly Spring chicken-ish anymore, I'd like to point out that you don't have to do something first to do it well.
And that's what Neal and Amanda Taflinger do with Homespun; they do crafts well.

At least that's what I was thinking as I stood in their new E. Washington St. space Friday night, munching on a mini Flying Cupcake. They're providing a sort of tactile Etsy, where shoppers don't have to aimlessly search thumbnail pics of merchandise or wait for their favorite vendors to come around on the local art show circuit.

Before Homespun, I had to wait for the Indieana Handicraft Exchange to play with Allison Ford's delicious wooden jewelry. And if I wanted to sniff some blue grenade soap to make sure I enjoyed the fragrance I would've just taken a leap of faith.

No more.

Now, when you need a baby gift for your preggo hipster friends, Homespun is there.
When you need a kitchen utensil for your Atari-loving cousin, Homespun is there.
When your Goody hair accessories just aren't doing it for you anymore, Homespun is there.

Dossier Item: Homespun grand opening

When I think about Homespun, the new Indiana handicraft store opening in Irvington THIS SATURDAY, I get really excited, but I also get a warm, fuzzy feeling in my heart.

It's that feeling of swelling with pride when someone you respect does something really well, or something really good, for that matter.

I can't really say I know owners Neal and Amanda Taflinger, in fact I've never met Amanda and Neal I've been to India Garden with a few times but that was with a mutual friend and I don't really think we spoke.

Yeah, you prolly don't care about who I go to India Garden with (although if you haven't used their buffet as a hangover cure, you're missing out) but all this is to say Neal and Amanda GET IT.

And by "IT" I mean what's cool, or what people will dig. Amanda's Indieana Handicraft Exchange has gotten so popular she had to turn away vendors this year and Neal's blog is so good looking I liked it before reading the first post.

So their new brainchild, Homespun, can only be full of things you'll want to buy. Not just normal things tho, handmade things, from Indiana, that you can wear, that you can put in your house, that you can USE.

And if you don't feel like buying anything, go to support the business.
A few things to entice you:

• interior work by Nikki Sutton
• re-purposed barn wood--enough said
• found fixtures

There's still a chance to win a swag bag full of rad stuff. Just take a picture of a Homespun flyer or postcard wherever you see it posted and post it to the Homespun Facebook wall to be entered.

And for goodness sake attend the grand opening on Saturday.

Homespun Grand opening
Saturday, July 10
5624 W. Washington St., 46219
homespunindy.com

Dossier Item: Couture & Cocktails

Friday, July 9 @ Cloud 9 Bar & Grill
10 p.m., wear all white--guessing there won't be any red wine or shrimp cocktail?
$15 advance tickets
$20 at the door.

No word on which designers, exactly, will be in attendance, but there's a picture of champagne on this flyer and that's good enough for me.

Bottoms up!

Emerging local fashion NFP is forming a database. Give em your deets.

So we haven't voted on a name yet, but there's a group of us in town forming a fashion not for profit.

We have all kinds of goals; establishing an Indianapolis Fashion District, helping to foster a live/work space for designers, attracting manufacturers to Indianapolis, just to name a few.

We're ambitious, but we're also realistic, which is why the first order of business is putting together a database of local fashion professionals. This is so Indiana MUAs, hair dressers, designers, boutiques, photographers and manufacturers can find each other. And better still, people from outside the industry and outside Indiana will be able to find us, too.

If you work in fashion it would behoove you to fill out the form at this wonderful little site Catherine Fritsch of Sweet Revenge Lingerie has put together.

As I reported in the IBJ last month, the city of Indianapolis is curious as to how many people work in fashion in Indianapolis. Well, let's show them it's A LOT.

Photo by Polina Osherov.

Fashion Wrap Up launch party was super fun

Last night's celebration of Fashion Wrap Up, a new online fashion magazine, was definitely a success. Unlike many fashion events I attend, there was no dearth of sponsorship (aka $$$) and it was well attended, albeit had it rained I'm doubtful everyone could've fit in the Historic Ambassador House. Just curious though, why is it in the middle of a condo development?

As we (the posse) pulled up to the house I was glad to see most everyone had adhered to the "black tie" dress code. Glitter clad people were spilling out of that house like a sparkly ant hill. Once inside, it was impossible not to smile constantly. Cheerful jewelry twinkled from vendors' tables and no one was shy about their personal style, something that makes my heart sing.

Zoe Renee Huse, personal shopper, channeled Lady Gaga in her stretch satin jumpsuit and explosion of silver sparkles surrounding from her left eye. Catherine Fritsch rocked out a purple hombre piece I recognize from Project IMA back in the day and a new face, R. Lynda, looked stunning in a tulle covered corset dress by BCBG. R, can't wait to see your designs!

Bravo, ladies.

But there was more to look at than the guest apparel, which brings me to the above video of a presumably drunk model dancing like a stripper. Moments like this are what make parties memorable, and I'll be darned if she didn't look hot in that red dress.

I guess the girl was representing sponsor LadyLash, because as I was taking his video I overheard the company owner say while shaking her head disapprovingly, "great, she's representing us." As you can see in the video another model mercifully joins the dance party to lighten the mood by stomping around and acting goofy. At any rate it was good to see someone letting loose, even if that means some hip thrusting on the patio.

My only criticism was the use of Gaby Couture as the featured designer. Although we were unable to stay for the runway show, I've seen the work at past shows and I've poured over some event photos. I don't mean any disrespect but I don't think the pieces by this label can be called a collection, mostly because collections are made up of more than just evening gowns.

Not only do they not tell a story or define a point of view or look like they came from the same woman's closet, they just aren't made very well. More than one gown hung from the model or didn't lay right or was made of cheap fabric. I mean, one dress had baby blue polyester rosettes streaming down the skirt, something I think is really only appropriate on a flower girl dress.

But, just my opinion.

All in all I had a smashing time, and felt like I was among people who truly appreciate fashion and are excited about all its interpretations. Anyone with that philosophy is definitely someone I'd like to party with.

To editor Christy Cripe Pastore: thank you for throwing a party so worthy of attendance and I wish you good luck with your online magazine.

Dossier Item: "Stitch in Time: Funky Hats"

Millinery is one of those mysterious things most people prefer to leave up to the professionals. Heck, according to Emily Clark of Emilliner, many people have no idea what the word means.

But she's on a personal quest to change that, which is why she'll reveal some of her hat making secrets through two seminars at the Indiana State Museum in August.

"Stitch in Time: Funky Hats" is a two-session workshop that will cover the history of millinery, plus teach basic techniques, using some of the museum's pieces for demonstration.

Each student will receive a pre-made cocktail hat base for embellishing with flowers and feathers.

I encourage anyone with even a shred of craftiness in their being to attend this class. After all it's not every day one gets a hat making lesson from a former Phillip Treacy employee/sorcerer's apprentice. This woman has worked on hats for the late and great Alexander McQueen, for goodness sake.

The schedule is below.

Stitch in Time: Funky Hats
8/14/2010 10:00AM - 03:00PM

Session A: 10 a.m. – noon
Session B: 10 a.m. – noon and 1 – 3 p.m.
Session A ONLY: $20 per person / $10 museum member
Session A and B: $75 per person / $50 museum member
Registration deadline: July 24

*Registration is required for both the morning and afternoon sessions. Those who wish to participate in the Session B must attend Session A. However, participants are welcome to only register for Session A and not Session B. Please reserve your seats by calling 317.232.1637.