By Karen Zapp
While Western Pennsylvania has a fantastic art and culture scene, we think it’s about time our burgeoning fashion-forward population gets some recognition, too. Because, despite popular belief, fashion means so much more than shopping for that cute new outfit at the mall.It’s about joy in what you wear and supporting those creative masterminds behind the scenes who allow us to present ou finding rselves so expressively to the world, everyday. For our Fall Fashion issue, we’ve tracked down fashion industry movers and shakers from Pittsburgh, who are making names for themselves in the ever-growing, glamorous industry, from online boutiques to the blogosphere.
Lauren Sherman
Fashionista.com is a sharp-tongued, (sometimes brutally) honest look behind the scenes at all of the good, the bad, and the ugly that goes on in the fashion industry, and we hang on its every word. But who knew the globally respected blog was overseen by none other than Baldwin native Lauren Sherman? Well, that is until recently. Taking on a new position as Executive Digital Editor at Lucky Magazine, Sherman has officially bid farewell to Fashionista, and brings her blogging smarts to Lucky. “There will definitely be more style news,” she says. “We won’t have daily coverage of the Galliano trial, but if there’s a Mad Men collection being sold at Banana Republic, our readers will know about it.” So many of her weekends growing up here were spent Downtown, soaking in the city’s art and culture. “Pittsburghers should know how lucky they are,” she says. Her Downtown explorations were, after all, partly what fostered her love for fashion. As a teenager here in the ’90’s, Sherman frequented The Beehive on the South Side and spent every penny saved at Teleropa. She doesn’t deny being “a little more obsessed than most” about fashion growing up, but really, who could blame her? If you’re looking to start a personal blog, Sherman advises the following: “There are billions of people in the world and thousands of blogs out there, but the ones that are truly successful have a strong voice.” Sherman knows her stuff and listening to her speak so passionately could turn even the most bullheaded cynic into a fanatical fashion-o-phile. Fancy yourself a career in the fashion industry? Consider this: “I won’t say that it’s not cutthroat, but I can’t stress just how important it is to be nice. The ones that aren’t usually don’t stick around in the end.” We look forward to what’s in store for the new Lucky editor, and are proud to see a Pittsburgh girl land on her feet in the big (but not so bad) fashion industry.
Lucky Magazine, luckymag.com.
Fashionista.com
As far as personal style blogs go, Stylish White Female’s Terra McBride has set the standard in Pittsburgh. With a die-hard love for our city and impeccable taste, Terra’s well-documented style journey always leaves us coming back for more! Her adorably funky take on fashion has garnered national attention and continues to put a spotlight on Pittsburgh’s ever-growing fashion scene. “I don’t have a degree in fashion. I’m not certified as a stylist or anything like that,” she explains. “This is just something that I’m passionate about.” Her passion has carried her all the way to New York Fashion Week as one of 24 bloggers selected by Tumblr.com to cover nine days of all things fashion. But that’s not all: McBride also met with industry elites, including Nina Garcia, Simon Doonan, and Oscar de la Renta. Seriously, we’re jealous, but couldn’t be more proud. For anyone looking to follow her lead, she offers this insight: “With blogging, everybody has the opportunity to try something new and be creative. The biggest and first step is to get started. Do it. Don’t think about it too hard, just start.”
stylishwhitefemale.tumblr.com
In a sea of women’s street style blogs, Butler native Jace Lumley’s Tumblr page, Plain T-Shirt, gives the boys their turn. Before launching his blog, he enlisted the advice of Stylish White Female’s Terra McBride. Now, he’s a featured blogger on Tumblr’s Fashion Spotlight page, and has big plans to “take it to another level.” Lumely’s style is cool, classic, and a bit East Coast with urban panache. Catching a glimpse of Pittsburgh’s most stylish gentlemen through his lens is not only super refreshing, it also proves that men’s fashion is so much more than old khakis, boring button ups, and oversized polos. That’s right guys, you heard us, and if you have any questions, ask Lumely yourself, as he regularly dishes out style advice to his readers. Lumely cites designer Billy Reid and Twilight’s Robert Pattinson as style icons, but more than anything, he’s inspired by the people that surround him. The popularity of Plain T-Shirt may continue to grow at lightening speed, but it’s nice to see that this Pittsburgh boy isn’t fazed by all the attention. “Of course, my absolute No. 1 fan, would be my mom,” he says. “She’s always the first one to call and tell me she loves the new post.” As if we didn’t love him already! He may not know where he’ll go professionally in the fashion industry yet (he’s graduating from Point Park University next May), but there’s one thing we know for sure, this man about town is a style star in the making.
plaintshirt.tumblr.com
Fashion designer, artist, and photographer extraordinaire, Mike Vensel, is a true renaissance man. He first appeared on our radar as a contestant on Bravo’s second season of The Fashion Show, and we’ve been dying for more designs ever since. He may have spent his formative years in the South and now bases his business out of L.A., but when asked about his hometown, Vensel proudly boasts that he’s from Pittsburgh. “The landscape of Pittsburgh, I think, is really interesting. We have a lot of nature and also a lot of city textures, and I think in my work I really look at the two. They kind of come together to form my collections,” Vensel explains. “The PPG building, the bridges, the rivers, the mountains, all of it coming together makes for a really interesting palette.” Utilizing a design method derived from his experience as an abstract expressionist painter, Vensel describes his aesthetic as minimal, sexy, and functional. “I basically try to take the garment down to its core, while still maintaining a silhouette that flatters the body, is sexy, and is also wearable,” he tells us. In his Spring 2012 collection, which, by the way, will show during New York Fashion Week, he explores influences from Chinese architect I.M. Pei, deftly fused with inspiration from the Egyptian goddess Isis. He has an artist’s sensibility and a clear fashion vision. We think he’s a superstar in the making and can’t wait to see his Spring 2012 collection hit the runway this month. For now, we’ll settle for clicking through his stunning Fall 2011 collection online.
