We have the power as consumers to stop giving money to billionaires who perpetuate violence and injustice. The people in power, who control the headlines, are listening to your purchases. They listen to their bottom line. Taking small, actionable steps can make a difference for a world in crisis. If you are looking for a sense of connection or a way to make your money matter, consider shopping at independent businesses that share your values.

One main difference between shopping with big corporations and your neighborhood outlets is the mission. Most Big corporations operate solely to make a profit, but at Elevated Communities in Longmont, their mission is to use their thrift store to make an impact for Coloradans with disabilities.

“We have our thrift store, and we recently opened our cat cafe. But really, the whole mission is our resource navigation program,” says thrift store manager Angie Clements. The funding that we receive through the cat cafe and the thrift store helps to give people with disabilities connected to long-term services.” “We want to offer work clothing that people can afford and look good in.”

Tabor Acres, Makenna Hart wearing Treasures Upscale Consignment

The Neighborhood Plant Plug, Shannon Milliken wearing Elevated Communities

Authentic Cotton, Laurel Okasaki wearing Elevated Communities

The clothes donated to Elevated Communities make their way into the hands of individuals who can use them to transform their lives. For a more sustainable option or help others in need, they are a great place to shop or donate used clothing.

Just as Elevated Communities fosters connection through giving, other shops connect over shared passions. For those who find their joy in the mountains and trails, Jax Outdoor Gear brings people together in a different—but equally important—way.

Sharing hobbies brings people together. For outdoor enthusiasts, visiting a neighborhood-based outdoor gear shop can make a world of difference. The employees of Jax Outdoor Gear are part of the region and share your passion for the outdoors.

“I like talking to people and hearing outdoor stories, because I am an outdoorsman. I love hiking, backpacking, and biking, and it is really nice to talk to people who are in the same niche,” manager Jonathan Brennan said.

The people at Jax Outdoor Gear take the time to get to know you and what you love about being outdoors. That is the kind of familiarity you will not get at a big-name store.

“A lot of these corporations are tailoring their business more towards a fast, quick pickup environment. We at Jax started out as a small family company. We still provide that face-to-face interaction that you do not get a lot of these days with online shopping,” Brennan said.

Shopping small is rooted in trust, and independent businesses are a place where expert craftsmanship and personal service are built over generations. At the Eric Olson Master Jeweler shop in Louisville, customers enjoy a personalized jewelry buying experience backed by years of quality craftsmanship. Unlike many corporate stores, Eric Olson has built lasting relationships with his customers, offering a unique and trustworthy bond.

Shannon wearing Eric Olson necklace and Jax shirt

Laurel wearing Eric Olson necklace and Elevated Communities earrings and dress

Makenna wearing Schapell’s jewelry in Aflorae outfit

“A jeweler is the person who sits at the bench and does the work,” says Olson. So, if you are talking to somebody behind a counter with a jacket and tie on and he calls himself a jeweler, chances are very good that he is not a jeweler. He deals in jewelry. He sells jewelry.”.

As a longtime resident of Louisville, Olson has built a connection based on transparency and a genuine love for the craft. “For people in the community, I have been their jeweler for two generations now. Parents who got their wedding bands from me have kids who have gotten their wedding bands from me.”

A significant portion of the money spent ultimately ends up in the pockets of nameless, faceless corporations. Schapell Jewelers in Boulder is another place where you can build a relationship that goes beyond a transaction.

“You are always going to see the same faces. We are always going to go above and beyond to take care of our customers, follow up with birthday cards, thank you notes, and things like that,” manager Maddi Barraza said.

Beyond that personal touch that only independent establishments can provide, there is a deeper connection to fellow entrepreneurs and Boulder County. “We are involved in the community, and we are involved with our neighboring businesses. We are going to be doing a silent auction later this year for a local charity,” Barraza said.

Morton’s Orchards, Shannon Milliken wearing Pink House, Erie Farmers Market

Deborah Ann Does Donuts, Ayce wearing Jax Outdoor Gear, Erie Farmers Market

Supporting neighborhood shops is not only about service or craft, it is also about reducing waste and protecting our environment. That is where consignment stores shine.

Sustainability has both environmental and social impacts.  Fast fashion overproduces clothing that ends up in landfills and encourages a mindset of consumerism. Instead, recycle and reuse your clothes for a new experience. Treasures Upscale Consignment in Lafayette specializes in transforming one person’s trash into another’s treasure.

Owner Jaya Lopez explains, “People always ask me, ‘Are you the owner?’ I always tell them that we are the owners. The people who share here, consign here, and work here are the owners, because every single piece comes from somebody else. This is a community store by the community for the community.”.

Ayce and Shannon wearing Jax, 47 Bakery at the Erie Farmers Market

Shopping secondhand at stores such as Treasures Upscale Consignment not only promotes sustainability but also strengthens a sense of shared responsibility and connection. By choosing to buy used, consumption habits can be transformed,  protecting the environment while simultaneously celebrating the diverse stories and treasures that each item carries.

Some vendors go even further in their efforts to uplift the community by offering immediate, meaningful help in moments of need. Sportique Eyewear of Boulder takes the time to understand each and every customer that comes their way.

Owner, Jim Taylor, recounts,”There is a gentleman who is leaving on a flight at 1 p.m. He came in at 5 p.m. the night before with broken glasses, and he has no other glasses to wear on his business trip. I said, ‘I can do that for you.’ We love to help, regardless of where you get your glasses. It is a sincere desire to assist people on their way.

Taylor has been in optometry since 1982, and he and his staff understand the intersection of fashion and health care. The attention to detail, quality work, and investment in helping you look and feel your best set them apart.

“It is not the kind of thing you would see at a corporate store or a big chain. We do not have time constraints. I do not have another patient coming out of the doctor’s office. So we decided to do what is right for our consumer consciously, and we love to do it,” Taylor said.

Others aim to bring beauty and identity into the daily lives of their customers through boutique experiences and thoughtful design.

Confetti Confections, Makenna Hart wearing Aflorae, Erie Farmers Market

If you are looking for the kind of elevated aesthetic that an upscale boutique offers, Aflorae in Longmont is the go-to destination. Rachel Hunter started Aflorae as a florist shop, and when the pandemic hit, she expanded her repertoire to include retail. Now, Aflorae sells clothes, jewelry, accessories, and home goods in addition to her floral arrangements to add a little beauty to people’s lives.

Another boutique worth checking out is The Pink House in Louisville. The owner, Heather Mills, is dedicated to providing affordable and accessible fashion to the public while also connecting with what makes the town special.

“Creating a local economy and supporting your community is so important, and we want to make fashion as accessible as possible. Fashion is all about showing your true self to the world,” Mills said. “Main Street is the heart of Louisville, so we are right there. There is a trick-or-treating parade with the local elementary school, the Labor Day Parade, and the Festival of Lights. We are very involved.”

 The average American’s wallet has a loud voice. For quality service from people who genuinely want to engage, shop local, independent stores. All of the shops showcased here are on the side of the customer, something that will be hard to find through a large online distributor.

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The post Connection over convenience: Why shopping local matters in today’s America appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Our photoshoot inspiration usually comes from a conversation with someone who sparks a thought, or idea that we then take and run with. This year it was Erie’s Deputy Town Administrator, Melissa Wiley. Wiley is the only disabled woman in an executive-level government role in the entire nation and that fact alone deserves recognition. We reached out to the wider disability community and found an incredibly receptive and helpful group of people who helped make this vision come to life.

We asked each model about a few different topics, but common threads quickly emerged. Each wanted to share their story and to show how their strength, determination, and support network have allowed them to thrive in ways many not thought possible. Fashion is not always an easy topic for a physically disabled person to discuss. We were lucky to have such open and willing participants, each of who has helped inspire so many others, open up about their difficulties and triumphs, favorite outfits, and things they have had to adjust.

One name in particular kept receiving praise over and over again — Craig Hospital. One of the world’s leading medical centers Craig has provided an invaluable support system, mentorship opportunities, and a world of possibilities to families and individuals. Without the enthusiastic support from their community after Yellow Scene Magazine reached out to them, this entire photoshoot and article may not have been possible whatsoever.

In the end, every single person told a story of strength, overcoming adversity, a desire to help others, and the drive to make disability more visible in a positive way. Each model has followed a different road, some have faced disability and disfigurement since childhood, some experienced it at a different stage of life, but each shared the commonality they have found and their individual and group accomplishments.

Cherrie Mellott

“I was 18, snuck out for the first and only time in my life, and ended up in a car accident, and broke my back. This year will be my 34th year of being in a wheelchair. I’m a paraplegic. I grew up in Wyoming, and horses are a big part of my life. I wouldn’t go around horses for 19 years after my accident. But I’m a cowgirl from the start. So through the therapeutic riding center Freedom to Cowboy Up I help other people with disabilities find things they can accomplish.

Fashion wise, as it comes to clothing and that kind of stuff. You know, it’s hard because it’s like, I’m a cowgirl. Recently, they’ve made cowboy boots that have a zipper in the back. I like my moccasins. Clothing has been a challenge. People tend to give up on themselves and tend to put on the weight and that kind of stuff and just a lack of self-care. My biggest goal is to not look like I belong in a wheelchair. I even joke with my therapist “I’m faking this whole injury for the attention.” I found summer dresses work wonderful.

I became an occupational therapist because I had such great therapists at Craig Hospital. I didn’t go to Craig Hospital until 2017 and by that time, I had scoliosis in my back from not having proper wheelchairs and that kind of stuff. Craig Hospital, we’re kind of like the mafia. Once you get in, you’re never gonna get out. I love being there because there are other people with spinal cord injuries. I’m not the only girl in a wheelchair. I like to inspire those new inpatients. I absolutely love Craig Hospital. They’re just the best.

I had three kids all while in a wheelchair. I would take my kids to the store, they’d climb on my lap. I’d ask people for help reaching something, and they would walk by. What I didn’t look at was how inspiring I was to those moms who had kids and they were overwhelmed, and here I’m doing it from a wheelchair. I found that that helped me keep my head up.”

Jenny Siegle

“I was paralyzed at nine months of age from transverse myelitis. I had the flu, and my antibodies mistook my spinal cord for the flu illness and gave me a spinal cord injury. I’ve been able to regain my upper body. I can drive. I own my own home. I work a full-time job as a sports producer, and I also work for the Denver Broncos.

I started attending Craig Hospital when I was 14 in 1996 and I’ve just been very active with the hospital. I started as a peer mentor earlier this summer. I interact with the inpatients and answer whatever questions they have. They’re entering a very different world than what they were used to. I want them to see there’s a lot you can do. It’s a transition, not only for the patient but also for their family too. People come from all over to attend Craig. The people sincerely love what they do there, whether it’s doctors or they’re working in the cafeteria. It is a phenomenal place with phenomenal people. They significantly changed my life.

I’m a petite person so things that actually fit me and look nice can sometimes be a challenge. I love Nikes. Nikes are my jam. But they cause some pressure sores on my feet, so I’ve had to find different ways and get creative. I put an insole in the shoe to make it work. I’m all about sporty, athletic clothes, and hoodies. I also love to dress up, too. I love to look nice. On the fancier side, I dress up for different job obligations and conferences, but then again, I love just rocking a hoodie and Nike high tops.

There’s a big movement to have more inclusivity and that’s important across the board whether that’s, race, disability, or whatever the situation may be. It’s great to see more models who have visible disabilities on TV, in ads, and in movies. I was very blessed earlier in May to be part of the Denver Fashion Week, which was an awesome opportunity. There were a large number of people with disabilities participating in the fashion show, where I feel like, even five years ago, there may have been — if we were lucky — a handful of us. The fact that those opportunities are becoming more mainstream is phenomenal.

I’ve been working closely with an accessible apparel line called No Limbits, and their focus is making fashionable clothes for people with disabilities. So it’s easier to put these clothes on, but they still look really nice. I think that one of the coolest things is just very recently seeing inclusiveness rising for people with disabilities. I think that’s awesome that people want to help the next person be seen. It’s not only about me, it’s helping the next person to be seen.”

Sherown Campbell

I’m not the most fashionable person. My clothing choices revolve around functionality. I have one brand that I tend to gravitate towards which is ASRV, just because it’s more functional workout stuff. Their pants are waterproof. They have some stretch to them, so just especially having a disability, anything that’s comfortable and easy to get on, that I can move around in, that I’m not going to have to worry about getting caught in the rain, is all a huge priority for me.

I kind of just went with the normal stuff that I would wear. I usually walk with crutches. If I were to wear something like slacks or jeans, they’re restrictive, everything is a little bit harder, so just having an elastic waistband, more stretchable clothing, something that’s going to be warm if it starts raining.

It doesn’t really matter if you look good if you don’t feel good. I’m in and out of a wheelchair. I get caught in the rain. I walk through puddles. A lot of things that people have an easier time avoiding, I get caught in the middle.

Craig Hospital is a huge hub for anyone who has a spinal cord injury. I know there’s all sorts of different types of disabilities, some physical some that are not visible, but for me, having a spinal cord injury, they are one of the biggest resources in the state. They did great getting me adjusted to go home. They’re doing a lot of research and trials and studies there at the hospital. So I’ve gone back, even after my injury, to participate in peer mentorship, just to participate in some of these studies research. And it’s been a part of my life ever since the injury happened.

As for the community, I utilize Instagram a lot. You can hashtag pretty much anything, it’s pretty easy to find a community and support group there. So just hashtagging spinal cord injury, I’ve been able to meet people over the years, and we bounce ideas off of each other.

