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As the mile-high city seeks to find its sense of style and fashion,
separate elements of Denver’s scene has come to equal that of
some of the marquee cities across America.
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| Model
saunters down the runway before a roomful of onlookers. |
New York, Chicago, Miami and Los Angeles are all known as Meccas
for their style and fashion.
Denver has been, let’s say, left in the dust when comparing
it to the other cites noted for their style and fashion.
Traditionally, Denver has been referred to as a cow town, Hicksville
or even Podunk (the middle of nowhere).
So naturally, for the folks that have never experienced Denver’s
unique elements like the Rocky Mountains, the beautiful valley it
sits in or its culturally rich lifestyles, they could come to believe
that Denver has nothing to offer.
Even one of television’s top primetime shows referred to Denver
as having wonderful mountains, “but the city is a little flat.”
Well sweetheart, change is in the wind and Denver is on the verge
of a style and fashion breakthrough.
MAKING IT HAPPEN
The mile high city is on its way to style and fashion recognition
because of its talented, dedicated and ambitious entities who strive
for the common goal of making a mark within the style and fashion
scenes of America.
Kevin Larson of Kevin Larson Presents, a marketing, public relations
and entertainment business, subscribes to the notion that Denver does
not have much of a style and fashion scene. Larson, however, has big
plans to help change that notion.
“We have some great talent in town — hair and make-up
and clothing design,” Larson said. “They are great people
to work with and are great visionaries with their work.”
Larson is a Denver native with five years of marketing and public
relations under his belt. His focus is on Denver’s nightlife
of the mid 20s to mid 30s with creating and promoting events that
are palatable to that demographic.
One of Larson’s most recent events, Fashion Forward 2003, a
benefit and runway fashion show, highlighted some of Denver’s
notable style and fashion elements.
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| Model displays
clothing from Sol: Store of Lingerie of Denver. |
The show took place mid-November at the swanky Rise Nightclub in
lower downtown Denver. Rise is fast approaching premiere nightclub
status with its exclusive events it offers though out the year, although
some might already consider it that.
Fashion Forward has been a production of Larson’s company for
the past three years. In the past, proceeds of the event has gone
to benefit Project Angel Heart, an organization dedicated to serving
the needs of people living with HIV/AIDS in the Denver metro area.
This year a new beneficiary was selected, The Gathering Place, a Denver
shelter for women and children experiencing homelessness and poverty.
As far as fashion events go in Denver, Larson said they do not go
very far and are diluted with the various purposes each event serves.
According to Larson, Denver’s fashion scene consists of events
he produces, various charity functions which integrate fashion shows
that involve local salons and modeling agencies, and the little shows
which pop up here and there at various local nightclubs.
Denver has the individual elements needed for a noteworthy scene
but, “Denver is lacking someone that takes the initiative to
put it together,” he said. That someone is Larson.
Larson is currently mobilizing efforts to offer Denver a style and
fashion scene which will involve more local talent with a big, bright
spotlight exposing it far and wide.
Shooting for January or February, Larson is going to start a new
project which will bring together local designers, modeling agencies
and hair salons and offer mid-level fashion shows about every six
weeks.
“These shows are Denver focused — local stores, featuring
local designers and salons with local models,” Larson said.
“The motivation for this is to give Denver something different,
take things to the next level,” he said.
STYLE
Fashion Forward 2003 has seen several new additions this year. It
happened at a new location, with a new beneficiary and hair and make-up
by a new salon.
Planet Laboratories, a salon in Cherry Creek North, this was its
first time working with Kevin Larson Presents and Fashion Forward,
but Planet Laboratories is not a newcomer to the mile-high style and
fashion scene by any means.
Planet Laboratories is in its 11th year of pumping out top-notch
hairstyles for Denverites. From its inception, it has evolved into
an Aveda Concept salon with an exclusive make up lab.
Charlie Price and Cameron Letterman are co-owners of Planet Laboratories
and have been supplying not only Denver, but also select cities across
America with hair and make up for some time.
