These days, Kansas City fashion is a little fishy.

Saturday’s West 18th Street Fashion Show features looks inspired by this year’s theme, “Summer at Sea.” The show comprises 18 collections by local fashion designers. Models walk down the outdoor runway wearing pieces ranging from dresses, shorts and menswear to swimsuits, pajamas and children’s clothes. Although each artist is working within the sea theme, they interpret the theme in a lot of ways.

The art is in the detail, said Betsy Blodgett, a designer in Saturday’s show. The 26-year-old owner of Bon Bon Atelier in Westport has worked on six looks for the event since March but says she’ll probably add final touches until show time.

Her pieces, along with those of the other designers, go down the outdoor runway starting at sundown in one of the city’s most popular fashion events that showcases the work of local designers.

“My main concern is this dress,” Blodgett said, holding up an unfinished light-blue gown.

Blodgett’s vision for the strapless, satin dress includes pieces of tulle that remind her of little sea anemones. But before she could attach them to the dress, she had to create each one by hand.

“It’s just taking a long time but will be worth it,” she said.

Each of Blodgett’s ensembles adheres to a traditional seaside color palette — blues and grays with touches of corals and reds. She also created beach-themed pajamas and jumpers out of terry cloth, but her finale is a navy-blue gown with a hand-sewn sequin design of a ship.

“I wanted to go with the nautical theme but not in a boring, common way,” she said.

Blodgett’s 31-year-old sister, Emily Blodgett-Panos, created jewelry to go with each piece, and they hope to eventually sell their designs in their boutique. The sisters sold most of their pieces from last year’s show but still have a couple “tiny outfits that won’t fit most women.” This year, they’ve used more “normal-sized” models, said Blodgett, who plans to keep the pajamas she purposely made in her size. Of course, she’ll make another pair if there’s a demand.

Like Blodgett, detail is important to designer Andrew Hansen, but he interpreted the seaside theme quite differently than Blodgett’s more literal vision. The Kansas City Art Institute art history and photography graduate said he based his line on a “shipwrecked admiral.” Because of his passion for detailed tailoring, form and structure, Hansen chose a more muted color palette that reminded him of sandy beaches. Splashes of color show in the lining or are tucked in the pockets.

“I wanted the detail and structure to be the focus of my designs, so I didn’t want to take away from that with a lot of color,” said the 25-year-old, who is using the 18th Street show to see if he has what it takes to be a professional fashion designer.

He said the men who wear his clothes will be confident, not afraid to go against common fashion.

“I love balancing masculinity and femininity,” said Hansen, pointing to an ensemble he designed for the show — a pair of short balloon pants worn over tight-fitting leg coverings that cover the calf and ankle. A billowy blouse finishes the outfit.

Hansen creates intense designs and is thinking about using peacock feathers in his finale to channel the baroque period. A friend is doing the hair and makeup for Hansen’s models, and he expects them to look outrageous.

“I’m giving her total creative control,” he said. “I’m not afraid of that crazy pompadour look.”

While the makeup and hair on Hansen’s models will be bold, Angela Bennett and Andrea Harms are planning more of a natural look for the women modeling pieces from their collection, “Sirens Calling.”

“I like the stories of those deceptively sweet sirens who lured men to destruction,” said Bennett, 27. “Since the clothes look so sweet, I told the models to walk down the runway like they are going to devour a man.”

Each piece in the women’s collection represents elements of the sea. Bennett, a lab technician by day, created a sea-green bathing suit and spent more than 20 hours hand sewing swatches of material to mimic fish scales. Harms, a 27-year-old interior architect, worked on the skirt, attaching small puffs of tulle to embody the look of a sea urchin.

“I think detailing will be in everything I do,” Harms said. “That’s what makes things unique.”

Both women feel lucky to be in the show since they’re not professional designers. More than 50 designers applied to participate, but only 18 designer and design teams were selected.

“We’re self-taught and are really excited about this opportunity,” Harms said. “We are way excited for the show.”

All I have to say is Andrea & Angela's stuff is really beautiful, can't wait to see it on Saturday!!

Posted 23 weeks ago by janey_girl11