A Preview of St. Louis' Spring 2009 Fashion Week

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Batten down the hatches; there is a fashion storm coming through St. Louis complete with a storm of gorgeous models and a whirlwind of designers. Spring is here and St. Louis' bi-annual Fashion Week event is going to be tearing up the town March 25 through March 29.

In the down economy many cities have canceled their fashion weeks, and many of the runway staples (like Vera Wang and others) have decided not to show. St. Louis is one of only two cities on the country who has decided to stick to their fashionable guns. That means our city's top-notch, independent fashion showcase is getting a little more attention, and will probably be drawing a few more fashionistas than in seasons past.

While each night will boast the typical strut and pose runways, there will be a few events that will cater to those who enjoy fashion but are looking for low-key ways to shift through the best of what independent fashion has to offer for their fall lines and some summer swim wear, too (while it may be springtime in St. Louis, but it is already fall and summer in the fashion world).

Here is what is on tap for St. Louis' Spring 2009 Fashion Week:

• Wednesday, March 25 the runway is going to be ruled by local designers for the final round of the Project: Design! competition and fashion show. Six design savvy St. Louisans will be competing for the grand prize in a show that always proves to be among the most avant-garde and artistic of shows during the week.


• Thursday, March 26 you can check out a few past St. Louis Fashion Week favorites including Black Halo and Cloak and Dagger. You can also get in tropical vacation mode by checking out Beach Bunny swim wear, and just for the men-folk TRIM menswear will be on stage.


• Friday, March 27 marks the US runway premiere of the Victorian/goth meets high fashion line from Sweedish designers Bolongaro Trevor, and DIESEL's first Midwest show. Wrath Arcane and Love Brigade will also be returning to show what their high-end indie wears will offer this fall.


• Saturday, March 28 is the exciting debut of a new type of event for fashion week. Two daytime events will be held including Fashion Week Market for the frugal fashion lover. The marketplace will be open from 11am until 5pm and you can shop samples and trunk sales from designers featured during the week's shows, all in one spot. You don't have to spend a dime to shop around and meet the designers because admission for the marketplace event is free.
  
  If you are looking for the glitz of the runway without having to spend an evening out, and for a reasonable price there also be a lunch and runway show featuring St. Louis designers. You can get lunch, a swag bag and take in a fashion show for $35 starting at 11a,. but if you want to hit the show model-style (i.e. without the lunch) you can catch the 1pm runway show for only $15 ($10 less than individual fashion show tickets during the evenings).
  
  You could also make an evening of it by heading to the evening show which will feature Macy's I.N.C. fashions and St. Louis' own Lori Coulter swim wear.


• Sunday, March 29 Fashion Week wraps up with Wash U's junior and senior fashion design classes showing their collections, presented by Wash U's College of Art.

This season St. Louis Fashion Week is offering events tailored to all types of fashion forward ladies and gentlemen, and the opportunity to score some great bargains, too. Individual tickets for each evening fashion show will be $25 per event, with the exception of the Wash U show which costs $35. Evening shows will start at 7pm, and will all be held at HoteLumiere.

If you are planning to attend more than one event, you can save some cash by picking up a week-long pass for $45, or a V.I.P. pass that gets you into the receptions before the shows and the after-parties each evening at SLeeK Steakhouse and Ultra Lounge in HoteLumiere. You can get your tickets online, see videos about the designers on tap for this season and learn more about each evening's shows by visiting the St. Louis Fashion Week wesbite.