We were joking because when Covid hit, everyone was really used to being inside, doing things online, picking up groceries and stuff like that, instead of going outdoors. And all of us were like, nothing has changed. This is our normal day-to-day life.

There’s only a handful of spinal cord and brain energy specialized hospitals or facilities in the country. Craig is one of the leaders in that space. There’s a big community here within the state, which is also kind of cool, because it’s an outdoor state, and a lot of people don’t associate a disability with getting outdoors and being active. To be in a wheelchair, or on crutches or anything else, and still be able to access the outdoors is huge. If I was stuck in another state, I’d probably be stuck home a lot more.

Melissa Wiley

“I’m the Deputy town manager for Erie. I’m the only facially disfigured woman to lead local government at an executive level in the United States. It can be really hard for people with disabilities to find work, and then to get into a level of leadership. I’m really proud, and I’ve tried hard to be visible so that other folks get used to seeing people with disabilities in executive leadership.

I try to dress kind of classic, a 60s and 70s, and a classic business casual look. I’m facially disfigured. I used to avoid stuff that had a loud print or a loud color because people already stared so much. I tried to dress like everyone else. As I got older, it took me a while to come into my own style. For a long time, my style was just ‘Don’t pay attention to me. Don’t notice anything.’ When you have a visible difference, it can make you feel like you want to hide, and it takes some time to find yourself and your style. As I’ve gotten older, I love pink. I love colors. I’ve let myself love things like patterns and color.

There are all kinds of disabilities. If the whole world can look at you and see that you’re different, you end up attracting attention, comments, and stares. I always hope that someone likes my shirt, and they don’t notice my face for a minute, they just notice something else cool about me. Being complimented, I love it, it makes me feel like a human being. It makes me feel like someone who can join society.

The facially disfigured community is really small. They have more of a movement in the U.K., but it’s not as strong in the U.S. I tend to align more with the disability community just because I have a lot of shared lived experiences with those folks. I grew up in the Boulder area. I’ve never once encountered someone with a facial difference growing up. So while I know that exists I don’t know anyone. I connected with the larger disability community, and that has been great and healing to realize that I have a community in a broader sense. Do I need to find someone with the exact same situation? What I’ve learned is you don’t. I think the place where I’ve found community is with people who have had a disability since childhood.”

The post Finding Beauty and Strength in Disability and Disfigurement appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Thrifting: The environmentally-conscious choice

The negative impact of fashion consumption and mass-produced goods from stores like SHEIN, Zara, and H&M can’t be overstated. The most recent data from the Environmental Protection Agency reports that 11.3 million tons of textile waste — mainly discarded clothing — ended up in landfills in 2018.

Crucially, buying goods from fast fashion retailers is supporting unethical labor. The fast fashion industry employs approximately 75 million workers worldwide, according to FashionUnited. Less than 2% of these workers earn a living wage, as reported by The Lowest Wage Challenge.

“Thrifting cuts down on current consumption and fast fashion, which is a growing problem — the statistics are mind-blowing,” said Victoria Sofias, owner of Heck Yes Vintage. “If I can go to the thrift store a few times a week and bring home two big bags full of stuff, that’s contributing significantly to that problem.”

Courtesy: Victoria Sofias

Recognizing the value of thrift shopping over supporting Big Box retailers by default can lead to a mindset shift, thrifting enthusiast Sarah Howlett said. Rather than viewing thrifting as an alternative, it’s a go-to for her and many other shoppers in the area.

“[Thrifting] has become something I see more as a first option than a last option,” Howlett said. “If you do it enough, your brain starts to shift, and you start thinking, ‘Oh, I need a new colander, I’ll just go to the Tru Hospice Thrift Shop and see if I can find one there.’”

Over the past several years, thrift shopping has experienced a surge in popularity, emerging as a sustainable and prudent choice for consumers. According to OfferUp’s 2022 Recommerce Report, 82% (272 million) of Americans now buy or sell secondhand items. The report also predicts that the secondhand market will grow five times faster than the overall retail market by 2027.

Shoppers in the Boulder County and North Metro region are no exception to the growing thrifting trend, with thrift shopping appealing to locals in the area for a variety of reasons — environmental, ethical, and financial.

“I try to devote my time to [thrifting] because the prices are so much lower, especially with things people tend to overbuy, like clothes. It’s become a passion of mine to keep them out of a landfill and give them a second, third, even fourth life,” Howlett said. “It’s important for me to teach these values to my kids and, hopefully, influence others to see how many perfectly good items are already out there.”

Courtesy: Sarah Howlett

Supporting charities and those in need

Many of Boulder and the North Metro region’s best thrifting spots have the added appeal of supporting worthy causes. HOPE’s Storehouse in Longmont is a perfect example.

Owned by HELP International, HOPE’s Storehouse is a non-profit thrift store with everything you could want or need — clothes, antiques, kitchenware, furniture, toys. Proceeds from the store fund two schools in Uganda as well as provide aid for countries like Haiti and Ukraine.

HOPE’s Storehouse does plenty to help the local community as well. The thrift store has a no-questions-asked food pantry full of essentials for anyone in need.

“We wake up every day and know we’re going to help someone or make them smile, whether it’s getting them a pair of shoes for their feet or a free cup of coffee at the thrift store,” said CeCe Winbigler, manager at HOPE’s Storehouse. “That’s just what we’re out to do — we’re out to spread love.”

Winbigler said the thrift store has experienced a rise in popularity since the COVID-19 pandemic, showing no signs of slowing down. Her clientele includes people from virtually every walk of life whose appreciation of thrift stores brings them together.

“I have people who resell stuff, single moms shopping for their kids, people with no money at all who need shoes on their feet, people from women’s shelters who are trying to get out of a tough situation, and I have people who come from Windsor wearing diamonds bigger than my head — it’s so across the board,” Winbigler said. “I think everybody just loves a good deal.”

Courtesy: CeCe Winbigler

Celebrating the timeless appeal of vintage

Sofias said she’s noticed a resurgence of vintage fashion, furniture, and decor, especially from eras like the 1960s, 1970s, and 1990s. Some of her favorite thrifted finds are a pair of wide-leg, mod-print bellbottoms from the 1960s and a vintage magenta silk jumpsuit.

“A lot of what’s popular right now are things that were really trendy in the past,” Sofias said.

Much of the appeal of thrifted vintage clothing is their craftsmanship and durability. The quality of vintage goods is especially alluring to younger generations who grew up during the rise of fast fashion, Sofias said.

“I love seeing how garments were constructed, not only in terms of their style but in the quality of the materials that were used — 60 and even 20 years ago, everything was made to last versus now if you buy something trendy, you have to replace it within a year,” Sofias said. “It’s really cool to find those staple closet pieces someone had 30 years ago that still have another 30 years of life in it.”

Furniture and decor were created with more artistry and care in generations past, compared to items from big-box retailers today, said Jeannine Erlhoff, owner of Noble Treasures Antiques in Lafayette.

“People studied furniture making back in the day, and they made things to last, not to fall apart,” Erlhoff said. “They put much more time and skill into making things.”

Courtesy: CeCe Winbigler

Adding a touch of uniqueness

Something many thrifters cherish is the ability to wear garments that feel unique and special, Sofias said.

“I think a big part of it is being able to say, ‘Oh, thanks for the compliment, it’s vintage!’” Sofias said. “No one else can just go out and get the exact same thing.”

Vintage and thrifted goods enhance individuality not just in fashion but in home decor as well, Howlett said. She sources plenty of home decor and furniture both for herself and her friends from thrift stores all over Boulder.

“When you incorporate secondhand and vintage stuff, your home ends up looking unique and not like a page from a catalog,” Howlett said. “They make an interior space look eclectic, intentional, and more interesting.”

People looking to renovate or remodel should consider browsing places like Resource Central in Boulder before purchasing expensive materials, Howlett said.

“Sometimes they’ll have entire kitchen cabinet sets, coffee tables, electrical components, even pieces of tile they resell for very cheap, diverted from landfills,” Howlett said.

Courtesy: Sarah Howlett

Exploring new interests

Thrift shopping serves as a gateway to affordable exploration of different brands and hobbies, Winbigler said.

“When you visit a thrift store, you can usually find brands that you wouldn’t normally be able to afford, which is a huge plus,” Winbigler said.

Secondhand art supply stores like Art Parts Creative Reuse Center in Boulder encourage creativity and personal growth by lowering the barrier to trying new things, said executive director Megan Moriarty.

The store is full of donated creative materials like paints and paint brushes, fabric and sewing machines, woodworking tools, and crayons and markers for kids. The wide range of inventory at low price points make it easy for someone to start a new art project or hobby, Moriarty said.

“There are some hobbies that are super expensive to try, like weaving,” Moriarty said. “We get looms and yarn all the time that are completely affordable, so folks can get started and try it out. Before making a huge purchase or investing in really expensive supplies, you can stick your toe in and see if it’s the right fit.”

Courtesy: Megan Moriarty

Thrifting in Boulder

There are a few reasons why Boulder is one of the best places to thrift in Colorado, Howlett said. The city has a strong commitment to sustainability, meaning more people donate and buy thrifted items. Furthermore, many people in Boulder have the resources to purchase high-quality items and donate them later on, which contributes to the excellent inventory in many shops all over town.

“A lot of people here spend their money on nice items — like clothes and gear from Patagonia — that can last and last and last and be repaired and reused,” Howlett said. “When those nice, high-quality items trickle down into secondhand shops, there’s still tons of life left in them.”

Some of Howlett’s favorite shops to frequent in Boulder are Pig + Pearl Secondhand, Tru Hospice Thrift Shop, Salvation Army, Rags Consignments, and Greenwood Wildlife Thrift Shop and Consignment Gallery. She’s also an advocate for Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, and estate sales.

Courtesy: Megan Moriarty

Getting into thrifting

For those new to the thrifting game, Sofias recommends prioritizing closet staples.

“Start with basics — there’s such a good amount of high-quality, secondhand, and vintage pieces like simple black cardigans, jeans, and t-shirts that were made to last,” Sofias said. “Start simple, then find those fun statement pieces that really jump out to you on the rack.”

Thrift shopping — especially at stores with massive inventory — can be intimidating. Howlett suggests maintaining an open mind throughout the hunt.

“You can take a list of things you’re looking for or just go with an open, creative mind,” Howlett said. “Look on the lower shelves, behind rows of things like picture frames — you never know what you might find by going a little bit deeper.”

Howlett urges thrifters not to be discouraged if an item found at a thrift store isn’t in mint condition. Many items Howlett has thrifted — bikes, toys for her kids, winter coats — just need a little TLC before they’re good to go.

“I love seeing the potential in things that just need a stitch, a stain removed, or a scrub down. Things don’t need to be discarded just because they’re not perfect.”

The post Good as New: Embracing Boulder’s Thrifting Culture appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Photography by Dustin Doskocil

Seven professional leaders tell us how they pick their favorites.

Back in 2019 YS featured our DiverCity cover series, a stunning selection of black and white portraits that highlighted some of the incredible residents who live here. The origins for that series came from what we thought was an innocuous Facebook post calling for recommendations for featuring minority owned leaders, influencers, and businesses. That post spawned several ignorant comments and pushback against the need to feature diversity in our communities. Instead of giving in, we doubled down and highlighted 11 amazing people (including the governor). Each month featured another stunning portrait of the beauty that is founded in acceptance rather than ignorance.

The inspiration for this year’s fashion shoot actually came from one of the participants — Katrina Miller. While at an event, she suggested to our publisher that we put together a photoshoot featuring some of the inspiring voices in diverse communities. That thought quickly beat out our previous idea, so we shifted gears and put together a memorable day for everyone involved — in less than three weeks too.

Fashion can mean so much, especially when it comes to crafting your identity in a somewhat racially homogenous place such as Boulder. Choices can be limited with local Black designers few and far between. The pressure to conform to the casual outdoorsy chic that Boulder is known for is real. Boulder was once rated worst-dressed, but best looking naked by GQ. Asserting your own identity and choosing to present yourself with a meaningful fashion choice can say so much more than words.

Miller shared her thoughts with me: “I’m at home within myself and feel so much more beautiful when I am wearing my African pieces. There’s so much pride in that for me, especially knowing my story of how, when I came to Boulder, I thought that I had to wear Birkenstocks and ditch my makeup. It was really an amazing moment for me.”

Embracing that freedom of expression through fashion can be liberating. Miller expanded how it allowed her “to really connect with myself and love myself. Instead of walking into a room, kind of holding my head down, ‘I just want to blend in and have nobody notice me,’ now I walk into a room with my head held high exactly as I want to be seen.”

Local designer Lita Thompson brings influences from abroad and wants to share her designs with everyone. “It’s not just that African fabric represents Black [fashion] or the African diaspora, it’s a good way for other people to express themselves and the cultures that they appreciate without it coming across as cultural appropriation. That’s why I like to design [headpieces] because it’s a smaller piece that takes just a tiny piece of that broader cloak and gives them that little bit of self expression. It’s something that you don’t always see.”

Just as important is choosing where to buy your clothes and accessories. Supporting local businesses that help communities thrive is essential to Miller. She shared her favorite spot, HOPE’s Storehouse, with YS. “As you walk into Hope’s, you will see something you don’t expect — a free food pantry. This is when you realize they are more than just into selling secondhand items. HOPE’s Storehouse cares about the community. They also provide emergency supplies to single mothers and families in need.”

