The Motor City will transform into Fashion City this Thursday and Friday thanks to Fashion In Detroit,  a two day showcase of 12 designers that will bring in the who's who of style in the D.  The executive committee, which includes the likes of Karen Buscemi (editor of StyleLine magazine) and Joe Farris (Project Runway finalist), has been building anticipation for weeks as they work to bring to life an event that hopefully puts Detroit on the fashion world's radar.

The full lineup of designers can be found here, and features two shows by Joe Farris and a show by Betsey Johnson.  Detroit natives Femilia Couture are lined up right before Betsey and I recommend you check them out.  I was at one of their preview shows a few weeks ago and was impressed by some of their pieces.

It's not too late to buy tickets, but you'll have to take the day off work as the event runs from 1-6 both days.  If you can't get away, there's an option to fork out $50 to attend the After Glow on Friday night.  Order your tickets here before they sell out.

I'll (tragically) already be in Chicago for the Gals' Guide Summit, but for everyone that is sticking around I'd love to hear how it went!

When Hollywood’s big time Blockbusters are looking anything but appealing, take a chance on some of the indie and foreign gems that play in select theatres.  The Detroit area has quite a few and I patron them frequently. 

DFT @ the DIA 

Often playing older art films, the Detroit Film Theatre also mixes in a few newer productions at the lovely theatre at the Detroit Institute of Arts. They typically run through the weekends and if you’re ambitious, you can squeeze in a visit to the DIA while you’re at it.   The theatre was built in the late 1920’s and is a site to see itself.  If you have time, make a stop before the showing at the equally stunning Crystal Gallery upstairs and treat yourself to a snack and beverage.  To learn more and see an upcoming listing of their features, click here.

Tip: There is parking in the lot across John R, but you can usually snag free parking on evenings and weekends in any of the metered spots that surround the block that the DIA is situated in.

Main Art & Maple Art

Both of these theatres are operated by Landmark Theatres and are known for playing an eclectic variety of films.  The Maple Art is located in Bloomfield Hills and the Main Art is located on the corner of 11 & Main right in the heart of downtown Royal Oak.  The Main Art also hosts a series of midnight showings, Midnight Movie Madness, that extends from summer through part of fall.  Featuring classic old school films like The Shining, Labyrinth, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles it's a great excuse to stay up late.   Features and showtimes can be found here.

(Note: There's also a $15 lunch special at a few of the restaurants if you can't make it for dinner!)

Then, mark your calendars for the week of September 18th - 27th, when Detroit hosts its own Restaurant Week.  Participating restaurants will be posted soon on their site, along with menus that feature three-course meals for $27 or less (excluding drinks, tip, and tax).  Some locations will also be offering specially-priced beverages.  Check out some places you've never been to or always wanted try.  You might find a new favorite :)

If you live in the Detroit area, you know that every summer on the third Saturday in August, classic cars and 50’/60’s era nostalgia take over a 16 mile stretch of Woodward Avenue.   I’m obviously talking about the Woodward Dream Cruise.  Going on its 15th year, the Dream Cruise happens next Saturday (8/15) and is sure to draw a crowd as always.  If you live near Woodward, you’ve probably been getting a preview of what’s to come.  Participants get so pumped to show off their cars that they start cruising weeks ahead of time.

You can learn more about the history of the Dream Cruise here, but I’ll give you a few tips if you plan on attending.

-       Cost to attend is free, but bring money for parking, merch, and refreshments.

-       Parking is by far the most stressful part of the entire afternoon.  Thankfully a list of parking lots is available for out-of-towners.  If you live in or around Woodward want to check things out, I recommend walking or riding your bike.

-       If you’re a classic car enthusiast or just want some interesting photos, don’t forget to bring your camera.  Between the hot rods and the people watching, you’re sure to get some great shots.

-       Bring comfy shoes – there’s lots of walking to do. 

-       Planning to stick around for a while? Bring some lawn chairs and a cooler.  (Remember that the event is alcohol-free.)

Air pollution and noise pollution from thousands of cars isn’t exactly your thing? You could opt to attend the Green Cruise this weekend instead.  Put on by the Sierra Club, this Saturday’s anti-Dream Cruise features bikes rides, bike decoration, a parade to celebrate green transit, and lots of other fun filled eco-friendly activities.  It’ll all be going down in Ferndale from 8AM to 3PM.   Be sure to stop by the Arts and Scraps table.  They’re one of my favorite organizations that lets kids (young and old) create new art out of recycled scraps of paper, cd cases, industrial materials, and any other random item you can think of.

Looking to avoid the entire Woodward-related spectacle both weekends?  Start by NOT going near Woodward period. Seriously, avoid it like the plague.  You’ll get stuck going 5 miles per hour and want to pull your hair out.  Instead, take side streets and ONLY cross Woodward at major mile roads.  If you commute to work or live in the area – map out an alternate route for yourself beforehand to avoid traffic.  If you can walk or take your bike instead of driving, even better.  If you want to stay away from the whole thing, take your own cruise up north or west Michigan – you can’t beat it this time of year!