mikevensel.com
The ability to think comprehensively about a garment throughout all stages, from concept to sales floor, is more than just the mark of a good fashion designer; it’s the mark a good businesswoman. Local designer Kelly Simpson–Scupelli is most definitely both. Since launching her line, Kelly Lane, six years ago, the sustainable/eco-friendly designer has developed an international presence and has even been mentioned in the New York Times and Nylon Magazine. Each piece is designed with the modern woman in mind, and she adds a unique flair to each collection by incorporating self-designed prints. Her colorful apparel is hip and fun, but the fact that it is also consciously produced makes us lust after each piece even more. “Sustainability, for me, is a part of my own personal values. So, it naturally extended into my business,” she explains. “I want to make sure that what I’m doing is thoughtful and conscientious and really not just creating more waste for fast fashion.” Lucky for us, Pittsburgh is where she plans to stay. “Living in Pittsburgh has been very helpful, very kind to me, very affordable as well. We’ve been able to take more risks for the business since the cost of running the business is a little lower than in the larger cities.” We look forward to seeing more from her new project, A-Line, a collection of custom-made skirts constructed of reclaimed eco-friendly fabrics, and we’re excitedly anticipating the Kelly Lane Fall collection, inspired by the cosmos. Stop by Pavement in Lawrenceville, Ona Boutique in Mt. Lebanon, or The Picket Fence in Shadyside to try it on for yourself.
KellyLaneDesign.com
Justin Giunta
Parallels are commonly drawn between fashion and art, and it’s a constant debate as to whether or not fashion, at its highest level, can be considered artwork. However, when it comes to the jewelry designed by Mt. Lebanon native and Carnegie Mellon University grad Justin Giunta, there is no question that his work is that of a modern master. His fine arts background is beautifully displayed in each of his artfully crafted pieces, constructed under his personal collection, Subversive Jewelry, and his diffusion line, Deviated by Justin Giunta. His jewelry has become a favorite of top editors and stylists industry-wide, and his noteworthy collaborations with Dries Van Noten, Chris Benz, and J. Mendel have only brightened the spotlight. This past year, he was elected to become part of the inaugural group of designers welcomed into the CFDA Fashion Incubator, which according to their website is “designed to support the next generation of fashion designers in New York City.” He was recently announced as Tory Burch’s newest Design Director of Jewelry, his first long-term appointment under a label other than his own. It seems as though these days everybody who’s anybody can’t wait to get their hands on this designer’s talent. With his positively mind-blowing design aesthetic backed by an artful “more is more” approach, he truly has the Midas touch.
justingiunta.com
MOOP
Often, the most brilliant ideas stem from the simplest necessity. Moop owner Wendy Downs was in need of a simple bag, nothing too elaborate, just clean-cut and utilitarian. So, she took a few yards of fabric and put her limited sewing abilities to good use by constructing a chic little carry-all. As you’ve probably guessed, it was a massive hit. A year later she landed her first sale, repurposing a handmade, pleated dress into what’s now known as the Market Bag. It’s that kind of creativity that makes her carefully crafted, necessity-driven bags oh-so covetable. Versatile and minimal in design, Moop doesn’t discriminate across age or gender — their messenger bags are perfect for the man-on-the-go, and their kid-minded designs are bound to be on back-to-school shopping lists everywhere. We’re looking forward to the hip new backpack they’re fashioning up for fall and loving the waxed canvas collection currently featured on their website. “All of the designs have built upon one another,” says Downs, who has attributed Moop’s success to her small (but mighty) staff’s astute attention to detail, a sharp ability to market online, and her personal creative relationships with bloggers/online communities who champion the independent design movement. “There are a lot of people doing really forward thinking things here in Pittsburgh,” says Downs. “The nature of the people similar to us are working and living and doing really interesting things in the city — we’re happy to be here.”
moopshop.com
At the age of 17 or 18, most kids are navigating their way through freshman year of college, but not Susan Gregg Koger and her future husband, Eric Koger, who set up shop in her Carnegie Mellon University dorm room and started selling retro vintage apparel online. Today, their business has expanded into the online behemoth that is ModCloth, selling clothing, shoes, and accessories, alongside quirky home décor. “I’ve created a dream job for myself. For the first four years, I ran the business out of my dorm rooms and the basement of my house, so it’s definitely come a very long way,” says Gregg Koger. “There are so many amazing, talented young people in Pittsburgh. We were able to build our team with people who didn’t necessarily have a lot of experience in our field, but were really interested in and enthusiastic about it.” We’re addicted to ModCloth’s blog, too, which covers everything from fashion, to food, to the best personal style blogs on the web. For us, it was love at first click, and with constant new arrivals, we’re restraining ourselves from buying the store’s entire assortment! If you haven’t yet paid ModCloth a visit, get clicking, because when it comes to Internet storefronts, this boutique is a real game changer.