It’s not just local action. Just like fashion knows no borders, neither does HOPE’s. “Another thing you will notice when you walk in is a plethora of handmade beaded jewelry from Uganda. The funds from HOPE’s goes to help primary schools in Uganda and to help build international clinics and homes across the globe. They recently sent a shipment of donations to Haiti after the earthquake,” Miller shared.

Each participant was also asked to reflect on the outfit they chose for the photoshoot and what their fashion choices mean to them.

Dr. Reiland Rabaka, Photo by Dustin Doskocil

Dr. Reiland Rabaka

PROFESSOR AND DIRECTOR, CENTER FOR AFRICAN & AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDIES, UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO BOULDER

I am really into Afro-futurist fashion, clothes that hint at the past, present, and future of continental and diasporic African couture. I like contemporary fabrics from all over the African continent and from throughout the African diaspora. The majority of my suits are tailored in Tanzania, even though the fabrics may come from elsewhere in the African world.

Junie Joseph, Photo by Dustin Doskocil

Junie Joseph

ATTORNEY, BOULDER CITY COUNCIL, COLORADO STATE REPRESENTATIVE

I love this dress. It’s unique. I worked in Africa in 2016 doing development work. When I was leaving, my co-workers put money together and took me to a tailor and had this dress made for me as a departing gift. So I am proud and grateful every time I put on this dress. It’s also very beautiful, and the cape is a bonus, shall we say, superhero-like vibe. Between the history and the style, I can’t help but to feel confident when wearing this dress.

Dr. Patrick Kalenzi, Photo by Dustin Doskocil

Dr. Patrick Kalenzi

AUTHOR, PUBLIC SPEAKER, OWNER OF ROCK CREEK VETERINARY HOSPITAL

My medical scrubs represent my career as a professional veterinarian. My dress pants and shoes, white shirt and a tie, represent entrepreneurship and leadership in a multicultural area and being able to adjust to the society that I live in now.

Katrina Miller, Photo by Dustin Doskocil

Katrina Miller

OWNER OF BLACKAT VIDEO PRODUCTIONS LLC, FILMMAKER/ PRODUCER, DIRECTOR OF VIDEOGRAPHY AT RED ROCKS AMPHITHEATER, MOM

I describe my style today as eccentric elegance. There’s an emphasis on femininity and strength because fashion reflects our values. The dress I’m wearing in the shoot was handpicked by the [HOPE’s] manager. She knows I had this shoot and put this dress aside for me. That’s the kind of relationship they have with many in the community. The jewelry I am wearing is by Alchemy Stitches. Making pro Black fashion choices in this area is hard because there isn’t much supply here. Her designs give us an opportunity to shop local and reflect the love and connection with our African heritage and Blackness, creating this alignment with the natural rhythm of our lives.  We can create an expression of self that is truly beautiful and attractive.

Chalita Thompson, Photo by Dustin Doskocil

Chalita Thompson

CHEMIST AND CREATOR OF ALCHEMY STITCHES

The fabric for the pants was an interesting print I found that gives me this tribal sense. That’s very different from a lot of the clothing that I find here. You find a lot of things that are tribal from the Asian regions, and I wanted something that was a little bit different — that was Asian inspired — but maybe more African or Black fashion. As far as the top goes, it gave me an island feel. I was thinking of Jamaican and Caribbean vibes, that’s the direction I went with. I try to reach back to my African heritage by wearing the head wrap the way that I did. I really love to represent myself by wearing head wraps and head scarves and things like that. I visited Africa and that was one of the big things that I took away as far as fashion was that you could just wrap your hair, and it looks great.

Shiquita Yarbrough, Photo by Dustin Doskocil

Shiquita Yarbrough

DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND EQUITY, CEO OF VOICE OUR POWER, LONGMONT CITY COUNCIL

It was actually really difficult for me to think about what to wear. I think I was overthinking it. I’m a casual person. When I was in the dressing room I was like, you know, what represents me is just keeping it real. I’m a very casual person. I don’t even know how to be glamorous. I wore a pair of jeans, but what I really wanted to wear were leggings. I like to be ready to go anytime, ready to run at any time. Of course if it’s a gala or something like that, that’s different, but honestly every day, leggings are my thing. If I could wear them to city council meetings I would. I wore a fedora hat, and I said, ‘I’m gonna try to dress it up,’ and it’s still kind of casual. I’m not one that fits in a box. Every day for me is pretty casual. For me to represent myself and the work that I do in the community, it’s showing up as who I am and being comfortable.

Meosha Brooks, Photo by Dustin Doskocil

Meosha Brooks

AEROSPACE ENGINEER, MANAGEMENT, SVVSD SCHOOL BOARD

Purple, gold, and yellow — those colors together. I chose that to show strength and regalness. Purple represents rose royalty. I believe everybody that I met [at the photoshoot] represents a position of royalty, particularly in their area of influence. It was to show the growth … royalty and growth. The red blouse with a skirt that had the woman with shades on — it had some writing on it — for me, that represented fun, and it also represents personality. Most people think of engineers as these quirky, weird, kind of goofy types. I want to stress that that is not the norm. That is not what everybody is. It’s okay if that’s what you want to be, but engineers can have style. I want to take away the stereotype that you can’t be beautiful, you can’t be sexy, if you are in a STEM field. I wanted to show that I also can be sexy, I can be fun, I can be stylish.

Photo: Dustin Doskocil

The post Why Do You Wear What You Do? appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Drag is a celebration of identity and that which makes each of us beautiful

l to r: Khloe Katz, Trey Suits, Anyah Dixx, Kendra D. Crase, Miss Zarah Misdemeanor
Photography by Dustin Doskocil, doskophoto.com

For Yellow Scene’s Style issue, we are highlighting drag and the glamor and beauty that is inherent in the art form. First, we must talk about the nature of beauty.

There are so many beautiful things in this world. A cool breeze on a hot day. Barefeet moving through gentle grass. The sun setting behind the mountains and turning the world gold for just a moment. The first brush of a new lover’s hair against your neck. Your favorite song. Late nights with those who know you best. Love. There are so many beautiful things all around us all the time we sometimes forget to find beauty within ourselves. But it is there in each of us. It radiates out through our smiles, dances through streets in our laughter, falls slowly to the ground with our tears. It is who we are in our hearts, the very fiber of our beings. What we care about. What makes us laugh and cry, and what pisses us off. It is our identity. This inner beauty is what drag celebrates. It is an attempt to pull beauty from within and wrap it around the exterior, to wear it proudly like fabulous armor. 

I got to see the donning of this armor firsthand at YS’ photoshoot, which was held at a gorgeous home in Erie, Colorado. We worked with four queens—Kendra D. Crase, Khloe Katz, Miss Zarah Misdemeanor, and Anyah Dixx—and one king, Trey Suits. As they each arrived and dressed and the White Claw flowed and laughter and music filled the rooms and before any photos were taken, I noticed a confidence shared between each of them, an enviable self-assuredness that many spend their lives seeking. It was one of the most comfortable and accepting environments I’ve been in, and it prompted thoughts about purity of self, standing true to who you are no matter what, and knowing that you deserve love and acceptance. 

Khloe Katz, Trey Suits, Kendra D. Crase, Anyah Dixx
Photo by S. Blades

It also made me think about the importance of community. The shoot came out incredibly well and that is only because of the combined efforts of a lot of hardworking, caring, badass people who came together to make something beautiful. It felt like a big group hug and made me realize that no matter where you are in life, who you are, you are not alone. There is a place for you somewhere. There are open arms out there in this world just waiting for you to run into. Before, during, and after the shoot, each person talked to me about these concepts, as well as the nature of drag, and—because this is the Style issue—beauty advice for those just starting their drag journeys. 

Miss. Zarah Misdemeanor, Photography by Dustin Doskocil, doskophoto.com

Each person we worked with is a performer through and through. Every single one of them told me about being drawn to the stage from a young age. Before drag, this manifested in the form of school plays, musical theater, open mics, and the like. Since they’ve been doing drag, they have all created carefully crafted performances that have made each of them quite popular in the Colorado drag scene.

For Anyah Dixx, it’s about joy and sharing the music and humor that she loves. She told me, “It’s about seeing people happy, man. The world is so turbulent right now. The world needs a little bit of joy. That’s what brings me my joy, to then continue giving more joy.”

Khloe Katz, a self-described “control freak,” produces every aspect of her shows. With a background in debate, she told me she was “blessed with some skills on a microphone,” melding music and improvisational comedy into each of her performances resulting in no two shows ever being exactly the same.

Trey Suits hits the stage with an unbelievable amount of swagger and easy confidence. He describes his performance style as “high energy storytelling,” rooted in authenticity, performing lip-synced covers of some of his favorite songs and also has a YouTube channel that mixes his striking style with elaborate face paint.

Kendra D. Crase’s shows come from her “idea of what a strong woman of color would be, someone who knows where they stand, and is the biggest thing in the room.” She places a lot of emphasis on crowd interaction and creating a sense of community. She said, “I like community. I love to do twerk-offs at my shows. I mix a little comedy with my emceeing and interacting with the crowd.”

Miss Zarah Misdemeanor seeks to do more than entertain in her performances. She told me, “Yes, it’s about performance. It’s about entertainment. But it’s about community work. Being a community leader. I feel like doing drag is a great way for me to reach my community. When I first got started, I thought it was just going to be entertainment purposes only. But as I really dived into it and started doing it more and more, I realized how I’m a community leader because of drag. So I tried to use it as a platform to really help and serve my community. It was about helping to raise money for you know, friends that were sick, that were dying with the AIDS epidemic, and stuff like that.”

Khloe Katz, Photography by Dustin Doskocil, doskophoto.com

During the shoot, we got to talking about what drag means to society as a whole. Drag is a statement, an art form that uses the body as a canvas and the best art should make you confront your biases and assumptions, change your way of thinking. Khloe Katz said, “You have to do the thing that’s uncomfortable to recondition and rewire all of your biases, all your conditioning, to what we’re taught of what’s normal.” 

Kendra D. Crase elaborated on this, saying, “No queer person is trying to make anyone uncomfortable. Queer people are just trying to live their authentic selves. They want to wear bright pink that day. That’s what they want to wear. If you walk in and you’re like, ‘Why are you wearing that?’ That’s weird. It’s weird to you. So why wouldn’t you say what made you wear that color today? It’s about changing the conversation.” 

This idea of being true to yourself and taking care of yourself was a recurring theme in our conversations. There exists an undeniable duality within each of these performers. There is the larger-than-life personality, shining in the stage lights, and there is the person beneath, the one who goes home and rubs their feet and washes the makeup off. Each performer stressed the importance of not losing that person in favor of the glamor and the excitement. When asked what the biggest piece of advice she’d give to a younger drag performer or someone just starting out in drag, Miss Zarah Misdemeanor told me, “I would tell folks not to lose themselves. I think it’s really easy for drag entertainers to lose who they are through this drag persona. Without the person I am out of drag, there would be no Zarah. I take care of myself in all aspects and don’t get lost in this character and persona that I’ve created.” 

Trey Suits, Photography by Dustin Doskocil, doskophoto.com

For Trey Suits, drag has been an especially important part of helping them define their identity. They told me, “Trey was always an extension of myself that I didn’t allow to come out in my life. When I first started performing drag, I realized I ended up creating safe space for myself on stage. It was the only place that I could really just let out whatever was happening inside of me when I didn’t even understand it. Trey was like, ‘Hey, I’m gonna, I’m going to hold your hand until you can figure this out.’” 

Anyah Dixx, Photography by Dustin Doskocil, doskophoto.com

Anyah Dixx also spoke to the importance of drag in regard to confirming identity and also creating very visible safe spaces where people can be their authentic selves, something which then allows people to know that they are not alone and that there is a place for them in the world where they will be truly accepted. She told me, “A lot of people are just too scared of themselves or too scared of the world around them to be 100% them. So just the fact that we have these areas, it’s just fantastic.” 

In addition to insights about the nature of drag and the importance of identity, each performer shared their beauty advice. Each of them mentioned the “canvas” at some point. This term refers to their skin and how important it is to take care of it. Anyah Dixx said, “Be nice to your skin. This is a very, very traumatizing thing for your skin if you’re not doing it well and taking care of it afterwards. This whole message is to be nice and to love yourself. Part of that is about loving your skin.” Kendra D. Crase echoed this, saying, “It’s only gonna look as good as your skin does.”

Something people unfamiliar with drag might not understand is the sheer amount of time, thought, and effort it takes to get into drag. Khloe Katz said, “A lot of women at shows ask, ‘Oh my God, can you do my makeup?’ I’m like, do you want to sit in a chair for two hours and put on massive amounts of makeup? No, you probably don’t.” She went on to say, “Our job is to make the illusion happen. And then make it exaggerated because you’re going to be on stage, the person in the back of the bar or the back of the theater needs to be able to see your features enough to believe it. Then also it’s got to be beautiful.” 

Kendra Case, Photography by Dustin Doskocil, doskophoto.com

As for final messages, each of these incredible, passionate, kind, royal individuals left me with something poignant and thought-provoking. Anyah Dixx said, “For anybody that has a preconception of stepping into your own self, whether you’re gay or whatnot, step forward with courage. It’s a whole new world. People are different now and as many terrible people that are out there, there are some amazing people along that journey as well, to just have courage.”

Khloe Katz told me, “I just think right now, the LGBTQIA+ community is a little bit under attack. There is a little bit of division from the GOP or right-leaning people. I just think it’s really important, more than ever, that representation and visibility matters across all spectrums and diversity, because somebody is a part of our community.”