Following up with last month’s post about buying vintage, I wanted to let all you Detroit-area gals know about the Royal Oak Antique & Garage Sale that’s happening this weekend.  I went last year and found GREAT stuff.  It's a whole parking garage full of treasures from over 200 different vendors. So grab your friends, cash and see what you can find (only $2 for admission).  There’s also a food court set up on 6^th St. – but I’d recommend checking out some of the restaurants in the area if you’ve never been downtown to Royal Oak before. Pronto is a block away and is one of my favorites. Their Farmer's Market sandwich is amazing! You can try to find parking in the residential streets in the area or the structure between 4^th and 2^nd St., right off Washington Ave.  Happy hunting :)

From colorful Ray Bans to synthesized beats on the radio, it’s clear that the 80’s influence is still going strong. And why not? It’s a fun, colorful decade with some of the most memorable fashion faux-paus to date! Whether you lived through the 80’s or not, chances are you’re pretty familiar with the music of that era and can sing along to at least a handful of songs. That’s why I’m recommending that you break from the regular routine and head out for 80’s night this week.

Mega 80’s at The Magic Bag, Ferndale

This popular cover band plays all of the great hair band and pop songs of the 80’s. With costume change(s) and a crowd chanting along, you can pretend that you’ve actually gone back in time. They frequent The Magic Bag but play all over, so keep your eyes peeled for upcoming appearances.

80’s Night at Luna, Royal Oak

If you’re looking to dance and don’t care who’s watching, Luna is the place to go. While you can probably catch a few 80’s hits on any given night, Thursdays are dedicated to music from that decade. Get there before midnight for $2 drink specials. Anything goes here and nobody will judge you if you want to dress up like Madonna.

80’s Night at Goodnight Gracie, Royal Oak

Want to sip a martini while watching MJ bust a move to Billy Jean? If the answer is yes, stop by Gracie’s on a Thursday night when video DJ Michael J. Ox is on. Not only will you have the chance to see the videos to some of your old favorites, you can also join the crowd as they break into the Thriller dance. It’s a scene that would make the King of Pop (R.I.P.) proud.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/caesarsebastian/ / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

After attending a vintage fashion show put on by Lost & Found Vintage at Cliff Bells this weekend, I got to thinking about what advice I would give to someone that’s new to the experience.  So, I’ve come up with a list of key items to invest in, some general tips on what to watch out for, and a few great places to start your hunting.  Add your own tips and favorites!

 (Models from Sirens of the Solstice show at Cliff Bells, hosted by Lost & Found Vintage. Photo courtesy of Jillian Gibala.)

Key Items:

• Belts My personal favorite purchase. Use them to belt your dresses and tops – so make sure you look out for various sizes and styles.
• Shoes Worn heels and soles can be replaced!
• Bags Make sure zippers/clasps are intact and that handles are not worn out at the seams.
• Coats You can always replace buttons for cheap, but zippers are another story.
• Skirts Work appropriate tweed and wool skirts are abundant.
• Jewelry Not all pieces can be salvaged using jewelry cleaner so beware. 

Tips:

• Watch for holes and rips in the seams along with odd smells and stains because chances are neither will come out.
• Try things on, the marked sizes don’t always reflect current proportions.
• Haggle! Most places will drop the price or group items if you negotiate with them.

Best places to look:

• Vintage Stores 
  • These tend to be a bit pricier but the selection is better since it's been handpicked by someone else.
  • Some Detroit-area favorites:
    
    • Lost & Found Vintage, Royal Oak
    • Getup, Ann Arbor
    • Star Vintage, Ann Arbor

• Secondhand Stores (Goodwill, Salvation Army, and Value World)
  • Try the stores located outside of trendy areas if you want a less picked through selection and better pricing
• Flea Markets
• Garage and Estate Sales
  • Check newspapers for listings. Veer away from mentions of baby clothes as that usually indicates they’re selling new items.  Get there early!

If you’re looking to do something different in Detroit this weekend, why not stop by Detroit Shorts? Taking place in the Broadway-Randolph District, this festival of short films starts tonight and runs through Sunday.  Go with friends, get your mind off of work and into weekend mode, and discuss what you viewed after!  Extra bonus: it’s very affordable – only $5 per showing or $25 for an all-access pass for the whole weekend.   I’m planning on checking out the Animation Program that starts Friday night at 9pm – there are 16 films in this block so bargain pricing aside (yup, $5 to see all 16), it’s also great if you have a short attention span.

Look over the program and check out more details here or visit their event page on Facebook! 

There’s also tons of great places to eat in the area so stop and support the local restaurants if you make it out there.  I’m planning on trying the Ruby Rare Tuna at Detroit Beer Co. or maybe their Cajun Salmon & Avocado Sandwich… so many yummy sounding options under $10!  I’ll follow up with what I decided on and give you my feedback.  I’ve never been to the “brewery on Broadway” but if you have, I welcome your suggestions on a beer!