Today is last chance to vote for Indy's Most Fashionable

I've been pressuring Indianapolis Monthly to do a Best Dressed issue for ages now, but their argument is: are there enough well-dressed people around here for that?

Thanks to Fashion Wrap Up, there's no longer any question.

After launching the first local best-dressed competition (that I'm aware of, anyhow), we arrive today at the final reckoning.

Which 10 lucky contestants out of the 26 nominated will win the honor of being featured in the online magazine's December issue?

Seeing as eight of the 26 don't even have pictures, I'd say the remaining 18 have a pretty darn good chance. Maybe next year photos should be mandatory? Otherwise, how are we, as an objective public, supposed to know what these fabulous people look like?

Whew, the pressure! I feel like I'm voting for Prom court all over again.

Allow me to sway your votes in the final stretch with explanations of which, in my humble opinion, are most worthy (in no particular order):

Travis McGuire--is a design student at the Art Institute who can drape the heck outta some cotton, on a stage, while an audience watches him, in about 10 minutes. I've seen it! Not to mention, he looks like a project Runway contestant, what with his suspenders and occasional lumberjack shirts.

Emily Clark--is a classically-trained milliner, having studied in London under the illustrious Philip Treacy. You know, the guy who's designed hats for Isabella Blow, Alexander McQueen, Sarah Jessica Parker, oh, and ROYALTY. Her designs, and her angelic aura, have captivated the city with a level of talent that doesn't come along often. SHE ONLY HAS 9 VOTES PEOPLE.

Richard Anderson--pictured on the site in head-to-toe Gaultier looks like a couture fashion plate at any given moment. He also maintains a formidable collection of museum-quality garments that would make NY fashion editors drool. And he's hilarious to boot!

Maggie Conner--spent a semester at NYC's FIT before deciding she can be stylish anywhere, only it's more fun when you're with your friends and family. That's why she ended up back here in Indiana. Her blog, The Haute Hoosier, approaches fashion from a broad scope with a bubbly and frank voice that fits her powerhouse personality.

Nikki Sutton--who I thought was a ringer for this one, looks (and photographs) like a seasoned model but takes that natural talent in stride, just like her many other abilities. She'll design the heck out of an interior space (check out the Exact Target HQ), will style a photo shoot like it's no one's business and arrive at glamorous events perched on her motor scooter with every red strand magically in place.

Happy voting, everyone.
And may the best(dressed) person win!
Vote here.

Dossier Item: IndySwank celebrates first anniversary

IndySwank owner Jennifer Von Deylen will celebrate her store's first anniversary Friday, with champagne and a new clothing line, Stop Staring.

I chose the picture to the right because I've had this particular Stop Staring dress for a few years. While everything from the label is made out of stretchy fabric--so not authentic is that way--everything is also very cute.

You get all the style and detail of a vintage dress without having to worry about dry rot or pray for your size.

The price hovers around $100, which seems high to me since you can get real vintage for less than that, but convenience comes at a price.

Congrats, Jennifer, on a great year. Your store is a local treasure that I hope to enjoy for many years to come.

The Deets:
Where: IndySwank
1043 Virginia Ave., #4

When: Friday, Sept. 3, 6-10 p.m.

Emmy fashions were lame, except Claire Danes

I understand getting ready for an awards show has to be a lot of pressure. Everyone's waiting to criticize what you're wearing, whether you look fat, etc.

But at award shows honoring actors, who undergo such pressure as a part of their job, I'd think something like the Emmy's would attract a bevvy of drool-worthy garments, and certainly more than one.

But nope. Claire Danes, in my opinion, was the only gem worth mentioning from last night's event. (George Clooney was looking pretty fine but that had nothing to do with his suit)

Danes, who won best actress in a miniseries for her portral of Temple Grandin, has come a long way since her awkward "Romeo & Juliet" days.

That gangly girl in an angel costume has grown into an angelic vision in her own right. Her sequin-encrusted Giorgio Armani was a shade of powder pink not many girls can pull off. Her eyelids glittered with the same hue from beneath a swath of effortless-looking blonde locks that rounded-out her classic American beauty look.

Also, props for wearing a strapless gown and never ONCE getting caught on camera hoisting it up.