“We consider ourselves a fashion-based salon. We are very involved
in the fashion world. We work on Fashion Week in New York every season
and just did Fashion Week in Los Angeles this season,” Letterman
said.
Planet Labs is dedicated to offering community service to the Denver
area. They do this by volunteering their efforts for various aspects
such as benefits like Fashion Forward, which involve hair and make
up.
Letterman said fashion in Denver is important, there are people here
that are talented and involved in the industry.
“It is important to be involved in the fashion scene of Denver,
to bring the talent out,” Letterman said.
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| Charlie Price of Planet Laboratories prepares
model's make-up. |
The amount of shows Planet Labs does varies from year to year. It
averages around 10-12 events a year.
Planet Labs has done shows in their salon, for many different benefits
and shows for Neiman Marcus and other upscale boutiques in Cherry
Creek North.
One more notable aspect of Planet Laboratories is Price, the other
owner, was honored this pars year for setting an impressive and innovative
standard in hair styling at the 13th annual North American Hairstyling
Awards.
Kevin Larson had also commended Price having said, “He has
got it down to a science.”
FASHION
A new boutique has opened in one of Denver’s alluring shopping
areas, Cherry Creek North, that has the drive and determination to
help set Denver’s fashion scene ahead. Well, at least at par
with the east and west coasts.
Yvette De La Cruz, the enthusiastic owner of the three-month old
boutique, The Pink Purse, wants Denver to know that whenever you come
to her boutique you are going to get the hottest fashion first at
a great deal.
The Pink Purse offers purses and accessories to those that want to
lead the pack with what there wear around their body. “I can
become that person that can supply your needs,” De La Cruz said.
Your fashionable accessory needs that is.
“I don’t focus on labels, I really focus on style, quality
and trends,” she said.
Local designers are showcased in the boutique. There are purses designed
by DeziBags along with wraps, pillows and throws designed for Retro
Stitch by Gloria Ortega.
Prices for bags at The Pink Purse range from $20 to $100. That is
a great deal for Cherry Creek De La Cruz said.
De La Cruz is a Metro alumna who graduated in 2000. She then worked
full-time as a schoolteacher for Denver Public Schools.
Two and a half years ago De La Cruz began selling purses in her spare
time. She brought to her personal friends, during quaint gatherings,
purses from Los Angeles that were trend setting and distinct. She
realized that she began having repeat customers, which became loyal
customers. She had created a demand that needed to be supplied.
Twenty-five year old De La Cruz feels she has the knack for accessorizing
fashionably. With this, she often mixes in the hip, trendy nightclubs
Denver has to offer.
De La Cruz moonlights as a photographer for DenverMix.com, a web
site, at the least, that spotlights the places to go and be seen around
town. While club and bar hopping taking pictures of willing patrons,
she sees first hand what accessories works with people, what does
not and would work better.
“When I go to LA — if it’s hot there I want to
bring it to Denver,” De La Cruz said. “Sometimes it takes
a bit for Denver to get the concept.”
When they come to my store there going to say this is hot, I want
look hot and their going to feel great with one of my bags,”
she said.
As for Denver’s style and fashion scene. De La Cruz said Denver
is up and coming.
“We are looked at as that mid-west town that gets the styles
last.”
De La Cruz would like to eventually expand her business, “to
have a Pink Purse in every suburban area there is in Denver.”
This would also include Downtown Denver, Aurora, Highlands Ranch,
Boulder, Greeley and Fort Collins.
“I want to be known as the person that brings in the style
now,” she said.
De La Cruz's Hot List in Accessories!
- Jelly Purses
- Suede purses
- Faux purses
WHERE TO GO:
The Pink Purse
Cherry Creek North
2727 E. Second Avenue
Denver 80206
303-329-8104
www.thepinkpurse.net
Planet Laboratories
200 Clayton St.
Denver, CO 80202
303-399-9496
www.planetlabsalon.com
Kevin Larson Presents
528 S. Broadway
Denver, CO 80224
303-778-8828
www.kevinlarsonpresents.com
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