Miss Zarah Misdemeanor said, “Just be true and love yourself. If you can do that, then you’ll be respectful to other people, but definitely that self-love. I’m all about that stuff. I feel like if we learn to love ourselves, it’s just that much easier to love other people.”

Kendra D. Crase kept it short, “Find happiness from within.” Finally, Trey Suits left me with this: “The process of living is coming home, coming back to yourself.” 

Drag teaches us that no matter your sexual orientation, or your identity, there is a place for you in this world. There is love for you in this world. Find the love and beauty within yourself and hold on to it and let it radiate out across the sky, the heavens. Dance with yourself because you deserve it. You are not alone, and this world is a better place with you in it. 

The post The STYLE Issue: Fabulous: A Look Into the Colorado Drag Scene appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

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DENVER—Sept. 1, 2021—The Denver Art Museum (DAM) today announced a $25 million endowment gift from an anonymous donor. This gift will support programming, art acquisitions and outreach of its Textile Art and Fashion department, creating a new Institute of Textile Art and Fashion. Florence Müller, the museum’s Avenir Curator of Textile Art and Fashion, will lead the Institute of Textile Art and Fashion, established by this transformational gift.

“The museum is deeply grateful for this significant and powerful endowment gift,”
said Christoph Heinrich, Frederick and Jan Mayer Director of the DAM. “The goals of the new Institute are to support the development and sharing of the museum’s Textile Art and Fashion collection and create a basis for scholarly research and exchange in ways that are engaging and valuable for our community. Textiles have been wonderful ambassadors and connectors between diverse cultures for thousands of years. They were used to communicate ideas and stories, share religious beliefs as well as notions of style and taste. Then, as now, they are among the most beautiful documents of human creativity.”

Crazy Quilt. C 1876.

More specifically, $15 million of this gift will provide an endowment to support the ongoing departmental programming and scholarship, and the remaining $10 million will support an endowment fund for new acquisitions to the Textile Art and Fashion collection. Ongoing work will include the restoration and care of all works in the collection, as well as the programming of the galleries on the 6^th floor of the soon-to-open Lanny and Sharon Martin Building. Dynamic exhibitions, learning and engagement programs and opportunities, ongoing lecture series and Textile Art and Fashion Symposia will also be funded through this new departmental endowment.

The museum’s collections of textile art and fashion encompasses more than 5,000 objects from Asia, Europe, and North and South America, ranging from archaeological textiles to contemporary works of art in fiber, as well as fashion from the 18th century to today.

The origins of the department of Textile Art and Fashion date back to 1927, with the gift of a Saltillo serape and a Kashmir shawl to the museum. Over the ensuing decades, the diversity of the collection developed dramatically under the tenure of several curators, alternately specializing in textiles and fashion, starting with the appointment of the first curator, Lydia Roberts Dunham in 1955. Imelda Gatton DeGraw was the curator from 1965 to 1992, followed by Alice Zrebiec until 2014.

In 2012, the Avenir Foundation endowed the department, which allowed for the remodeling of the sixth-floor Textile Art and Fashion gallery. Completed in 2013, the renovation includes the recently named Avenir PreVIEW textile conservation lab and the interactive Nancy Lake Benson Thread Studio. In 2015, Florence Müller became the curator and under her leadership, the museum has successfully grown the fashion collection through international and local acquisitions.

Exhibitions from the department have generated excitement and engagement, including Dior: From Paris to the World (2019), Shockwave: Japanese Fashion Design 1980s-90s (2017) and Paris to Hollywood: The Fashion and Influence of Veronique and Gregory Peck (2021).

“Fashion and textiles are exciting to me and our audiences because they are so accessible – everyone has fashion and textiles in their home and everyday lives,” said Müller. “This gift will enable us to build upon the museum’s great collections and tell more stories with them.”

# # #

About the Denver Art Museum

The Denver Art Museum is an educational, nonprofit resource that sparks creative thinking and expression through transformative experiences with art. Its mission is to enrich lives by sparking creative thinking and expression. Its holdings reflect the city and region—and provide invaluable ways for the community to learn about cultures from around the world. Metro voters support the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District (SCFD), a unique funding source serving hundreds of metro Denver arts, culture and scientific organizations. For museum information, visit www.denverartmuseum.org or call 720-865-5000.

Media Resources

Online Newsroom: www.denverartmuseum.org/press

Facebook: www.facebook.com/denverartmuseum

Twitter: www.twitter.com/denverartmuseum

Instagram: www.instagram.com/denverartmuseum/

Image Credits

Crazy Quilt. C 1876. Hand pieced silk with silk embroidery. Neusteter Textile Collection: Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Robert A. Young.

The post Anonymous $25M Gift to Establish and Endow Institute of Textile Art & Fashion at the Denver Art Museum | Press Release appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Woven Wisdom vests at Umba. Photo by Zoe Jennings.

It’s a fact that before colonization, the Apache nation, the Arapaho nation, the Cheyenne nation, the Pueblo tribes, the Shoshone tribe, the Ute nation, the Comanche tribe, the Kiowa tribe, and the Navajo tribe inhabited the land that’s now called Colorado.

Yet, while doing research for this article, it was difficult to find many stores that sold Indigenous-owned fashion in Boulder.

When I asked, store owners pointed to traditional Native decor like feathers but told me they weren’t produced by Indigenous people. Therein lies the problem. Many people can admire the art and style of Indigenous cultures, but it doesn’t matter to them if the product is made cheaply from someone who is not indigenous or the branding is misleading.

At the same time, many Indigenous people make a living off of selling their art and merchandise. With the privilege of admiring and buying Indigenous-inspired clothes comes the responsibility to research where those products are coming from and if they actually benefit indigenous people. To this end, we’ve found a handful of Boulder stores that honor Indigenous people by selling their products.  While we’d love to see more – or any – native-owned clothing and apparel companies in the area, we’re in love with buying local and supporting indigenous communities around the world.

“It’s totally cool to honor the styles, but you know you don’t want to be borrowing from another culture without actually honoring the people making it.”

Zuni

This family-owned shop opened in 1992 and partners with artisans of the Navajo Nation, the Zuni Pueblo, and the Hopi Tribe. Members of the Indian Arts and Crafts Association, they only sell authentic items from indigenous communities.

Native jewelry at Zuni. Photo by Zoe Jennings.

Woven Wisdom piece found on the clearance rack. Photo by Zoe Jennings.

Umba

Umba is a family-run business with a mission to celebrate sustainable living solutions. Umba began its business by selling wearable art at music festivals and transitioned to a store. Their profits support their organic farm in Oregon.

Umba carries boots, jewelry, vests, and shirts from Woven Wisdom, a non-profit, conscious collaboration with Indigenous Mayan artisans from Lake Atitlan, Guatemala. Their jewelry line uses the traditional beading technique of the Tz’utujil Mayans. Their non-profit funds education, social entrepreneurship, and health and nutrition efforts in Lake Atitlan.

Umba carries indigenous-made, beaded jewelry. Photo by Zoe Jennings.

Woven Wisdom boots sold at Umba. Photo by Zoe Jennings.

El Loro

Opened in 1977, El Loro is a Boulder mainstay that was founded before Pearl Street Mall was conceived. The couple who started the store wanted to share treasures from their travels with the Boulder community. The store currently sells authentic jewelry from Indigenous communities with merchandise clearly labelled with the community’s name and sometimes the artist’s name.

“We’ve been buying from the same groups for the last 20 to 30 years, and that includes the Native American work,” said manager Angel Brick. “If you’re going to sell Native American work, you definitely want the census number for artifacts. That’s a pretty huge thing to have. If you look at our pieces, they do have that. Anything you have that’s the artist’s name, the area where they’re from, the specific styles that they’re working in is a huge thing with Native work. It’s totally cool to honor the styles, but you know you don’t want to be borrowing from another culture without actually honoring the people making it.”

It’s worth noting that El Loro has some pieces that are in Indigenous styles but are not produced by Indigenous people. An example is their selection of shoes by Minnetonka, a non-Native owned company. Their branding and the fact that they sell moccasins can be misleading to some, and in 2020 the company committed to work more closely with and donate some proceeds to Native communities.

“We can definitely tell you what’s Native and what’s not,” Brick said. “If something isn’t marked as Native, we won’t claim that it is.”

El Loro labels all Indigenous-produced items. Photo by Zoe Jennings.

Art Mart Gifts

Art Mart is a woman-owned and operated art, jewelry, and gifts store opened in 1989. They sell collections of jewelry made by indigenous artists. The Indigenous-made jewelry comes from Peyote Bird designs in New Mexico, Al Zuni Global Jewelry, and Navajo Shiprock Santa Fe.

Art Mart’s Indigenous jewelry selection. Photo by Zoe Jennings.

Fair Trade Winds

Fair Trade Winds sells fair trade merchandise from all over the world. They work mindfully with sustainable and ethical businesses that don’t benefit from exploitation of people or the planet. Their bamboo infinity scarves are hand woven by women in an Indigenous cooperative in Guatemala. Currently the scarves are the only item in the store made by Indigenous people.

Additional items made by Indigenous businesses can be purchased on their online store. The kids knit animal hats, and adult mittens are knitted by indigenous women in Peru and Bolivia. The staff was friendly and knowledgeable on what in-store merchandise was made by indigenous people. New merchandise is always being rotated into the Boulder store.

Fair Trade Winds’ infinity scarves. Photo by Zoe Jennings.

The post Shopping Native On Native Land: 5 Stores In Boulder That Sell Indigenous-made Fashion appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Shay, Dress

It’s the dog days of August, and the pandemic lingers on. We’ll state the obvious: COVID-19 has changed the way we shop, the way we dress, and the way we collaborate. Meanwhile, Boulder was once named by National Geographic as the worst-dressed city that looks the best naked. And who could blame them for calling us out? 

“a t t a c k e d,” as the kids say.

We’re just as likely to find a look reminiscent of Kitson in LA as we are to find someone out of the Patagonia catalogue. Perhaps our reputation is due to our easy attitude, or the fact that so many of us spend so much time in the mountains.

Yet behind these kitschy stereotypes lies a fashion sense that is underrated and rarely explored. We poked around at the shops to see what’s out there, keeping COVID in mind. We wanted to ensure that the advice we found squared with Boulder’s casual attitude. We spoke with Gorley, model Shay Burton, actor Travis Signus, as well as two notable stylists, Anne Liebman and Kyle Albrecht. In doing this, we kept these questions in mind: What do we wear, and when? How has COVID changed the way we shop? Where are the places to go, and what are the looks to find? The result of our research? Boulder is a dark horse for great fashion: you simply need to know what to look for, and where to find it.

We started out by speaking to Anne Liebman, founder and stylist at SheStyles Colorado. Based out of Denver, Anne helps men and women find their own signature look for any scenario. Liebman took time to clue us in on her style goals: a healthy respect for on-point trends with a practicality reminiscent of the quintessential Colorado outdoor lifestyle.

“Balance, pop, and purpose,” she said, when questioned about her style philosophy. “These are the three key elements to incorporate into each outfit.” We asked Liebman to suggest looks for date nights, casual get-togethers, and workwear. Liebman recommends a collection of high-quality, timeless pieces. Dark denim is a must. Flattering and classic, a high-quality denim can be worn to chuck tennis balls with your pups at the Valmont dog park or be dressed up with a silk or chiffon camisole and a piece or two of statement jewelry for a dinner out on Pearl Street. Burton, our model, showcases the type of statement jewelry about which we’re speaking with a pair of beaded lemon-themed earrings. When working with a wardrobe of high-quality basics, accessories like these can make a normal outfit into a stunning look. 

Shay, Earrings

When it comes to date nights, combining statement pieces like Burton’s earrings or headband with classic elements is the “pop” that Liebman promotes. It might be a pair of leopard-print stilettos, an ethereal dress with a classic leather jacket, or a kaleidoscopic necklace: date nights are your chance to shine. If it’s a more relaxed atmosphere? Liebman suggests wedges in place of stilettos, but the convenient thing about Liebman’s style philosophy is that she aims for comfort: people should always feel like themselves, rather than aspiring to a style that isn’t their own. With a collection of staples – Liebman suggests brands like Madewell, Paige, and Mother Denim, all of which can be found in Boulder on Pearl or Twenty-Ninth – anyone can feel free to build upon that solid foundation with accessories and pieces that accent their own personality. With Boulder’s plethora of art shops and small boutiques, there’s something to find for everyone.

We couldn’t resist asking Liebman about trends – after all, with that scathing review of Boulder style, we wanted to know how to look fresh and fun. Liebman’s suggestions? Scrunchies are still in, a bit of nostalgia for us 80s and 90s kids. And when she mentioned tie-dye, we were thrilled; it’s a look that meshes perfectly with Boulder’s DIY aesthetic.

And what about the menswear side of things? We spoke to stylist Kyle Albrecht of Social Garb, a fashion startup currently based out of San Francisco. Besides being a stylist ranked in the top-five nationwide, Albrecht’s company specializes in creating fashionable varieties of the clear plastic bags required at music venues like Red Rocks. Albrecht’s easy candor was a perfect match for a conversation about Boulder menswear. “I wish I could come shopping with you,” he said. And frankly, we did, too. Like Liebman, Albrecht’s style philosophy is based on a core wardrobe of classic pieces.

