Taking a break :)

Hot Ticket! Fashion Strikes Back



created by Haute Magazine

 It is always inspiring when one can combine a love of fashion with a desire to help others, as is the case with Haute Magazine’s first annual fashion show and fundraiser “Fashion Strikes Back” taking place on Friday, October 22 at the On Broadway Event Center. Committed to excellence as well as philanthropy, founders Drea Hull and Mark Vargas aspire to create a truly upscale experience with a night of fashion, music, catering, a silent auction, and live entertainment. All proceeds will be donated to the YWCA of San Diego and Becky’s House Charities, organizations that work tirelessly to help women that have been the victims of domestic violence.


The fashion show features local and international designers including Drea Hull, House of Charlemagne, Myna Designs, Cest Bonal, and Lena Quist who will be flying in from Sweden to present her collection. An exclusive and magical evening of fashion is sure to be expected, so don’t forget to purchase your tickets at http://officialfashionstrikesback.eventbrite.com/ Doors open at 6 p.m. Pre-sale tickets are $50, at the door $55, and VIP are $100. On Broadway Event Center, Main Level, 615 Broadway, San Diego, CA 92101. 21+ to attend.

Glamour and Glow: Explosive, Seductive Celebration




by Charles Lee Schagne III

  More and more one realizes that when attending a WestCoastClubLife event organized by Dave Soko, one is going to get a little more than what is expected. In the case of Glamour and Glow it was a lot more. How to describe the visual excess and revelry of dozens of beautiful young women prancing around mostly in glowing body paint, posing for photos, seductively dancing on the runway in between fashion shows, or just hanging out on the dance floor. The World Beat Center was hot, but for more than just the lack of air conditioning. The atmosphere rocked with great music, bodies dancing non-stop, glow in the dark people and art, and just a joyous, exhilarating ambiance of sheer delight and fun.

Soko, who in a past life must have been a circus ring-master, loves to delight and shock, titillate and inspire. To call Glamour and Glow artistic, high- class erotica would not be pushing the envelope. Tailor made for Las Vegas, where it plans to go next; it’s a welcome respite for adults from the typical club experience. Hoop Charmer and Charmed Life delighted with their glow in the dark hula hoops and acrobatics. Seven designers/boutiques graced the runway: Money Grown on Trees, House of Flash, Brandi Bee, X-Kittens, Passione Boutique, Evil Lamb and Parris Harris. The models sported a lot of body paint, bikinis, and glow in the dark clothes appropriate with the theme of the party. Guests were encouraged to wear white and were provided fiber-optic accessories. Many of the artists present had glow in the dark art and decorated their wares with fluorescent paint.

Its also for a worthy cause, since part of the proceeds from Glamour and Glow goes towards the non-profit Lions, Tigers, and Bears a rescue facility that provides a sanctuary to unwanted and abused exotic cats. So if you did not make it out this year, make sure to make Glamour and Glow next year. Its an experience you will not soon forget.

Club Fashion Whor* and Alternative Fashion

May Star photo by Jeff Morris

Some of the most enjoyable events to go to in San Diego are the monthly fashion shows by Club Fashion Whor*. Founded by May Star, a mysterious and colorful personality as unique and iconoclastic as her club. She has held her shows at The Ruby Room for the last five years. This establishment appears to be small, and is a bit hard to find, but once you go in this delighful dive bar opens up to a room in the back containing a small runway framed by ruby red curtains, the graffiti in the bathroom just adding that extra touch to the ambiance.

Hunt and Gather

Club Fashion Whor* started out as a dance party with a smaller fashion show. Star had modeled in Los Angeles and San Diego and felt a fashion show would bring more people to her party. The party’s success led to what it has become today: a haven for San Diego’s alternative fashion scene. Alternative fashion does not conform to contemporary style trends – it may be extremely attention grabbing and more artistic than practical. It offers a challenge to the modern conception of aesthetic beauty and can be more of a form of self-expression, like painting or poetry.

Trashy Klassy

Esther Jean

“I like street fashion and extreme high fashion but I don’t directy follow fashion. I feel like fashion is more of a personal art and base my own outfit choices more off the energy of what’s around me at the time instead of researching fashion shows like so many others do,” explained Star. She aims to showcase one designer she loves in every show, and adds other local and national designers to the shows as well. Star makes sure the shows stay random for the sake of art. “Although club nights are technically themed, I refuse to have designers design to theme.” Although she features all types of designers, from mainstream to alternative, Club Fashion Whor* takes you places I fashion you might have otherwise never seen. For great atmosphere, energy, and loads of creativity and fun check out Club Fashion Whor* at the Ruby Room.

