Trying to capture some of the excitement that surrounds fashion weeks in New York and Paris, cities across America have been staging showcases for local talent in design, hair and beauty. You’ll find regional fashion weeks in Scottsdale, Ariz., and St. Louis, Portland, Ore., and Atlanta.
Last week it was Denver — and Colorado’s — turn on the catwalk. Shows were held at the Denver Performing Arts Complex on five consecutive nights, featuring the work of local designers, hair and makeup artists, and boutiques.
While response from participants was generally positive, Colorado Fashion Week has work to do before it hits the runway again. Plans are for it to be a twice-a-year event.
The opening night show in the Buell Theater was an hour late due to technical issues with the sound system. The pace of the show was excruciatingly slow, with models descending one at a time from a floor above the lobby. Many of the patron seats were filled by people who had been doing the hairstyling for the show.
But events got better as the week went on. By the time the Gino Velardi show was held Friday night, models were posing in groups on the staircase, the pace was brisk, and the seats were full. It was a show on par with any you’d find in a major city.
Natalie Fletcher, whose Natalie Lynn Models provided seven female models and one male model for shows, applauded the efforts of Colorado Fashion Week founder and creative director Justice Kwesi Kwarteng. “I thought the whole week was fantastic,” Fletcher said. “I attended four out of the five shows and felt they were on a New York level. They were well-organized, and the choreography for the final walks was impressive. ”
She said she thought attendance might have suffered because Denverites are used to going out later than the 8 p.m. call time: “I would think for the show they’ll do next spring, attendance will be higher because people know what to expect now.”
Andrea Tucker, a salon owner who was in charge of hair and beauty for the week, said that while she felt it was a success, there’s room for improvement. “Overall we learned a heck of a lot — each day it was more refined. I just wish it was that way from the start.”
She said that with designer fees and ticket sales, the production paid for itself but she would have liked higher attendance. A better communications and marketing effort is needed to spread the word next time, Tucker said.
Other issues included changes in designers and venues with shows underway and the postponement of the pop-up market and workshop that were supposed to end the series. Kwarteng said the market will be held in about a month.
Suzanne S. Brown: 303-954-1697 or sbrown@denverpost.com
