A cigar-smoking-Gucci-wearing guy friend once gave me this fashion advice: "Those of us who know, know. And those who don't, really don't matter."
How arrogant, right? But he's right. Well, in the context of Omaha fashion, he was dead-on.
Those of us who have supported Omaha Fashion Week since its inception know its value. Those who don't, well, they'll eventually become believers.
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I'll admit it. Four years ago, I was a skeptic.
Omaha Fashion Week started as a small underground scene. A handful of local designers were creating gorgeous ready-to-wear pieces, but no one ever really saw them. Not until one man, Nick Hudson, gave them a platform.
When Hudson — a British-transplant and beauty business owner — told me he was going to produce a fashion show just outside his Nomad Lounge in the Old Market, I turned my nose up. He was talking about organizing a multi-faceted event (with a dozen designers and 100 models) in three weeks.
Hudson's "Field of Dreams" attitude — "build it and they will come" — proved me wrong. Each year the catwalk extends a few more yards. More experienced designers and models apply for a spot in the six-day celebration. Getting a VIP seat at Saturday's grand finale runway show is nearly impossible. Tickets sell extremely fast.
On Monday, I sat at the end of the runway and ogled designs. And the only thing I could think of were those sentimental terms people use to commemorate someone's life: ambitious, passionate, determined. Hudson did it. He created Omaha's Fashion Week, one of the city's most-talked-about and must-be-seen-at events of the year.
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Omaha Fashion Week is now in its fourth year, and Hudson is at a loss for words.
"Despite all the months of preparation, it still blows me away: the level of talent in Omaha," said Hudson, executive producer of Omaha Fashion Week. "I'm still really impressed.
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Lameesha Stuckey opened Fashion Week with a dozen fresh pulled-together looks. She provided women with a glimpse into what seemed to be her personal closet. Her collection skipped the monotone or all-black ensembles many of us favor in cocktail dresses. Her models strutted down the runway Monday night in vibrant shades of purple — from pastel to violet. She proved that a little color can bring pep to your step and that a little cinching at the waist accents a woman's curves beautifully.
Unfortunately, there were two problems with a couple of her pieces. The second model to walk towards a throng of snap-happy photographers at the end of the runway might have shown part of her brassiere. The cut of the dress under the armpit was angled too low. Maybe a different undergarment would do the trick. Otherwise, the dress was well-constructed.
The other snag was small, but quite comical. While a different model trotted across the runway, many people noticed that a ruffle in the dress didn't lie properly. Some sort of black spandex material was exposed. Brook Hudson, an Omaha Fashion Week producer and emcee, bolted for the model after she stepped off the runway to adjust the dress before she returned on stage.
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Allison Dutton was one of two teen designers to showcase pieces at Monday's runway show. Dutton, 17, designed her first dress while in the fourth grade. Her bio stated that her collection was "inspired by her imagination." Dutton did a phenomenal job demonstrating mix-and-match possibilities. Color-coordinated outfits can seem sometimes almost too polished. Dutton paired bold patterns with earthy colors, such as mustard yellow and brown. Her final piece was a chic cocktail mini-dress with gold-and-black long sleeves. It truly was an ideal dress for a night on the town. But it might have been a tad too short even for the leggy model wearing it. She kept yanking the dress down to cover her rear end. The more she walked, the more the dress inched up.
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Maximillian Suiter was the second teen designer at Monday's show. He generated cheers and applause from the audience for his eight-look holiday collection. Ah, winter. Now that's an event to look forward to. Style-wise, below-freezing temperatures can be tricky. Suiter gave us some great ideas for ensembles based around creative layering, jewel tones and crushed velvet fabric.
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Jennifer Roberts' 1960s-inspired collection featured bold colors and geometric and floral prints. The poppy hues of sunshine yellow and orange were refreshing. Her take on vintage flair included pencil skirts, capri pants, a white polo with floral trim and lots of cap-sleeved blouses.
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Erin Thomas turned heads with her Toxic Sadie swimsuit line. Thomas recently showed her bikini collection at the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Swim Show in Miami in July. The skimpy Brazilian bottoms, jeweled bikini tops and stone embellishments attracted a lot of attention. Naturally, photographers clicked away. The fabric-and-chain accessories were a nice touch.
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