Travis and Jason, Back-to-Back

Travis in Chinos

Jason and Shay, Bridge

“K.I.S.S.,” he said, when asked about his style philosophy. But Albrecht brings something else to the table, and that’s a healthy respect for streetwear. He also favors dark denim, because it can be casual for an afternoon lunch meetup or dressed up with a great button-down for a sushi date night. For a more refined atmosphere, he suggests chinos with a tucked-in but layered look: yet, in keeping with the casual Boulder atmosphere, his footwear suggestions are a pair of clean and classic Vans or flip-flops, a look that our model, actor Travis Signus, wears well. Pair it with a nice watch and a set of high-quality shades, and you have an outfit that transitions from day to night with ease.

Jason on wall

If you’re looking for something a little extra, Albrecht suggests a salvaged look with your denim, and offers brands like Paige for a great fit and an edgy detail. When we asked him how to incorporate streetwear into an outfit, he suggested a statement piece. Gorley’s style incorporates this beautifully: classic black jeans with a short-sleeved hoodie you won’t find anywhere else, or a head-turning burgundy hat that invites conversation. If you’re not the adventurous type, don’t worry. Albrecht’s most sage advice was that with menswear, “it’s the way things fit that makes the difference.”

We also asked Albrecht how COVID has changed his professional life. If we’re honest, this article has been a bit of a challenge. Without the opportunity to try on looks at local shops, we had to put together outfits largely from our own wardrobes. Albrecht welcomed the opportunity to advise us, and welcomes the changes that the pandemic has brought to his business. He’s transitioned to styling almost completely online. With a clientele that is composed largely of former military personnel, doctors, and people otherwise normally in uniform, suggesting online shopping makes it easy for the fashion-reticent to dip their toes into a more unique style. All of the brands suggested offer easy-to-browse Web sites and generous return policies, which are important in an environment that is financially uncertain for so many of us.

We know that in many respects, though, we want to see the things we purchase: we want to try them on, see the fit, and maybe get our friends’ opinions. Fashion is tactile by nature, making the new era a nuisance. Our models for the shoot are three whose style we trust, so we asked them where they shop, and what looks they’re favoring for the end of summer and going into fall.

Signus owns his classic look: a casual California type, he pairs relaxed tops with staple jeans and shorts, but he can turn up the volume with a well-fitted suit or a relaxed button-down with chinos. He suggests Banana Republic for a polished look, but his statement streetwear piece is a set of clean Nike slides or a great band tee. Gorley is what we consider a bit of a streetwear icon. He describes his fashion as “eclectic,” and favors “bright colors and matching flows.” He’s got a focused, yet mellow personality, a talent for bringing people together, and a knack for those statement pieces. His curiosity for the world around him leads him to venture beyond staple brands like ASOS (a favorite) and into stores like Marshalls and Nordstrom Rack, affordable options that are found right here in Boulder. 

It’s the luck of the draw when shopping at those stores, something that Burton appreciates as well. When we chatted with her between looks during our photo shoot, I kept Albrecht’s experience with online shopping in mind. I asked her about online brands that we see tagged on social media, like Shein or Fashion Nova. She said she shops them frequently. Warning that “the higher the price, the better the quality,” she was quick to assure us that she buys most of her clothes at thrift stores. 

We agree with this. Boulder is an absolute gold mine for thrift store shopping. Whether it’s CU Boulder students lightening their load following the end of the semester, or community residents cleaning their closets with the extra time at home that COVID has granted, stores like Goodwill and the Salvation Army are loaded with quality pieces from Hudson jeans to vintage dresses to boots from Sorel and sandals from Sam Edelman. And don’t forget the consignment shops: Crossroads, Buffalo Exchange, Plato’s Closet, and Rags are stocked with unique pieces that are affordable no matter your budget. 

The bottom line? For the fall, we’re cultivating a capsule-style wardrobe of timeless pieces that we can find at thrift or consignment stores almost as easily as from the brands themselves. Accessorizing is part of the outfit: a statement necklace or a great pair of shoes speaks as loudly as a printed camisole or a pair of patterned chino shorts. Ultimately, the fashion is where you find it: we may need to dig a little deeper in Boulder, but our style is already here.  

The post What to Wear, Where: Looks for the Boulder Lifestyle appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Summer is here and we’re making our way back into the swing of things, one slow, stylish step at a time.

If you’re anything like us, you may have spent the past couple months lounging in your comfy clothes… you know the ones we’re talking about. No More! We like getting fancy, we like to wear suits, and dresses, and fun hats, shiny earrings, and beautiful rings. And we’re so ready to open that neglected wardrobe, pull out our very finest, and hit the town for a well deserved socially distant date or friendly outing. But for every runway worthy outfit it’s the accessories that tie it all together, that turn beauty into divinity, just like a good editor.

We’re talking about the feel good pieces of fashion that not only resemble who we are, but maybe even how we feel. So we’ve come up with the best we could find, from heteronormative to gender neutral, from Black owned to corporate, we’ve pulled the hottest accessories to make sure that no matter who you are, we’ve got you covered for your big day.

Hats

Goorin Big DDD – $300
With a shop in downtown Boulder, Goorin has been a wonderful purveyor of hats since 1895.
Available at goorin.com

ASOS DESIGN natural check bucket hat – $28
Bucket hats are back, but less fratty and more cute.
Available at asos.com

Masks

Lucky Brand 5 pack pleated cloth face mask – $25
Classy high quality face masks with a stylish design
Available at luckybrand.com

Vera Bradley Cloth Face Mask (non-medical) – $8
We all know and love Vera Bradley, and now we can complete the look.
Available at verabradley.com

Billie Blooms Karolina Kurkova Mask (M) – $28
Fun and incredible! Who says masks can spur a couple laughs.
Available at statebags.com

 PIN

Anti Gender Rolls Pin – $14.55
How can you not love this.
Available at etsy.com

Kimono

ASOS DESIGN Luxe chiffon maxi kimono jacket in scarf print – $90
Summertime, and the living is easy, breezy and the weather is hot! Grab this Kimono for cool summertime fun.
Available at asos.com

Shirt

Penguin Rainbow Pride Print Shirt – $79
Show your pride with this subtle accented shirt.
Available at originalpenguin.com

Belt/Bag

Anjuna Utility Belt Bag – $595
Belt, meet bag. Also easily worn over one shoulder and across the chest. Black owned
Available at ashya.com

Melah Boutique Trina – $56
Cute hands bags and Black owned.Available at melahboutique.com

 Anklet

Automic Gold Heart Anklet – $145
“Radically wearable fine jewelry for everyone to wear”. With the intention to break the mold of the jewelry industry, Automic Gold, has developed itself as inclusive and diverse.
Available
at automicgold.com

Earrings

L’enchanteur ‘Palm of Our Hands’ Studs – $125
Another Black Owned business, making absolutely stunning pieces like these stud earrings.
Available at lenchanteur.com

Urban Outfitters – Urban Renewal Vintage Large Circle – $8
Budget friendly, larger earrings that can’t not be noticed.
Available at urbanoutfiiters.com

 Rings

Third Crown Prizm Ring Set – 18K Gold Plated Brass – $160
Wear them separately or wear them as one, this amazing set strikes a cord, and stirs conversation. Black Owned.
Available at thirdcrown.com

Watch

Skagen Signatur Brown Leather Watch – $69. Sleek, simple, and high quality for a friendly price. Available at skagen.com

Pocket Square

Tie Bar Liberty Thorpe Navy Pocket Square $14
Boost your look in under 5 minutes. Wear it to match or wear it to stand out.
Available at thetiebar.com

Shoes

Kleman Padror – $160
Tyrolean shoes made in France. Comfy as can be and stylish as ever.
Available at kleman-france.com

Tomboy Toes – The Downtown Dapper – $67
LGBTQ+ friendly masculine shoes that come in smaller sizes for all people to wear.
Available at tomboytoes.com

It’s all about the flair, the pizzazz and elaborate tinge of something extra, something that pulls together that look of simplistic modern class with glamour and style.

It’s the pinpoint pieces of a greater whole, the centerpiece on the fashionista table, a single ring with a magnificent stone or wonderfully crafted leather shoes. Whether it’s your hand sewn leather bag gingerly demanding the admiration of the thoughtful and of those who know, or it’s the simple and subtle suggestive nature of a piece of social or political prowess, how we accentuate ourselves matters. It sends a signal of the process it took to decide, the care it took to pull the whole thing together.
The decoration of our bodies, be it tattoos or accessories, becomes a momentary (or permanent) extension of ourselves, and it’s important to recognize that, it’s important to understand that each piece matters, that each piece adds to the overall expression of who we are. And sometimes, it’s just the feel good experience of having a little pop in your look, from studs to pins, hair ties to shades. It’s all about the flair, and how you feel.

The post A Guide to Accents: A little guide to get the creative juices flowing appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Since the beginning of the Coronavirus pandemic Denver designers have banded together to make masks in bulk for the local community as well as many others around the country. But as demand has slowed down, they have shifted their focus to more artistic endeavors – making masks with a more fashionable appeal. 

“At first we were making them out of necessity,” says Jana Smith, owner of At Your Service Event Planning and Producer of Denver’s Unique Week of Fashion. “We were initially just making them for healthcare workers and first responders. Most of the healthcare workers in Denver were given one mask per day when, typically, they would change them out in between every patient. They were essentially wearing our masks over their masks to protect the medical masks so they could wear them for longer.” 

Jana heard about the shortage of masks for healthcare workers and started reaching out to designers for help. “I reached out to 10 or 12 designers at the beginning,” she says, “but two designers have really spearheaded the movement here locally.” 

Smith said the art community really responded to the call to action. “It was a beautiful thing. A community that is normally competitive and full of introverts came together to make thousands of masks and gowns that have been distributed all over the country.” One of the designers Smith spoke about is Missy Caldwell, Owner of Misfitmissy, who said she had already started making masks because of a recent illness. 

“I had just done New York Fashion Week and gotten sick before I came back to Denver. So I just started making masks just in case,” Caldwell says. “I already had a stockpile of masks for an upcoming show and was going to give them out to the audience.” She had planned on using the masks as a way for the audience to participate in the show because she was going to incorporate masks into many of her designs. “Masks were already set to be a trend for the Fall shows before this all started,” she says. “The trend was more lace masks. They just shifted to making them for safety.” 

Smith spoke with healthcare professionals to make sure that what they were doing was effective and was told cotton and cotton-blend were the best fabrics. At the beginning, though, they didn’t really have much choice. “At first we were just using leftover fabric because with lockdown everything was closed; they really had to work with what they had,” she says. “We were heading into Spring Fashion Season and had all these gowns and designs ready for shows, so we started using the leftover fabric.”

As fabric started to run low, she tells us, some had to turn to ripping up t-shirts and sheets. “I started by using fabric left over from making clothes for my daughter,” says Julianna Aberle-McClellan, owner of Julianna’s Wardrobe. “In the beginning everyone was in a panic because we had to get things done.”

As supplies ran low, that’s when the community really started to come together. They created a Facebook page and used it as a resource for sharing supplies. “We were trying to band together to make the best of a horrible situation,” Smith says. “Regular people were donating supplies like fabric and threads and other supplies, and delivering masks.” 

Caldwell said she was working around the clock to make masks and only recently started taking days off again. At first it was just to help the medical community, because they were running out of PPEs, but then she started reaching out to those in her community and at one time she individually messaged every one of her friends to ask if they needed a mask. “I can’t even count how many I’ve made,” Caldwell says. “I sent masks to New York, California, Florida, Texas, people at the Post Office, Navy, Army, anyone that wanted one I’d send one. They’d ask for a couple and I’d send them extras just in case.” 

Caldwell’s daughter is in the Navy, quarantined on a ship, and asked for some masks, which is when her custom designs really started to take off. “The first one’s I sent had messages in them to my daughter, when you hold the mask up to the light you can see the message… like ‘thank you for your service’, and ‘you are beautiful’ and ‘love yourself’ or ‘the future is bright’.” 

The designers said at the beginning the healthcare workers and emergency personnel would take what they could get. But as the public started asking for masks the demand for custom masks went up. 

Caldwell has made masks in specific colors to match outfits with two-tone, rainbow, reversible and even McDonald’s colors to match workers’ uniforms. Then she started getting more creative by adding fabric flowers, charms, and nice trim, as well as creating matching accessories like headbands. But the modifications weren’t all for show; she also modified the designs to lower the mask off the ears, or tighten the fit, or adding cushions for the nose and ears. 

“To make them more fun and whimsical they were adding crystals, multiple fabrics, embroidery and other accoutrements,” Smith says. She has seen a lot of new designs in recent months, including company logos, super heroes, smaller ones for children, and Black Lives Matter themed. One designer made culturally appropriate masks free for the Navajo Nation when she found out about how the virus was affecting them. 

Aberle-McClellan said she has had her fair share of custom orders, including making dog-print masks for workers at PetCo, but her most popular were her sugar skulls fabrics. “I have a client in San Francisco that is the president of a medical company that was requesting specific colors and styles that set off the color of his eyes,” Aberle-McClellan says. “He told me, ‘If I have to wear this, I want to look great.’” 

Aberle-McClellan specializes in bridal and vintage restoration and redesign, and with weddings being cancelled and postponed she hasn’t really had many upcoming projects to work on. But she does have a couple of brides that are planning weddings for October. One of which is using the mask as an extension of her dress and ordering matching masks for her entire bridal party. 

As the modifications and customizations of the masks continue, the artists’ creativity is starting to show through even more. 

While the designers have modified patterns and went in different directions in their designs, they do have one thing in common, they all hope the trend of wearing masks continues and that it becomes more socially acceptable. “I think this is going to be a change in culture. Like in Japan where it is culturally acceptable to wear masks more,” Aberle-McClellan says. “I don’t think masks are going to go away.”   

