Juneau\u2019s second annual Style-O-Rama, an event showcasing 13 boutiques and three local designers, made a compelling case Nov. 5 for why Southeast Alaskans should patronize local businesses \u2014 even when they\u2019re shopping online.<\/p>\n
Style-O-Rama was conceived and first put on by Shoefly owner Sydney Mitchell in 2015; this year she and Dana Herndon of Higher Image Management joined forces.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think it\u2019s important for Juneau women to have a fashion show showing styles relevant to Juneau,\u201d Mitchell said. \u201cIt\u2019s an opportunity to showcase local design talent and emerging and established designers \u2014 and, I think, it\u2019s just a fun time.\u201d<\/p>\n
Style-O-Rama sold out for the second year in a row. Last year, it was at Heritage Coffee and had a 90-person capacity; this year it was at The Red Dog Saloon and had a 150-person capacity, Mitchell said.<\/p>\n
Highlighted this year was emerging designer Crystal Worl, who is launching a women\u2019s line of clothing at Trickster Company, the shop she owns with her brother, Rico Worl.<\/p>\n
[Lan\u00e1at’ Rico Worl, Kaakeey\u00e1a Crystal Worl open store, Trickster<\/a>]<\/p>\n Crystal modeled a pair of her leggings featuring a Raven and fireweed design, and Trickster team member Erika Bergren modeled leggings with a Raven and lotus design. The two also modeled body jewelry inspired by formline design and \u201cmodernized Athabascan beadwork floral patterns\u201d and bracelets. Crystal designs the jewelry and Rico engraves it. In some, she uses copper or silver Russian trading beads.<\/p>\n Crystal and Bergren also wore pashminas silkscreened with some of Crystal\u2019s formline art and carried clutches she designed.<\/p>\n The high-waisted, stretchy pants are just the beginning of her women\u2019s clothing line, she said. She plans seven different tops, five different leggings, and four pouches (which also function as pencil cases). There\u2019s a wide range of prices, from $12 for a clutch to $65 for the leggings to $175 for the pashminas.<\/p>\n She\u2019s still thinking of a name for the line, though it\u2019ll likely have to do both with place and with time, regular themes in her work.<\/p>\n Artist Sydney Akagi\u2019s work was on the runway Saturday as well with several decals she designed for Aurora Projekt leggings, a maxi dress and a tunic.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m super excited about the gear that will be in the show,\u201d she wrote in an email.<\/p>\n One pair of black leggings has an Xtra Tuff design \u201cinspired by the scene you often see when you enter a home and the Xtra Tuffs for each family member are lined up along the wall. Each Xtra Tuff is folded in different variations, there are short pairs, tall, and even child Xtra Tuffs,\u201d she wrote.<\/p>\n Other work includes mountain designs and a shipyard scene (with crab pots, nets and buoys).<\/p>\n \u201cOften my designs start in a shape, whether a circle, triangle, or diamond. Both of the mountain designs started in a triangle and a diamond and the mountains grew out of both of those,\u201d she wrote.<\/p>\n Annie Kaill\u2019s also showcased a \u201cSacred Grove\u201d collection of clothing designed by Juneauite Joe McCabe, and a shawl and headwrap from Willow Whitton of Juneau.<\/p>\n All together, 13 Juneau boutiques showcased clothing designed in or \u201ccurated\u201d for Juneau. They are Lilette, Shoefly, Alaskan Brewing Company Depot, Bustin\u2019 Out Boutique, Trickster Company, Aurora Projekt, Annie Kaill\u2019s, Juneau Drug Co., Downtown Dames, Resolute Boutique (an online boutique Juneauite Cordova Pleasants is launching Dec. 1), Pretty Please Juneau, Treetop Tees and Cassandra\u2019s Closet.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s basically showing Juneau people Juneau fashion,\u201d Herndon said.<\/p>\n Another benefit to the event, Mitchell said, is collaboration between businesses. The event helps business owners and employees know what other shops are offering so they\u2019re better able to refer customers to each other, she said.<\/p>\n \u201cTogether, we can offer enough options to people that it\u2019s worth it to try shopping locally,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n After the fashion show, many of the attendees walked to downtown shops to do just that. Most shops reported an increase in customers, Herndon said; Annie Kaill\u2019s doubled its sales for the day.<\/p>\n —<\/p>\n Read more Arts news:<\/strong><\/p>\n Juneau Lyric Opera produces ‘Putting It Together’<\/a><\/p>\n