Saks rocks Fashion's Night Out

I honestly don't know who decided the Saks Fifth Avenue at the Fashion Mall would participate is this year's Fashion's Night Out on Sept. 10, but whomever it was made the store the only participant in the state of Indiana.

For those of you living beneath a rock, Fashion's Night Out is a nationwide day of shopping masterminded last year by Vogue's Anna Wintour.

Aimed at jump starting retail sales after a major slump and revving up excitement over spending frivolous fashion dollars, participating stores stay open late and host parties.

If you're lucky enough to live in New York, you'll probably meet lots of designers at these parties. I don't mean designers you've never heard of (well, those will be there, too) but the big ones. We're talking Diane Von Furstenberg, Donna Karen, Marc Jacobs and the like.

A multitude of stores are participating in my dear Detroit, but Saks is the only one to jump on board in ol' Naptown.

And they're doing it up right, with a rock star theme.

Make-overs are available on the ground floor courtesy of Dolce Salon and resident beauty experts.

Rock while you shop on the second floor to the jams of DJ Gabby Love and munch on gratis food and drink.

Shop with a MasterCard that evening and get a FNO playlist...I'm not sure what that is.

I will be there, with bells on.
And next year, lets see if we can't get more stores on board.

I'm thinking 8Fifteen, Haus, Frankeys...what else?

Eek! I'm a guest speaker...in a college classroom

Back in my Butler days Public Speaking was one of the only B's I ever received. [Feel free to roll your eyes here]

Frankly, it terrifies me. But after showing the world the state of my frighteningly messy apartment and voicing my views on this blog I've become a tad more comfortable with my phobia.

Thanks to you, my dear readers, I'm not perpetually afraid of every utterance sounding stupid, naive, arrogant or all of the above.

Which is why I agreed to be the guest speaker at my dear amiga's Fashion History class tonight, at the Art Institute.

During the class I will pull up this very page and allow the young fashion minds of tomorrow to scrutinize my little bloggy to my face.

I will discuss the process of developing a blog, and a voice to accompany that blog and how I got my readership from ZERO to nearly 500 views a week. Yeah, yeah, yeah I know the blogger I just wrote about in the IBJ gets about 10,000 per DAY but, well, I guess she's just cooler than me.

There will be no filter of the anonymous comment and no screen names to hide behind. Wish me luck.

To the students who are staring intently at this screen right now: please leave some comments below about the presentation, along with any questions you have that you perhaps were to shy to raise in class.

Ya know, things like,

Gabrielle, if you're such an authority why is your eyeliner smudged?

or

Gabrielle, I think your blog blows. How can I make mine better?

or

Wow, Gabrielle, I love those patent leather Naughty Monkey's you're wearing, but didn't that crazy b^&*% Sarah Palin wear the same ones during her campaign?
(the answer to that one is yes, by the way)

Remember, class, there's no such thing as a stupid question.

CANCELLED: Dossier Item: Reis Nichols Fall Fashion Preview

UPDATE:
Due to ticket sales, Thursday's event has been cancelled.
If you're like me and were hoping to wear a new dress to the event, you're probably bummed. But life goes on.

Everybody mark your calendars for Dec. 3 for the HUGE Christmas bash. Think open bar, lots of nibbles and fabulosity out the wazoo.

________________________________________________

Murph Damron, former model and just all around great lady, has been producing fashion shows for the last 40 years...a tenure that's sure to make the Reis Nichols Fall Fashion Preview a beautiful (and expensive) event.

Heck, I'd pay the $100 just to touch the Chanel...but David Yurman, Mikimoto, 8Fifteen, Niche and more will also appear.

The event will have the run of the entire Mavris building downtown, a gorgeous space lush with exposed brick and polished hard woods.

Ashley Manning is hosting, which means, I suppose, Peyton could be there too.

Here are the deets--see you there:

When: Thursday, Aug. 26
doors open at 6 p.m.
runway shows at 7:30 and 8:30
Where: Mavris Arts and Event Center, 121 S. East St.
Tickets: $100

All proceeds benefit Peyton Manning's PeyBack Foundation.