The post The Fashionable Face: Masking Up appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

All images by Paul Wedlake Photography

wedlakephoto.com | Paul Wedlake Photography

Hair Styling for Boulder Ballet by Cassandra & team at Voodoo Lounge | 2100 Pearl St, Boulder

Producer: Jennifer Arnone Diehl

Boulder Ballet

From origin through evolution, the Boulder ballet brings classic, contemporary, and theatrical ballet to venues across the front range. Co-founded by Barbara Demaree and Wanda Tierney, they are a preeminent dance company in colorado. They are styled by Aloha Trading Co. a second hand clothing shop in Longmont bringing the brands you love to Longmont at brag-worthy prices. 

His:

SuperDry flannel button down
Retail: $60 @ Aloha: $22

Paper Denim & Cloth Burgundy button down
Retail: $178 @ Aloha: $48

Calvin Klein Tee
Retail: $40 @ Aloha: $8

Hers:

J.O.A – Rust Polka Dot Top
Retail: $70 @ Aloha: $22

7 for all Mankind Jeans
Retail: $198 @ Aloha: $52

Old Navy Jean Jacket
Retail: $40 @ Aloha: $16

Banana Republic Suede Jacket
Retail: $180 @ Aloha: $46

Free People Dress
Retail: $128 @ Aloha: $38

Loft Quilted Dress
Retail: $89 @ Aloha: $22

Matthew Helm has appeared in movies and commercials,  has over 20 years of martial arts experience, and has danced in leading roles in ballets such as Giselle, Le Corsaire, Nutcracker, & Don Quixote, to name a few. He trained at Ballet West Company and worked with choreographers from Paul Taylor Co. and Christopher Wheeldon Rep. He travels year round as a guest artist and ballet teacher. Look for him in is 9th season with Boulder Ballet.

Emma Michaux is a dancer with the Boulder Ballet company. The 18 year old has been dancing since she was 4  years old and has loved every moment of it. She trained at Colorado Ballet Society in Colorado Springs and has attended San Francisco Ballet, Kaatsbaan Extreme Ballet, and Texas Ballet Theatre’s summer intensive programs. Emma will be involved in the upcoming performances with Boulder Ballet including the Nutcracker, FACES, a unique show featuring works created by the dancers themselves, a contemporary masters program in the spring featuring a piece called Airs by the great Paul Taylor, and in the Sleeping Beauty, which is a bucket list ballet for the young dancer. Emma’s favorite article of clothing is her shoes. With a good pair of shoes your whole outfit transforms, and as a dancer, shoes make a big difference.

Edgar L. Page: Feel the movement

Voted the 2018 Presenting Denver Dance Festival Audience Favorite and the 2019 Reader’s Choice for Best Artist through 5280 Magazine, Edgar L. Page: Feel the Movement is emerging on the scene with an experience that is intersectional, multigenerational and one that investigates colliding truths head on through movement based mindfulness. See them in The Intersection of Truth and Beauty on #BLACKFRIDAY2019 in the Ellie Caulkins Opera House Studio Loft and visit edgarlpage.com for more information. Both of the ladies, Naturelle and Alyssa, are styled by Barbara and Company. The gentelmen are styled by Edgar L. Page. 

Alyssa Henningsen is originally from Chester, New Jersey where she grew up doing competitive dance. She continued her dance endeavors at Bucknell University, minoring in Dance with double majors in Psychology and Women’s and Gender Studies. Alyssa is a founding member of Edgar L. Page: Feel the Movement and is a featured performer in their upcoming production of “The Intersection of Truth and Beauty” on November 29, 2019. Tickets are available at AXS.com.

Mohammed York is a proud Colorado Native and recent Colorado State University Graduate! He discovered his passion for dance while competing in sports which led to training and performing with Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble. A passionate social justice reform advocate, York is currently a member of the Hannah Kahn Dance Company and will perform in “The Intersection of Truth and Beauty” presented by Edgar L. Page: Feel the Movement on November 29.

Born in Denver, Colorado, Victor Adeniran, developed his love of dance growing up in Nigeria, West Africa. He was a United States Marine for 14 years and a graduate of the University of Colorado. An accomplished visual artist and aerial dancer, Victor is producing a Dia De Los Muertos performance with MOXIE Luxe on November 1 (www.dayofthedeadbymoxie.com) and will be featured in The Intersection of Truth and Beauty on November 29 (AXS.com).

Naturelle Garcia Taylor, is an avid interdisciplinary arts student with interests in dance, photography, and painting. Largely trained at the Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Academy, she is a current member of their Youth Ensemble. She is thrilled to be working with Edgar L. Page: Feel the Movement on their production of “The Intersection of Truth and Beauty” on November 29, 2019 at 7pm in The Ellie Caulkins Studio Loft. Tickets are available at AXS.com.

Barbara and Company is a bastion of high fashion in a see of Boulder casual. Kathy King selects and brings high quality styles from Europe, New York, Los Angeles and local Colorado designers to her Boulder and Denver locations. 1505 Pearl St. #102 Boulder. Go to barbaraandcompany.net for info.

Naturelle: Black draped side french fleece dress from Veronique worn with a cropped faux leopard fur jacket from Velvet

Alyssa: Racer back open front vest over a crisp pleated sleeve cotton shirt from Hana San, worn with Ankle Jeans from AG

The gentlemen were styled from the personal collection of Edgar L. Page

Lauren & Brooke

Lauren and Brook are co-directors of Eunice Embodiment, an umbrella organization engaging performance, movement education and creative mentorship.

Brooke and Lauren are offering CULTIVATE creative practice labs on September 21 (free of cost), October 26, November 16, and December 14 from 1-4 pm at Block 1750 in Boulder, and a CULTIVATE creative practice retreat at Cocoon Portugal retreat center March 14-21, 2020. 

Lauren Beale, a Colorado native, is a performing artist, choreographer, collaborator and embodiment activist. She holds an MFA in Dance from CU-Boulder with an emphasis in interdisciplinary performance. Lauren has performed nationally and internationally with Michelle Ellsworth Artland, Gesel Mason Performance Projects, 3rd Law Dance/Theatre, David Capps/Dances, Interweave Dance Theater, Kim Olson/Sweet Edge, Curt Haworth and Dancers and Ellis Wood Dance. She has also collaborated with Wade Madsen, Ondine Geary, Kate Speer, Mark McCoin, Jessica Hendricks, and Amanda Leise.

Visit laurenbeale.com for information.

Lauren: Tie dye racer back body con t-shirt maxi-dress for $36 topped with black jean jacket at $49.

Accessorized with black half circle necklace for $12 and paired with heart shaped rhinestone stud earrings for $10.

Black cat eyed rhinestone sunglasses $12.

Brooke McNamara, originally from Encinitas, CA, is a dancer-choreographer, poet, mother, and zen monk, living in Boulder, CO. She holds a BA in Creative Writing and Dance, and an MFA in Dance. Brooke has danced professionally as a member of contemporary companies LEVYdance (San Francisco), Malashock and Dancers (San Diego), and Kim Olson/ Sweet Edge (Denver), as well as in the works of Dan Wagoner, David Dorfman, Eddie Taketa, and Gesel Mason.

Visit BrookeMcNamara.com for information.

Brooke: Black woven jumpsuit with button front and open triangle back is 3/4 length for $59.

Accessorized with gold and multi-colored Lucite bar necklace for $12 and drop earrings with faux pearl & crystal for $16.

Dressed by: Ivy Rose is a boutique full of ever changing on-trend clothing, jewelry & accessories for all women of every generation.

Located at 520 Main Street, Longmont.
Open Monday through Saturday.
Go to Ivyroselongmont.com for info

Shawnee

Shawnee is in her final year as a dance major at Metropolitan State University, where she choreographs, performs, and serves as one of the administrators for the dance program’s student organization. Metro State’s annual fall show, Sonder, is taking place on November 10th at the Cleo Parker Robinson Theater. You can catch the debut of her latest work, as well as her performing in pieces choreographed by her peers.

She is dressed by Ivy Rose, Longmont

Black jersey knit jumpsuit with spaghetti straps and side tie is 3/4 length. $59.

Accessorized with silver multi-circle necklace and matching earrings for $18.

The post Form & Fun(ction) appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Residents of Boulder county wear obscure outfits from time to time. Personally, I’ve seen togas and dinosaur costumes nowhere near Halloween, more capes than you can imagine, and people in public wearing their birthday suits. We’re known for Patagonia and Birkenstock – and there’s nothing wrong with any of it. Then there’s casual wear, some still arguably a bit “out there”, like Canadian tuxedos (denim top, denim bottom), and cacophonic combinations of tie-dye. The tie-dye is why we always have sunglasses on.

While athletic wear or jeans and tees all day, every day, may dominate the fashion scene in our neck of the woods, certain occasions call for upscale upgrades. Whether you’ve stepped foot into one or not, clothing stores specializing in designer wear for the whole fam abound in Boulder County. Read on so that next time you’re preparing for a fancy party, a fundraising gala, or the Academy Awards ceremony, you’ll know where to shop.

First, a brief rundown of what’s in vogue this summer nationwide (not specifically in the magazine, though their goal is to be on the same page). Let’s start from the bottom up, shall we? The feet. For those of you like me who struggle to keep sandals on your feet, I regret to inform you that sandals with minimal straps are the way to fancify your footsies this summer.

Moving on up to the legs: white pants are the stylish way to go, which seems illogical to me considering all the summer events that allow for easy spilling of stainable items. But hey, I don’t make the rules. Or…do I? Thankfully for my closet, because apparently they went out of style at some point, Bermuda shorts are once again desirable this summer. From denim to silk and everything in-between, you can find Bermuda shorts for any fancy-schmancy event.

For tops, animal prints like snake and leopard are in style once again, and guess what? Bright colors and tie-dye! Boulder residents can rejoice on that second one! Making a major comeback are crop tops and one shoulder tops, as well as one shoulder dresses. Jewelry wise, things which were popular with the 90s cool kids like chokers and shell necklaces are in again.

So there’s the rundown. It’s time for your red-carpet moment. You want to be the one who wore it best in People magazine (I mean, who wouldn’t?). If shopping for upscale fashion is new to you, fear not – Boulder and its surroundings are a mecca for clothing shops specializing in just that. 

Let’s begin with a stroll down Pearl Street in Boulder, where the amount of stores selling upscale clothing can be overwhelming, and take a peek inside Free People. Molly Love, the assistant store manager, filled me in on the summer trends doing well there. “We’re seeing a lot of utility pants, flowy pants, bright colors and bright florals in particular,” she mused. She mentioned that items made of sheer materials are flying off the shelves, and that trends from the 90s are making a serious comeback. “We’re definitely seeing a lot of (90s stuff) dotted into the trending summer style,” Love said. In particular, she mentioned one shouldered tops, dresses, and crop tops, and said they’d been selling a lot of animal print. “I’ve seen in store a leopard print romper and jacket.” Though they don’t carry shoes at that store, Love commented on the return of Doc Martin shoes, and said that shell jewelry like puka necklaces are immensely popular right now. As far as hair accessories, Love commented on the popularity and high sales of scrunchies and hair scarves.

Continuing down Pearl Street brings you past Chelsea, another perfect place to purchase high end fashion. I spoke with Jenna Bilek, a sales associate at the store, who filled me in on the hottest trends there. Just as Molly Love told me at Free People, Bilek instantly pointed out that “animal print is a really big trend for this season, particularly snake print and leopard print.” She also said that at Chelsea, “pink is really in as well; it feels like people shied away from pink for a while but now everyone is loving it, so we are carrying a lot.”

At Chelsea, tie front tops are flying off the racks, just as they are in less pricey stores. For me it feels like skinny jeans will never go away, not that I necessarily want them to, and that doesn’t seem likely to change. However, Belik mentioned that the skinny jeans of this season are comprised almost entirely of denim, instead of containing spandex and other stretchy materials. According to Belik, “for denim, skinny jeans are still very in so we are carrying them in different washes anywhere from black and white to light wash and dark wash.” She also pointed out a major trend Chelsea is carrying this season which is wide leg denim and vintage washes that are “softer and more buttery and that wear better with time.”

In terms of jewelry, Bilek informed me that things are turning away from large statement pieces to dainty and delicate necklaces that you can layer. Jumpsuits (one of my personal favorites, I can rock a jumpsuit hard core), she told me, are immensely popular as well. “We are carrying a lot of them this season, about an equal number of jumpsuits to dresses.” Speaking of dresses, Bilek noted that wrap styles are really popular because they tend to be flattering for every body type. 

It wouldn’t be right to talk about high fashion in Boulder without mentioning the Regiment Shop off of Canyon Boulevard. I spoke with Steve Jacobs of the Boulder Store, who mentioned that they turn to resources like the catalogues for Men’s Wearhouse and Suit Supply. They stand by their tradition of quality and service, and you know they’re good at what they do since they’ve been around for 60 years. That’s a pretty good sign. Their website even teaches you how to tie a tie, which for me only comes in handy when I dress up for Comic Con or Halloween, but still. They provide step-by-step instructions on tying a half Windsor, a four-in-hand, an ascot, and a bow tie.

Though I’m skipping over buckets of other upscale clothing stores in Boulder (if you could fit stores into buckets), it’s time to move on to Historic Downtown Louisville. There, you’ll come across Eleanor and Hobbs, a boutique founded and owned by Tracy Hobbs. The lovely shop offers top designer brands like Citizens of Humanity, AG Jeans, and Levi’s. Hobbs stays on top of the latest trends by visiting Los Angeles and New York.

