The Season Has Arrived

The most exciting month of all for fashion is almost upon us. The reminders echo all the world over: The September Issue, The September shows, and ultimately what follows, September shopping.

What is a time of hibernation for nature is a time of renewal and fruitfulness for style. Fall and winter are ripe with rich colors and textures. As the air chills, silhouettes become more complex and layers offer an abundance of opportunity.

Tulsa has not always been on the forefront of fashion, or even all that in touch for that matter. That said, thanks to a blossoming creative community, we are experiencing not only the awareness and thus, influence of fashion from the international level but also a still somewhat insulated innovativeness and ingenuity.

What we lack in opportunity, we make up for in originality. Luckily for us all, there is a momentum building for both. We've got two events coming up in September that are not only a celebration of the fashion as an industry but also a tribute to the creative potential of people and their impact on not only our community but also on our day to day lives.

Fashion's Night Out

To celebrate the kick off of New York's Fashion Week, designers and merchants in cities across the globe are participating in Fashion's Night Out, September 6. In only its second year, Fashion's Night Out has grown to include the Brookside, Cherry Street and Utica Square shopping and entertainment districts and has the added highlight of a luncheon with internationally acclaimed designer and entrepreneur Liz Lange followed by a fashion show featuring local retailers and designers. Then follows premier shopping and a fashion design competition and showcase, all conveniently in one spot at the Mayo Hotel. Why not just take the day off as the festivities last from 10am-1:30pm and that time frame doesn't account for the ritual of hair, makeup and the trying on of an outfit or two before leaving the house. Tickets for the luncheon are $65 per person and can be purchased online at fashionsnightouttulsa.com.

Once the Liz Lange Luncheon commences, the fashion festivities pick back up from 5-9pm with in store events and outdoor entertainment throughout midtown Tulsa. There will be a complimentary trolley service running throughout the evening between the Cherry Street, Brookside and Utica Square Districts.

Fashion's Night Out Spokeswoman Stacy Rippy recommends a logical route. She suggests you start early in the evening at Utica, park there, pop into Saks for a "let us help you get ready" pre event, take the trolley to Cherry Street for boutique soirees at participating destinations such as Rope and Shoe Gypsie, then head to the Brookside block party that will stretch from Ida Red all the way down through Center One (with a portion of the proceeds from Center One sales to benefit the United Way), popping into Little Black Dress for some fun and festive treats, working your way down to Must Stash and then finishing off the evening back at Utica for champagne, live music, a design competition and a fashion show at Miss Jackson's. You might want to wear your flats.

The PROJECT

Courtesy Fashion's Night Out Tulsa

After Fashion's Night Out, you'll have a few days to recover before the PROJECT on September 9th at 5pm at the Tulsa Community College's Center for Creativity.

Masterminded by two of Tulsa's preeminent design talents, iicky + CICI, the Project debuted in 2011 with the purposes of advancing Tulsa's fashion industry and supporting local business. "The PROJECT will serve as a fashion show, showcasing local fashion designers' Fall 2012 collections, said Cici Richards, the Project Director and the CICI half of the design duo equation. "This year, a portion of the proceeds will benefit Arts and Humanities Council of Tulsa's After School and Summer Youth Outreach Program."

The duo found itself inspired when they traveled to the Magic Show Tradeshow in LasVegas. "We saw the positive impact of up and coming designers displaying their new collections and networking with buyers from all over the country. So we had the thought that we could bring something like that back home with us," CICI said.

The PROJECT attendees can anticipate four local designers exhibiting their latest collections via a runway show. Tonnie Martin Dosser will be showing her Fall 2012 fashion collection, "Divine Whimsy," Julie Shafer and Hattie Eubanks of "Sisters of the Moon" will showcase their latest creations, and the show will wrap up with designers iicky+CICI showcasing their collections, iickygenes and CICI.

Guests can expect some mixing and mingling -- not to mention some instant gratification at the show's end. "Each designer will have their own runway show with a live dj, video presentations and an amazingly well put together production," CICI said. "There will be hors douvres and a wet bar during social hour, and iPad stations set up for purchase ordering immediately after the runway fashion shows. This event is not like any other fashion event in the city. We want each person attending to feel that they have experienced a one-of-a-kind fashion event that they never expected."

Courtesy Fashion's Night Out Tulsa

Tickets are available at theprojecttulsa.eventbrite.com.

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