Oh, Shop It: Spring is in the Air (Despite the Snow)

New York Fashion Week is upon us, and while we may not be soaking up the fashion making its way down the runway (well, in person at least -- thank goodness for live streams!), we did get our fashion fix courtesy of Neiman Marcus Troy. The night started out with specialty cocktails by Two James Spirits, delicious light bites and mingling with other fashionistas and fashionistos.

What's in for spring? For the ladies, it's bare shoulders, lace, confident reds and wide-leg pants. For the dudes, you can expect distressed denim, bold jackets, the new bomber and military influences. The show started with bold reds, moved into off-the-shoulder for the ladies and bomber jackets for the guys, then shifted into full-on denim looks and finished up with lace.

It was perfect, exciting and super springy - which is exactly what we all need about now. See our runway looks below!

On The Town: Detroit's Most Fashionable Night of the Year

Oh, what a night! Michigan's most fashionable made it our for an evening of fashion, drinks and plenty of dancing to benefit the Detroit Institute of Arts. Cocktails were served behind the DIA to get the night started, and shortly into the evening everyone was ushered into the DIA where the Neiman Marcus fashion show began. It was a runway chock-full of fresh trends: flared bottoms, cape layering and folklore-chic. The show ended, and the night really began with the after party under the stars; fashionistas and fashion-fella's mixed, mingled and danced until their feet couldn't handle anymore.

I could talk about Fash Bash all day - I'm not kidding - but you don't want to read me ramble on (especially if you didn't go), so scroll through the pictures, imagine you were front row, and start making your fall fashion shopping list.

On the Town: The Countdown to Fash Bash® 2015

Image from DIA Founders Junior Council

It's the time of the year again. The countdown to the DIA's most fashionable fundraiser is upon us, and we can't stop thinking about what we would wear. For those of you who don't know about Fash Bash® (Where have you been?), we'll give you a quick rundown.

Image from DIA Founders Junior Council

The Founders Junior Council of the DIA throws this summer celebration of fashion and art once a year, complete with a runway showcasing fall and winter's most chic trends. Guests will enter at the John R Entrance for a cocktail reception full, head into the Great Hall for the Art of Fashion runway show and then head outside for an after party under the stars with drinks, dancing and late night bites.

Image from DIA Founders Junior Council

Tickets have been on sale, but unfortunately the event is mostly sold out, however, if you are interested in attending the after party, you're in luck! The Afterglow is $95 per ticket, and reservations can be made through the ticket office at 313.833.4005 or at www.dia.org/fjc. Tickets will not be mailed, all guests will register upon arrival. Fash Bash® is going down Thursday, August 13.

Image from DIA Founders Junior Council

And stay tuned for our outfit posts because, like we said, we can't stop thinking about what we would wear!

On The Town: WALK Fashion Back for Its 11th Show

If you need a fashion fix and you've been dying to explore Detroit's fashion scene, this is the weekend to do it. WALK Fashion Show, founded in 2009 by Daishawn and Crystal Bailey, is back from 3 to 10 p.m., Saturday, May 30 at the Garden Theatre, and it is a FULL DAY of fashionable fun. Also, a great excuse to dress in your chic-est outfit and show it off to the community, because if no one saw the outfit, it didn't happen. Am I right? 

The show begins with the Emerging Designer Showcase at 3 p.m. and will feature designers Noir Hart, Kamiki Ayo, GD Designs, Homage Holders, Heir Majesty, Max Marie and many more. Tickets for the general admission is $25, while VIP is $35 for the Emerging Designer Showcase. Following the first show is the Independent Designer Showcase featuring The Paper Dress Code by Matthew Richmond, Chasing Gold, Negash, Lady Liberty, Greg Gaten Taylor, Dana Keaton Collection and more. Tickets for this show range from $35 to $75, and doors open at 6:30 p.m. for the pre-show reception. Immediately following the last show is a Red Carpet Gala from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. at the Garden Theatre.

If you’re interested in getting to know the WALK family and getting a head start on celebrating local fashion, head down to the Bosco Lounge in Ferndale for the pre-show party from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m., Thursday, May 28. Throw back a few cocktails, network with other fashionistas and meet everyone involved in making WALK what it is. While you’re there, enter the raffle to win a pair of VIP Runway tickets to WALK Fashion Show this Saturday.

For more information about the show, visit www.walkfashionshow.com or call 313.799.2556. To purchase tickets, click over to Eventbrite. 

On The Town: WSU Students Show Off Design Skills at Student Show

The Expressions Fashion Show, put on by the Fashion Design and Merchandising Organization (FDMO) at Wayne State University, was a night we won’t soon forget. It was a show put on by the students of the Fashion Design and Merchandising majors, and it was held in the multipurpose room at the Charles H. Wright Museum with a lovely backdrop of beautiful art posted around the room.

The night started by showcasing two collections by students, Jai Yu and DeJanea Antoinette, which were small but very well done and looked like ready to wear pieces you would see on fashion-week runways. This led into the White Dress Shirt Challenge. This exercise challenged students to take a men’s white dress shirt and turn it into something else. It was brilliant. Taking classic shirt and transforming it really shows the creativity and skill of a designer.

After a small intermission, a few of the design students shared a few pieces on the runway and then the finale. It may not have been the actual finale, but the two student designers, Kari Lewis and Michael Cummings, who showed created collections worthy of it. Kari Lewis designed a bridal collection that was very ethereal, with short hemlines and beautiful tulle all in dreamy shades of cream and pink. Michael Cummings had a fancy but fun collection inspired by The Wizard of Oz with different shades of green, and of course, a finale dress fit for Dorothy.

The show not only highlighted students who were working on their fashion design degree, but also the merchandising students whose job it was to make sure the show smoothly. All in all, it was great to see a group of students work together to make something great for everyone. Kudos, FDMO.

On The Town: Carson’s Laurel Park Presents New & Now, a Spring Trend Event

Waking up at six in the morning on a Saturday isn’t the most popular idea, unless it’s to get ready to see a trend fashion show, and to do some shopping. New & Now is one of the best shopping events in metro Detroit not only because they offer pastries and all-you-can-drink coffee, but you get to see a fashion show and actually shop the looks once it’s over. 

Each look that made its way down the runway was set up around the store for easy-breezy shopping. Anyone that attended the show can literally walk out looking runway ready. What’s trending for spring, you ask? Well, the trends are so good, and we've listed them all below. So, start your spring shopping list making sure to write down a couple of these must-haves.

Fantasy Florals

Colorama

Statement Stripes

Bohemian Rhapsody

Posh Prints

Black and White Monochrome Mania

If you missed this event, you’re in luck; Karen is going to emcee two more trend events for Carson's. Mark your calendars for Thursday, March 19, 6 p.m. at the Villiage of Rochester Hills and Saturday, March 21, 1 p.m. at The Mall at Partridge Creek.