That’s why top local designers are dressing local celebrity models head-to-toe in original red dresses for the Red Dress Collection, presented by MNfashion for Minneapolis-St. Paul Fashion Week on Feb. 19, 2012. The Red Dress Event has been a highlight of New York Fashion Week and is now coming to Minneapolis. It will be held from 6 – 9 p.m. at SEVEN ULTRALOUNGE. Local designers will be paired with celebrity models for a runway show featuring all-red creations in support of women’s heart health.

For a list of designers, tickets and more information, visit www.reddressmn.com.

“We’ve worked hard to create a well-edited mix of events that represent fashion and style in the Twin Cities,” says Fashion Week Director Nicole Dixon. “All of these events are a can’t-miss and, fortunately, with our new scheduling process you won’t have to.”

All events fall under one of three categories: The Shows, satellite runway shows and retail events. The Shows, which were voted best local designer showcase by Minnesota Monthly, are making a triumphant return on Wednesday, Feb. 21 with Emma Berg, Kimberly Jurek and Amanda Christine. These designers represent the best of best in local fashion and will share their Autumn/Winter 2012 collections. Produced by MNfashion, The Shows have raised the bar for local runway shows and will continue that tradition this season.

To see a complete event listing, visit the calendar.

Your application will be reviewed by a panel of MNfashion directors and industry experts. If accepted, MNfashion will work with you to find the appropriate slot for your event. Our goal is to work closely with Event Holders to ensure they have the best-planned and most efficiently marketed event possible.

This season we are introducing something new that will help MSPFW attendees quickly find and the events they are looking for. Each event will fall into one of three categories and the review panel will determine which category is best suited to your event:

• The Shows: Runway shows presented by MNfashion that feature established designers and their latest collections.
• Retail Events: Fun shopping events, trunk shows and more that highlight the shops and retailers that keep our community unique and stylish.
• Satellite Runway Shows: Runway shows that shine a spotlight on up-and-coming designers.

Send any questions to Amy.Arguedas@mnfashion.org, and happy planning!

“By aligning ourselves with the cadence of the rest of the fashion industry, we are able to give our local designers more opportunity to sell their collections to local shops and boutiques across the country, “says Emily Blanche, executive director of MNfashion. “We have a deep well of talent in the Twin Cities and this new schedule will allow buyers and the media to more conveniently engage with local designers and the great work they produce year after year.”

In addition to a new name and timing, MNfashion is adding layers to their event review process to allow for a better-edited schedule of events. All events submitted will be reviewed by a panel of industry experts and MNfashion directors. This process will also allow the organization to provide a more in-depth involvement in event scheduling, promotion and production. MNfashion will also take ownership of the fashion week schedule to avoid double-booking of events.

“We are going to use this new review process as an opportunity to better know our events and designers,” says fashion week Director, Nicole Dixon. “We will work with event holders to find the best time slot for their event, most efficient means of promotion and provide the production assistance that helped make ‘The Shows’ such a success in years past.”

Each designer will showcase their version of fashion’s holy grail in a runway segment at 8:30 p.m. The designers featured tonight are Max Lohrbach, Maritza Ramirez, Danielle Everine, Ivan Idland, Raul Osorio, Sarah Holm, Amanda Christine, George Moskal, Laura Fulk, Jenny Carle, Emma Berg, Jenn Bratvold and Nicole Larson. Come see how each designer’s take on the classic LBD and, in addition,  each will show a look from a past collection (the alternative to the little black dress, the ALBD, if you will).

The event is free and open to the public (but must be 21 +). Validated parking is provided in the Lawson ramp and detailed directions are available here. We look forward to seeing you there!

Sip. See. Connect.

Join us Thursday, Sept. 29, to help us kick-off MNfashion Week, running Oct. 2-9.

Network with the fashion and arts community, hear from fashion week designers and entrepreneurs and help build a sustainable Twin Cities fashion industry.

Drink specials include: half-priced well drinks and tap beer and select glasses of wine for $4.

A $5 donation gets you an MNfashion Week button that will hook you up with extended happy hour at our official home of MNfashion Week, Bar Lurcat, all week long!

(Button wearers extend their happy hour Monday, Oct. 3-Saturday Oct. 8, from 4:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.)

To purchase tickets, click here.

For more information, click here.

To register to host an event, click here.

For questions regarding registration, email Amy Arguedas.

“It is a party! With hot bodies walking the runway in swimwear and beautiful dancers performing to benefit ARENA Dances!!!” – Matthew Janczewski, Artistic Director, on why you should attend ARENA Bikini Iconoclash

The Event

Local modern dance company ARENA Dances is bringing rhythm to the runway once again with its fourth annual ARENA Bikini: Iconoclash, a swimwear fashion and dance performance to be held at 7 p.m. on April 23 at the Grain Belt Bottling House.

Twin Cities Vision models and the ARENA dancers will wear swimwear from local designers (including Jolene Danielson of Teknodoll, Allison Helliwell, and Adrienne Yancy to name a few) as they strut the runway to choreography by ARENA Dances Artistic Director Mathew Janczewski. Dubbed the “Sexiest Fundraiser in the Twin Cities” by Mpls.St.Paul Magazine, ARENA Bikini: Iconoclash features appetizers, signature drinks and a silent auction with all proceeds benefiting ARENA Dances. 

About Arena Dances

ARENA Dances’ mission is to create and perform original choreography by Mathew Janczewski and to promote understanding and appreciation of modern dance in the Twin Cities. Founded in 1995, ARENA is one of the Twin Cities’ premiere dance companies composed of six of the areas brightest dance talent. Reviewing for mnartists.org, Lightsey Darst called Janczewski’s work “physically brilliant yet emotionally intimate, dramatic, widely varied, witty and heartfelt.” Over the past 15 years, Janczewski has created over 30 works that ARENA has performed nationally and internationally to great acclaim. Janczewski consistently strives to create dances that speak to the human condition in all its glorious, wrenching, and magical ways to transport audiences through the beauty and breathtaking physicality of his movement.

*Information is from the ARENA Dances press release.