Farther away we go, off to Broomfield! Josh Anderson, a sales assistant at Jos.A.Bank, said that trending this summer are bright colors, a lot more patterns, and clothing made of linen. “Shoe trends are moving towards a much more casual look,” Anderson noted, “so boat shoes are really popular right now as well as dress shoes without any patterns.” He specifically mentioned plain leather shoes lacking Broguing (which I had to look up). For ties, three-inch width is what’s in vogue, but more important than the width is the pattern. “Plaids on the ties are pretty big right now,” Anderson mentioned, “we have a yellow and blue really bright plaid that has been selling constantly.” So, there you have it, gents! Bright plaid ties for all of your formal events.

Boulder county is a fashion casual place. We know, you know, the world knows…we’re really relaxed and we prioritize comfort. Why wouldn’t we wear yoga pants everywhere and keep rock climbing shoes in the trunk, just in case? With Colorado weather, it’s best to be ready for anything, and, yeah, that can preclude wearing high end Italian leather loafers and a three-piece. Let’s be clear: we’re ready for anything, and that includes dressing to the  nines for a date night out, a gala event, or any number of celebrations. Make sure your wardrobe is updated and ready.

Note: by the time this article is published, these trends may have become “so yesterday,” but hopefully not. Good luck, friends.

The post Summer Fashion | Boulder County’s Fancy Fashion Finds appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

For this Summer’s HOT look, what could be hotter than vintage? Colorado is a nostalgic place, no doubt. Simply search for events and you’ll find a deluge of 1920’s – 1960’s vintage, swinging, lindy hopping, jitterbugging goodness. My goodness, what a lot to say. We talked to the movers and literal shakers shaking up our scene with style to help us get to the bottom of what exactly vintage is and how we can get our style game up.

At The Hop

with Kristie & Adam Laughrey

What is vintage to you and how do you define it for yourself?

Vintage is anything from the 1920’s to 20 years before the present year.  Woah, 1998 is vintage? Feel old?  Vintage to us is pre-loved pieces that were well made, had fabulous details, amazing textiles, pretty patterns, cool colors, and careful craftsmanship. A vintage piece has a story to tell.

What got you into vintage looks?

We’ve have been in love with vintage for over 20 years. We both used to rifle through our parents closet looking for anything old, cool and different. We both dabbled through different decades but found our love affair with the 40’s and 50’s. That era called to us because we had parents and grandparents that told great stories, shared old photos and played great music.

How do we get into the look without breaking the bank?

Shop The Hop! The easiest way to get in, without breaking the bank, is to incorporate smaller pieces into your everyday look. That could be accessorizing with a great vintage scarf, purse, jewelry, or shoes. For guys try a pearl snap shirt with your favorite jeans.  It about how you style it. 

What’s your role in the culture?

We love the vintage and rockabilly lifestyle. We dress like this every day. It is a lifestyle, and people appreciate that. They see us dressed up, feeling good, having fun—and they love it. Rockabilly represents youthful rebellion through dress. We want people to embrace what they love and express who they are. What better way to do that than in what you wear?  ?

Last January we decided to turn our vintage fashion passion into a business. We bought a 1956 canned ham camper, gave it a makeover, named it Tootie, and turned it into a mobile vintage shop. June 2017 we opened the doors to The Hop! We specialize in 40’s-60’s vintage and reproduction styles for men and women. You can find Tootie at breweries, concerts, festivals, and car shows. You can book us for vintage styling and shopping parties at your home. The Hop is local to Longmont but you can find us all around Colorado. Visit our Facebook page @atthehopshop for a listing of events. 

The 1940’s Ball

with Khyentse George

What is vintage to you and how do you define it for yourself?

Vintage to me is a sort of escapism that is very important in our hectic world; a way to temporarily immerse yourself in the music, culture, glamour and warmth of another time.  I am such a romantic at heart, vintage allows me to step into the romance of another time, another place. I love the class and style of the 40’s especially. There was such attention to detail. I appreciate that through rationing came stunning hairstyles like victory rolls, gorgeous repurposed clothing, beautiful stitching and embroidery and even drawing lines on your legs for nylons. I also admire the spirit of this generation and the sensibility and creativity that comes from having to make something out of nothing.

What got you into vintage looks?

I spent a lot of time with my grandparents growing up, they were radio performers in the 1940’s and really instilled a love of the music and culture of the 40’s and 50’s in me.

How do we get into the look without breaking the bank?

We have some great local vintage shops with very affordable options.  And I love to accessorize…hats, stockings, hair flowers gloves are great and inexpensive!

What’s your role in the culture.

I’m the Creator/Director for the 1940’s Ball.  It’s an annual event celebrating the 1940’s at Boulder Airport, complete with real WWII airplanes, vehicles, re-enactors, and big bands under the stars…we also have a 40’s and 50’s themed Christmas event in Denver.

Rockin’ Robin’s

with Angele Wilke

What is vintage to you and how do you define it for yourself?

My guideline is any item made 20+ years ago. In my experience, vintage is in the eye of the beholder. A 60 year old woman may not consider her clothing from the 1980s vintage, but her daughter born in 1995 probably would. Vintage is a feeling, a nostalgia, a remembrance of (and often a longing for) a time that has already passed.

What got you into vintage looks?

I started my love affair with vintage shortly after getting into fashion about 5 years ago. Shows like Mad Men and Boardwalk Empire were high on my watchlist; I fell in love with the glamour of the past. I wanted to bring that to my everyday life and help other people find i. The best part of my job is people who bring in their consignments from 30+ years ago. I love hearing stories about individuals’ lives and knowing that with every garment, hat, shoe, or necklace there is a beautiful memory.

How do we get into the look without breaking the bank?

THRIFT STORES! You’d be surprised how many people don’t know the value of their old treasures. I’ve found some of my best pieces thrifting. I once found a damaged 1960s wedding dress at a Goodwill in Iowa. It was gorgeous so I just had to take it home. Lo and behold, buried between the layers a fabric, a Christian Dior tag! Like a dream come true.

What’s your role in the culture?

I am the store manager at Rockin’ Robin’s Retro, Vintage, & Resale, a consignment store specializing in vintage clothing and accessories (1800’s to the 1980’s). We organize items by decade so that everything is easily found. Our staff is incredibly knowledgeable and very stylish (if I do say so myself) each with an individual flare. We love helping customers costume for anything from a 1970’s theme party or a pin-up car show to Burning Man or the much loved local Left Hand Nitro Fest.

Connecting

The Hop – Vintage Shop on Wheels, Longmont, CO

Kristie & Adam Laughrey

atthehopshop@gmail.com

720-544-1693?

www.atthehopshop.com

FB | IG | Twitter @atthehopshop

Rockin’ Robin, 233 Main St, Longmont

303-652-4144

FB @RockinRobinsRetroVintageandResale

The 1940’s Ball

www.1940sball.org,
720-924-1945

kgeorge!1940sball.org

FB @1940sBall

Vintage Events:

The Hop: ?Find all The Hop’s events on their facebook page @atthehopshop

?Every Wednesday at St. Vrain Cidery in Longmont

Every Thursday June- August at Niwot Rock ‘N Rails in Niwot

Every Friday in June at Summer Concert Series in Longmont

6/16 at 1940’s Ball in Boulder

6/17 at the Punk Rock Flea Market in Denver

6/19 The Hop’s One Year Anniversary at 300 Suns in Longmont (bring your classic car and come celebrate with us!)

6/22 The Hop is putting on a Fashion Show with other local Longmont retail shops at the Summer Concert Series (4th & Kimbark) in Longmont

6/24 Mash Lab Brewery in Windsor

7/13 Mash Lab Brewery in Windsor

7/14 Horseshoe Market in Denver

7/22 Mash Lab Brewery in Windsor

7/28 on Main St. Longmont for Cruise Night

8/24-26 Modernism Show in Denver

9/14-16 Hot Rod Hill Climb in Central City

Swingin’ Denver

Swingin’ Rooftop Party Benefiting Youth on Record Comes to Heart of Cherry Creek With the Summer Soirée July 15

• WHAT:  Walk out into the sunshine and onto the stunning rooftop patio of Cherry Creek’s Room & Board to celebrate all the wonderful music, food, drinks and dancing that Denver has to offer at the Summer Soirée. La Pompe Jazz and Banshee Tree will be swinging live with original tunes and jazz classics, Swingin’ Denver will be providing swing dance lessons and performances throughout the evening, and the party will be rounded out with signature craft cocktails, an assortment of sips and samples from our liquor and wine partners, and tasty catered bites from Illegal Pete’s. This event is put on by Speakeasy Soirée Entertainment, hosts of the annual Speakeasy Soirée event.

Highlights include:

• • Live Music by two of Colorado’s finest swing bands – La Pompe Jazz and Banshee Tree

  • Cash Bar: Craft cocktails and beer. Ticket includes one complimentary cocktail

  • Food catered by Illegal Pete’s

  • Swing Dance Lesson and Performances by Swingin’ Denver

  • Charity Partner: All proceeds benefit Youth on Record, a not-for-profit organization empowering Colorado’s underserved youth to achieve their academic, artistic and personal best by employing local, professional artists as their educators.
    
    

• WHO: Hosted by Speakeasy Soirée Entertainment on Sunday, July 15, 2018; 7:30 p.m. – midnight at Room & Board, 222 Detroit St., Denver.
  
  General admission and donor-level tickets can be purchased at www.SpeakeasySoiree.com

Also from Swingin’ Denver:

The post Summer Fashion: The Hottest Vintage Looks & Events appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

The age old question: How to be functionally fashion- able when your days consist of daycare, play dates, date nights, play dough, juggling a job, and preparing your young ones for that Boulder life? Our hot moms show us with a little help from the boutiques that help keep Boulder beautiful.

Lindsay Winslow

39 years old. Full-time Mom. 3 kids (ages 20, 16 and 5).
Moms just want to have fun, right? Or something like that… Regardless, ?Lindsay’s ensemble from The Niche will leave you smiling. She’s wearing Folded-Leg Jeans with a deep cuff. Feel free to fold short or long, depending on your mood. Lindsay’s shirt is a Red Plaid Button Down with a sheer, floral back panel. She rocks an Active Basic long tank top under- neath. It’s a great top for showing off your favorite strappy bralette or camisole. And to add a final, fun, and playful twist? A CC crushable fedora to literally top it off.
Folded-leg jeans by LITZ — $44.95
Red plaid button down by Mystree — $49.95
Long tank top by Active Basic — $7.95
Crushable fedora by C.C — $ 19.95
Store: The Niche
409 Center Dr, Superior

Martha Hartney

50 years old. Estate Planning Attorney. 2 kids (ages 20 and 18).
All products available at Momentum are crafted by hand and tell unique stories. Martha is wearing some of the store’s fa- vorite pieces, all created by fair trade artisans. The 100% cot- ton, screen-printed Artsy Trav- eler Dress, by Mata Traders, has a refreshing lightness to it. And what’s an outfit without a littlebling? Check out the sparkle on that Athena Cuff brace- let and the playfulness of that Wood Burst Necklace! Finishing off Martha’s look is the Tooled Leather Shoulder Bag, perfect for carrying daily essentials.
Artsy Traveler Dress
by Mata Traders — $68.00
Athena Cuff
by Mata Traders – $20.00
Wood Burst Necklace
by World Finds – $34.00
Tooled Leather Shoulder Bag by Altiplano – $172.00
Store: Momentum 1625 Pearl St, Boulder
Shoes: Johnston & Murphy Tricia Wedge in Black Suede
Store: My Saving Grace 909 Main St, Louisville

The post Hot Moms: Fashion appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

The age old question: How to be functionally fashionable when your days consist of daycare, play dates, date nights, play dough, juggling a job, and preparing your young ones for that Boulder life? Our hot moms how us with a little help from the boutiques that help keep Boulder beautiful.

Lindsay Winslow
39 years old. Full-time Mom. 3 kids (ages 20, 16, and 5)

Moms just want to have fun, right? Or something like that… Regardless, Lindsay’s ensemble from The Niche will leave you smiling. She’s wearing Folded-Leg Jeans with a deep cuff. Feel free to fold short or long, depending on your mood. Lindsay’s shirt is a Red Plaid Button Down with a sheer, floral back panel. She rocks an Active Basic long tank top underneath. It’s a great top for showing off your favorite strappy bralette or camisole. And to add a final, fun and playful twist? A CC crushable fedora to literally top it off.

Folded-leg jeans by LITZ – $44.95
Red plaid button down by Mystree – $49.95
Long tank top by Active Basic – $7.95
Crushable fedora by C.C – $19.95

Store: The Niche
409 Center Dr. Superior

Martha Hartney
50 years old. Estate Planning Attorney. 2 kids (ages 20 and 18)

All products available at Momentum are crafted by hand and tell unique stories. Martha is wearing some of the store’s favorite pieces, all created by fair trade artisans. The 100% cotton, screen0printed Artsy Traveler Dress, by Mata Traders, has a refreshing lightness to it. And what’s an outfit without a little bling? Check out the sparkle on that Athena Cuff bracelet and the playfulness of that Wood Burst Necklace! Finishing off Martha’s look is the Tooled Leather Shoulder Bag, perfect for carrying daily essentials.