Photos By Rocky Forguson

Project Ethos Fashion Ultrafeminine and Unconventional

Goga by Gordana

Cardi-Wrap by Kymaro

Michael Manguino

Project Ethos kicked off its second San Diego fashion show on Aug 26 at Fluxx. Restless with anticipation, attendees patiently awaited the night’s eight designers as the music blared at the club, packed to capacity. Several trends dominated the runway: ultrafeminine designs and the rugged, unfinished but beautiful look of nature and natural objects. Eye-popping bright colors of almost electrical hues made a presence, as well as their juxtaposition by mixing and matching them in plaid patterns. Lace, see- through and whimsical; ruffles in traditional trims or bunched elaborately in portions at the rear of skirts almost like a mini-train, asymmetrical cuts and trims; single shoulder and asymmetrical straps and ruffled neck collars, were some of the details displayed. Molly B. Bikinis displayed pastels and earth tones in stripes and leaf designs. Cardi-Wrap by Kymaro presented innovative wraps in bright colors and earth tones. Cut and designed with what seems mathematical precision, so it can change from one shape to another, going from sweater to jacket, to cape in seconds. Michael Manguino Design highlighted contrasting bright hues in mini and babydoll dresses. Haus of Estrada seemed to allude to Grecian godesses with one shouldered waisted tunic-dresses and elaborate necklines. Warm colors, stripes, and black sheer kept it contemporary. Halters and one-shoulder dresses were dominated. Blonde Peacock went for soft and natural with earth-tones cotton tee-dresses with nature inspired leaf designs. Their wide suede belts with jagged cuts and holes alluded to natural patterns.The models topped it off with peacock feathers in their hair and leaf-earrings. Goga by Gordana went for ethereal with lots of free-flowing sheer, ruffled neck, and a touch of elegance with red, faux-crocodile skirts and tops, or a strap. Goga displayed quality material with an eye-catching detail, and clean, feminine designs. Creative Fashionista used stripes, natural tones and diagonal trims, white ruffled tops and uneven hems, pink chiffon top with wide yellow belt. A paisley dress and open back with a long chain from neck to rear were eye-catching.
The minimalism and simplicity of the last decades seems to be set aside as elaborate femininity, and whimsical, elaborate details are embraced. Lace, ruffles, sheer, colors, uneven trims, ornate details, one-shoulder, and elaborate necklines is in.

Miyunn Jasmine: Model with a Mission

Friends in her native North Carolina called her “Miss Hollywood” when she was six because she loved the limelight. She still does, when it comes to modeling on the runway. “It’s a feeling I get that tops everything else. The music, the lights, I’m pumped and excited. For a few minutes my game face is on and nothing else matters. It’s not about the money, its knowing that people can see me shining, that no one can touch me. I feel I’m unstoppable,” said Miyunn Jasmine. But she also knows about giving. From age seven on, along with her two brothers, she was volunteering for local charities with her mother. Although her mother was terribly sick, underwent fourteen operations, and lived a very humble life she always made a priority to give to others, and taught her daughter to do the same. Miyunn describes her mother as a, “walking, talking miracle with a heart of gold.” That is why she is now working for San Diego Event Management, a company that will provide a variety of services, one of which is charity fashion shows. Along with President Del Heles, she hopes to combine her love of fashion with her passion for charity work, and make sure that models get compensated as well. “The idea of helping someone and doing what I love is a no brainer. In North Carolina models get paid for charity shows, and it is something I would like to see happen in San Diego,” explained Jasmine. With future plans in mind she organized the modeling show “Infusion” at the Red Circle featuring clothing lines JINX, Britboy Fashions, and Thurty Rocks hoping to also utilize it as a modeling casting call for San Diego Event Management. “I know I am blessed with my mother’s heart and long after she is gone it will be her legacy that will continue to drive my ambition and hopes for this company.”
"Infusion" models took to the runway at the crowded Ruby Room with JINX, a casual clothing line for men and women featuring tees with colorful designs and jeans, embroidered button down shirts, and plaid sweaters and shirts. Thurty Rocks featured dressy mini-dresses with shimmery fabrics, ruffles, sequins, and elegant but sexy cuts. Britboy Fashions displayed their sexy, casual wear for men and women, with modern, hip mini-dresses in print, stripes, and bright colors for women, and white casual jackets and comfy tees for men.  Photography by KatherineWilliams.

Britboy Fashions

Britboy Fashions

Thurty Rocks

Thurty Rocks

JINX

JINX

Designer Kevin James and Yonah Eveline with Blew Print Models pay tribute to Michael Jackson

Designer Kevin James and Yonah Eveline, along with the Blew Print Models, paid tribute to Michael Jackson in a sold-out fashion show at the Belly Up. The Blew Print models put on quite a show, strutting dramatically on to the stage and into the extremely excited mob-like crowds while Michael Jackson's "Dirty Diana" blared throughout the venue. Kevin James' designs bring 'glam' to a new level. Rich in exquisite details and strong, exotic colors, luxurious and sexy, they had more than a touch of show business excess and mystique. James, a Los Angeles based designer, worked on Michael Jackson's wardrobe during the early 80's, his Victory Tour, and was actively working on the clothing designs for the This Is It Tour. James believes that secret to good stage wear is "bling." "This collection is a balance between stage and street. It's a celebration of color for men. Men don't wear a lot of color. Comfort and fit is really important for street clothes. Still, men should look like men and women should look like women," said James. The color orange had a strong presence in his collection, both in leather jackets, dresses, and sweaters. Silver, jewels,sequins, metallic designs, gauze, leather, strips of multicolored patterns, his collection has it all. Truly spectacular, quality material, and superb taste. Street and stage definitely go hand in hand.