Greenfield designer launches third collection Sept. 1

Has anyone heard of Liz Alig?
Yeah, I haven't either, but apparently she's launching her third collection Sept. 1.
Aside from the fact her clothes appear to be really cute (see above) they're made of 100 percent recycled materials. We're not talking hippie fabrics like bamboo, we're talking actual recycled garments, like old work shirts and blue jeans.

Mi Esperanza, an organization dedicated to the education and skills training of Honduran woman, constructed the collection.

Accessories in the collection were created by women from Rebuilding the Wall Inc., an Indianapolis organization created to stabilize housing within the Reagan Park Community of Indianapolis (Fall Creek and Keystone area). They provide community residents with living wage jobs through skill set training and career development.

Like what you see?
You can pick up Liz Alig pieces at Lesley Jane in Zionsville, Marigold in Broad Ripple and Faith Boutique in Keystone.

Dossier Item: Moto GP Charity Race Party

I'm probably the last of all the Indianapolis fashion peeps to post this, but it's it's probably a good thing since the roster has changed.

No more shoes by Eimaj, but if that breaks your heart, just attend the Reis Nichols event on Thursday. The bedazzled footwear will be prancing down THAT runway, instead.

Due to my glamorous weekend employment, I won't be attending. So I'm depending on all you whipper snappers who can stay awake for a midnight catwalk to take some photos and report back!

Tickets are $25 at the door for women and $50 for dudes (?), which include an open bar (yeehaw!)
Designers include Brittany Humble of Ohio and our own Nikki Blaine.
Accessories courtesy of Cheeky Couture, Nikki Blaine and Mandrin Designs.

This is the first fashion show production effort headed by The Zoë Renee Fashion Team, to my knowledge, so good luck to them!

The deets:
When: Friday, Aug. 27
doors open at 9 p.m.
fashion show at midnight
Where: 4923 E Kesslever Blvd Indpls, home of Bianka Krausch

Contact zoerenee60@hotmail.com for Ticket Info and How to Purchase
Ticket proceeds benefit the Humane Society.

German children's clothing store opening at The Fashion Mall

I don't usually blog about children's clothes, but then again Indianapolis doesn't get a lot of exclusive, European clothing brands. And let's face it, those little girls are pretty darn cute.

Pampolina, a German clothing brand for girls and boys will open its first stateside store at our very own Fashion Mall at Keystone next month.

Now little American children can be just as stylish (and colorful, I mean, I want that dress in big girl size!) as those who live near Pamolina's other locations--namely London, Kiev, St. Petersburg and Dubai.

And thank goodness, because you're never too young to develop good taste.

Mocha Tree Organics: Beach in a pot

Ya know how the sand feels under your feet as you wade into the lake? The little grains exfoliate in a really perfect, non-abrasive way, like scratching an itch.

Jasmine Rose body polish, from local Mocha Tree Organics is that, for your shower.

If that weren't enough the brand has got the whole green thing down pat. When you've scooped all your vegan, biodegradable body polish out of the recyclable pot, you just order a refill packet and reuse the original container.

Founder Kimberly Stepp developed the line of products to soothe her daughter's ecxema--which totally worked--but it's nothing like a clinical product. Plus it'll make your whole shower smell divine.

Dossier Item: Fash Bash

If anyone's gonna be in Detroit on Aug. 26 and has an extra $125, this sounds pretty darn fabulous.

Dossier Item: Samira13 Trunk Show

According to her website, designer Samira Sizdahkhani is inspired ancient Persian nomadic treks and Tahitian South Sea Pearls. I don't really know anything about either of those things but I do know her jewelry is beautiful. It's a balance of nature and glamor that ushers forth images of Grace Kelly in the desert or a wedding in the woods.

Try on her baubles on Aug.18-19 at 8Fifteen and maybe you'll find your inner Queen of Sheba.

Aug. 18 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Aug. 19 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
815 E. 65th St.
Call 253-1234 with questions
*artist will be in attendance

I'm back! And look what I made

Prior to my journey into the woods I hit some DIY blogs hard and gathered some craft ideas that didn't involve anything that plugs in. Above are the fruits of my labor.

All this is to say I'm back in the game with lots of posts up my sleeve.

Dig my new neck attire? Make your own!

I got the chain thingy idea here
Couldn't find the rope necklaces website again, but just pretend you're making a friendship bracelet, only do it around a length of upholstery cord.