Artsy Traveler Dress by Mata Traders – $68
Athena Cuff by Mata Traders – $20
Wood Burst Necklace by World Finds – $34
Tooled Leather Shoulder Bag by Altiplano – $172

Store: Momentum
1625 Pearl St, Boulder

Shoes: Johnston & Murphy Tricia Wedge in Black Suede

Store: My Saving Grace
909 Main St, Louisville

Staci Fall
38 years old. Graphic Designer. 2 kids (ages 5 and 3)

Ten-hut! Sometimes as Mom you’ve just got to lay down the law. With the Military Green Silk Ruffle Sleeve Blouse Staci is modeling, you can issue commands, look sexy, and still give your kids a motherly smooch on the cheek. The ruffles sleeves dance, giving the piece a lively feel. Staci pops her Suede Legging-clad leg from behind the flowing and elegant Beige Sleeveless Vest. The solid colors, clean lines and fluidity of this outfit just might make you the hottest mom around. Visit Elizabeth’s Embellishments to grab these garments.

Military Green Silk Ruffle Sleeve Blouse by Cobblestone – $72.95
Beige Sleeveless Vest by Cobblestone – $67.95
Copper Suede Charcoal Leggings by Mudpie – $55.95

Store: Elizabeth’s Embellishments
611 S Public Rd, Lafayette

Shoes (from My Saving Grace): A.S. 98 Prasad Sandal. Hand made with Italian Leather.

Rachel Dugas
35 years old. Writer/Photographer. 2 kids (ages 4 and 4 months)

This dress, from UMBA, is just the thing whether you’re going for a conservative look or trying to spice it up. Its long silhouette is eye-catching, but the hemline–landing about 2-4 inches below the knee– keeps it modest. lightweight, stretchy fabric falls in a flattering way for most any body type. Keep the braid in back if you’re going for sleek, or put the braid in front for a sexier, more sultry look. Rachel completes this minimalist yet confidence-exuding ensemble with the Black Pocketbelt.

Rachel’s daughter is wearing a dress by Simonetta, with a pair of Michael Kors slip-on shoes, provided by Childish Things.

Long Ladderback Dress by Umba – $48
Black Pocketbelt by Umba – $155

Store (Mom): UMBA
2043 Broadway, Boulder

Shoes (from My Saving Grace): A.S. 98 Matteo Black bootie. Handmade with Italian Leather.

Store (Daughter): Childish Things
3183 Walnut, Boulder

Kristin Christian
33 years old. Family Photographer. 2 kids (ages 4 and 2)

While dressing to the nines can be nice, it often comes at the sacrifice of comfort and functionality. But what if you could look great and feel great? Outfitted by Boulder Bodywear, Kristin shows it’s possible. The Burnout Burgundy Top, by Colosseum, is chic and effortlessly stylish, particulary when paired with these jeans from 1822, designed to fit women of all ages.

Kristin’s daughter, outfitted by Childish Things, is wearing a Ruby & Bloom lace shirt underneath a Land’s End puffy vest, a denim skirt from Zara Kids, and Nordstrom boots with a faux-fur lining.

Burnout Burgundy Top by Colosseum – $44
Vintage Stretch Denim Jeans by 1822 – $48
Scarf by VSA – $18-32

Store: Boulder Bodywear
2850 Arapahoe Rd. #104, Lafayette

Shoes (from My Saving Grace): A.S. 98 Salome Bootie. Handmade with Italian Leather.

Jessica Learoyd
35 years old. Acting Coach. 3 kids (ages 11, 7, and 6)

Moms are powerful. Period. In the Zip-Front Ruched Dress, available at Barbara & Company, you’ll turn heads walking down the street with your little ones in tow. The zipper down the front is an attention-grabber, and the root color gives the dress an earthy, edgy flavor.

Jessica’s daughter is wearing a Tea Collection mustard yellow dress. The shoes are a ballet slipper style from American Eagle. Find these pieces at Childish Things.

Zip Front Ruched Dress by XCVI – $144

Store: Barbara & Company
1505 Pearl St, Boulder

Shoes (from My Saving Grace): Eric Michael Blue Suede Lace Up

The post Hot Moms Fashion appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Fast fashion retailer H&M announced Wednesday that they are launching a new currency, Unicoin, that can only be spent on educational supplies. F

Unicoin is a part of the H&M Conscious Foundation, an independent organization that works to drive long-lasting positive change for people and communities. The Foundation complements the company’s sustainability work, and is currently focusing on education, clean water and strengthening women.

Science shows that the early years of a child’s development, birth to 8 years, is the most critical time for a child to learn. The initiative is aimed to enable children to support the right for children around the world to access learning opportunities from a young age.

Children, with the help of their parents, can upload a drawing depicting their dreams for the future on unicoins.org. In return, they’ll receive a Unicoin, which represents a child’s right to education. H&M Conscious will match each Unicoin with a notebook and pencil.

This initiative is part of the Global Program for Education, a collaboration between H&M Conscious and UNICEF that began February 2014. H&M gave a grant of $9.3 million that was used to reach 73,600 children in early development programs.

According to the Unicoin press release, more than 200 million children under the age of 5 in developing countries are failing to reach their full potential in cognitive development because of poverty, poor health and nutrition, and deficient care.

The post H&M Launches Unicoin to Aid UNICEF appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

On November 21, art organization Raw Denver will present Current, a one-night event featuring artists and photographers, music and fashion, and performance art, at City Hall. It’s an unusually diverse mix of artists from different creative areas, so we had a chat with organizer Melissa Shipley about what we can expect.O

Raw Current takes place at 7 p.m. on Friday, November 21 at City Hall; 1144 Broadway, Denver; View their website.

The post A brief chat with Melissa Shipley from Raw: Current appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Borrowing elements of style and fashion from other cultures is no new thing but, as the world and indeed our region embraces multi-culture on a broader scale, it’s inevitable that the lines will get blurrier when it comes to clothing. Here in Boulder County, for example, we have a strong hispanic population with plenty to offer when it comes to color – traditional clothing that is both vibrant and earthy. Now, we’re not suggesting that everybody rushes out and dresses in full Mexican, Japanese or Ugandan costume, but we do urge readers to look outside of the box when it comes to putting together a season’s wardrobe.

Whether it be the Middle East or Japan, India or Africa, Brazil or anywhere in Europe, there are plenty of ways that we can respectfully borrow and adapt ideas, and make them work in an everyday Boulder County sort of way. With that in mind, we spoke with photographer extraordinaire Joe Friend about the idea of having a model dress in clothes that tip a proverbial hat to just three of the many and varied world cultures. The results, as you can see, are phenomenal.

Stores like Rags Consignments and Bella Frida were delighted by the concept and, once we had found a willing an able model, it was all systems go. From accessories to pants, head-wear to shoes, and everything in between, we’re happy that we have provided proof that the blurring of cultural clothing lines can and does work, and maybe we’ve added a few items to your online wish-list.

But don’t stop here. We’ve only scratched the surface when it comes to clothing around the world. Go forth and explore. Google the most far-away nation that you can think of, and see what the indigenous folk wear. Imagine what one element of the outfit might look like worn with a pair of Levis or a designer jacket. The world is your oyster.

And so it was that we met with Joe Friend, plus model Jeanne Eisenhaure and stylists Allison and Natalie Toth in Boulder and a huge selection of clothing. We settled on South American, African and Indian themes. We also shot Eisenhaure in both traditional dress, and a fresh, modern take on the styles.

Indian clothing has evolved from loin cloths, or Langotas, to the elaborate and festive outfits of today. The colors in the clothing are important for more reasons than appearance. For example, Hindu women wear white when in mourning. Saris remain popular on the Indian subcontinent, while the Ghagra Choli, the Salwar Kameez and Churidaar Kurta are worn in other regions. The Salwar is a sort of loose, trouser, while the Ghagra Choli is a flowing dress popular in traditional dance. There’s more, but the connecting factor in Indian clothing appears to be vibrant color and material that is loose-fitting yet compliments the figure.

Hispanic clothing has a rich history too, stemming from a variety of countries and cultures. The colors are vital, as they are in India, but the dresses seem to have poofy sleeves and lots of embroidery, with roots in the 17th century Mexican peasant dresses. Dance is a huge factor, and the women’s clothes reflect that by being elaborate, brash and fun.

Africa is a large continent that, over the years, has seen other cultures infiltrate its countries thanks to the likes of Britain and France stomping around. Still, traditional African clothing remains colorful and usually made from natural fibers, giving it a earthy and practical yet festive feel. Moroccan clothing differs greatly from, say, Ethiopian wear, but color is a connecting factor. Like most ethnic clothing, the need to dance has had a big say over the years, and that’s true in Africa too.

We feel that we’ve captured an ideal and attractive combination of traditional and contemporary – outfits that have one eye on these cultures’ pasts while keeping another firmly in present-day Colorado. Practicality, fashion and comfort were all taken into consideration, resulting in outfits that feel respectful and artistically vibrant. These are to be considered guides, not blueprints. See what combos you can create yourself.

The post Foreign Culture / Local Couture appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

According to GQ magazine, Boulder residents are fit, outdoorsy and horribly dressed.

Boulder was listed 40th in GQ’s recent “worst dressed US cities” list, which also named Kansas City, Austin, Las Vegas and New Orleans as offenders. According to the fashion authority, it’s because of the local affinity for activewear and fanny packs. We think it’s likely that, although Boulderites know what’s trendy, they’d rather put their energy into something else: namely climbing peaks, cycling, yoga and running.

Colorado is one of the healthiest states and has the lowest rate of obesity (the only state less than 20 percent, actually), and Boulder is one of the healthiest cities in the state. So, Boulder’s style may not be right off of the runway, but those tiny hipster jeans just aren’t practical when we’re training for the next Iron Man.

As GQ says, Boulder is “a worst–dressed city that looks best naked.” Not too shabby.

The post GQ: Boulder Looks Better Naked appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Photo by Sugar Mill Productions

When it comes to finding a swimsuit for summer 2011, oddly enough, go back in time to find a perfect “now” style.

Instead of focusing on sexy, skin-exposing bikinis, find vintage trends to create a sweet, styled modern look.

Whether it’s an old-school floral print or a solid color, high-waisted bikinis and flattering, fashionable one-pieces are in. The style is inspired by swimwear from the ’40s and ’50s and can be found at pretty much any trendy store that sells swimsuits. With a Marilyn Monroe, pin-up girl resemblance, this retro design is now worn by regular gals and celebrities.

The perfect pairing for a swimsuit like this wouldn’t be the normal jean short cover up. When wearing a boy short one-piece, pair it with a long unbuttoned cardigan and peep-toe heels. With a vintage bikini, you can pull off the cardigan, but a thin blousy tunic will pull the look together with stylish flip-flops or wedges.

Whichever swimwear design you choose this vintage-ish summer, finish your look with statement-making accessories. Whether it’s gold bangles or a floppy, large-brimmed hat in your summer ensemble, accessories will make you a Colorado trendster at the least, a Marilyn look-alike at best.

The post What to Wear… appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Photo by Gray Box Studios

It’s officially sandal season, and we’ve picked out a few pieces of easy, breezy, toe-liberating footwear for the ladies out there. Like what you see? All of these are available at Two Sole Sisters, 1703 Pearl St., Boulder.

1. Florida by Chocolat Blu in pelle red $112

2. Snaw by Cocobelle in burnt orange $104

3. Salvatore by Butter in green $275

4. Leila by Corso Como in cognac $159

5. Yvonne by Miz Mooz in green $104

The post Sandal Season appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Old Town isn’t so old anymore. Sure, The Blue Parrot is still a mainstay, but it seems every few feet a new business has sprouted up since summer.

1. Vie Vie Luxe
A fashion boutique on Main Street was long overdue. Luckily this store opened last month featuring luxurious women’s clothing (cashmere sweaters, beautiful semi-precious stone belt buckles) and a few unusually fun items (gift box cards and trendy tampon holders). 909 Main St. 303.968.4317

2. Café de Paris
You can get all the normal goodies at this sidewalk café that opened in August, but that wouldn’t be any fun. Take advantage of the Moroccan offerings such as traditional teas, jasmine milk and pancakes served with honey butter. 908 Main St. 303.665.9716.

3. The Bronze Elk
With décor fit for your Aspen estate, this newish store seems a little out of place in Louisville. But the tree-trunk style furniture and incredibly cute dog, cat and frog sculptures are worth a stop.
901 Front St. Suite 110. 303.604.6509

4. Waterloo Icehouse
The Druid’s Arms is gone, and the space has received a significant facelift as new owners have transformed it into an upscale watering hole serving organic food by day, cool spirits by night, and featuring live music three nights a week. There’s also a 110-inch projection TV for big games. 809 Main St. 303.993.2094

5. Old Louisville Inn
With new replacing old at every turn, the Inn is a historic glimpse back 102 years. Its antique, woody bar conjures images of the Old West, and an immense menu offers plenty of tasty options.
740 Front St. 303.6669982

6. A Grande Finale Patisserie
Come to this eight-year-old bakery everyday for a chocolate raspberry mouse. But take advantage of the holidays and bring home a pumpkin pecan pie for Thanksgiving or any other gathering.
641 Main St. 303.926.4084

Also: Eat the not-so-politically correct Wopburger at The Blue Parrot (303.666.0677), age well at Auriege Day Spa (303.926.4336), get a classic chop at Thunderbird Barbers (303.665.2176), grab a Gibson at Wildwood Guitars (303.665.7733), and find sandwiches, beads and more in Main Street Marketplace.

The post Check Out Old Town Louisville appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Check out our most recent list of awesome extracurriculars!

The post Misc Extracurricular appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.