Soft, Raw, Creative
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| Tupelo Honey by Holly Owens |
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| And Sew On by Debrah DeMirza |
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| Little Wing & Foul Play by Lisa Sandow and Allison Barlow |
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| Revivall by Laura Lee Laroux |
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| Deluxe by Mitra Chester |
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| Revivall by Laura Lee Laroux |
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| Aniela Parys by Aniela Parys |
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| Revivall by Laura Lee Laroux |
The Carnival of Couture kicked off last Saturday with flair and enthusiasm for the local talent it showcased. The fashion show, which took place at the Lane County Fairgrounds’ Expo Hall, was billed as a Deluxe, Kitsch and Redoux production, produced by Deluxe owner Mitra Chester and local stylist Laura Lee Laroux and hosted by the local mother-daughter team Dawn Baby (of Dawn Baby Salon) and Amelia Hart.
Now in its fourth year, the show included more than 25 local designers. Prominently featured aesthetics included the rave scene, wearable art and over-the-top themes like Alice In Wonderland and Deluxe’s circus line. Many designers used flowy, sheer fabrics and utilized rich colors.
Designer Serena Agterberg of Lines said she wanted to showcase creativity and functionality on the runway.
“I really wanted to do jeans and skirts for this season,” Agterberg said. “I also made two pieces from old bedsheets.” One of her models, Rachel Parker, wore a Little Mermaid bedsheet-turned-dress.
“I like my dress a lot,” Parker said. “I’m kinda a die hard Little Mermaid fan. I’m not sure about wearing this dress to school, but I probably would anyway.”
Agterberg, a student at the Academy of Arts and Academics in Springfield, said she also wanted to emphasize lace, crop tops and other lightweight fabrics for her spring collection.
Designers Allison Barlow and Lisa Sandow, of Little Wing Faerie Art and Fowl Play respectively, said they wanted to create pieces that reflect a growing appreciation of Art Nouveau-inspired fairy art and sustainability while still being, in Barlow’s words, “wild and whimsical.” Barlow and Sandow see their creations as popular Oregon Country Fair and Faerieworlds items.
“I try to use resources that aren’t usually used, like vintage stuff,” Sandow said about her pieces, which are mainly hair styling pieces using feathers that Sandow gets from animals that she either raises or finds dead on the side of the road. “It’s funny, because sometimes the feathers you would buy at a store belonged to animals that died cruel deaths. I find this more natural.”
Grintage designer Andrew Helms found inspiration for his line in the classic femme fatale of 1940s film noir, although he describes his overall aesthetic as “urban chic.”
“This season I used turquoise, purple, pink and black,” said Helms, who wants to pursue a career in fashion advertising. “We also have leather and studding. I liked mixing the soft fabrics with the raw edge of leather and the studs.” — Kaitlin Flanigan
A Note From the Publisher
Dear Readers,
The last two years have been some of the hardest in Eugene Weekly’s 43 years. There were moments when keeping the paper alive felt uncertain. And yet, here we are — still publishing, still investigating, still showing up every week.
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Publisher
Eugene Weekly
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