Recap: Voltage Fashion Amplified
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Held at First Avenue on Friday night, the fifth incarnation of the annual local-bands-and-local-couture event Voltage Fashion Amplified was, by most measures, a blowout success. The bands were generally excellent, the designers stepped up their game to create cohesive and innovative lines, and the audience was eager and supportive. Most of the new innovations were a success as well. The IKEA Design Challenge, wherein designers competed for a studio makeover, yielded intriguing left-field results, and the pop-up retail store made excellent use of the dead area around the First Avenue pool tables.
Mercurial Rage, dressed by Grayline Clothing
Runway lines by 2709 and Emily Weich
Mercurial Rage’s pop-rock was heavy on the testosterone, which was an aggressive, somewhat annoying way to kick off the night. Grayline’s vest-and-tie combinations did not jump out, but 2709’s opening line was a playful mix of jumpers and sportswear with a whimsical bunny motif. After the strong start, Emily Weich’s line seemed scattershot, without any unifying theme beyond the open umbrellas models carried as props.
Runway lines by 2709 and Emily Weich
Mercurial Rage’s pop-rock was heavy on the testosterone, which was an aggressive, somewhat annoying way to kick off the night. Grayline’s vest-and-tie combinations did not jump out, but 2709’s opening line was a playful mix of jumpers and sportswear with a whimsical bunny motif. After the strong start, Emily Weich’s line seemed scattershot, without any unifying theme beyond the open umbrellas models carried as props.
Emily Weich
Emily WeichFirst Communion Afterparty, dressed by Jenny Carle Designs
Runway lines by Arwyn Birch and Ivan Idland
Dressed as the characters from “Clue,” FCAP looked like lucky vintage shoppers—a good tie-in to their sprawling psychedelic rock, which was a welcome sonic change. Arwyn Birch drew on very '60s-specific influences: pillbox hats, checkerboard patterns, sheath dresses, a mix of mod and Jackie O. Ivan Idland wowed the crowd with sportswear inspired by Art Deco and executed with a very modern sensibility.
Runway lines by Arwyn Birch and Ivan Idland
Dressed as the characters from “Clue,” FCAP looked like lucky vintage shoppers—a good tie-in to their sprawling psychedelic rock, which was a welcome sonic change. Arwyn Birch drew on very '60s-specific influences: pillbox hats, checkerboard patterns, sheath dresses, a mix of mod and Jackie O. Ivan Idland wowed the crowd with sportswear inspired by Art Deco and executed with a very modern sensibility.
First Communion Afterparty
Arwyn Birch
Arwyn Birch
Arwyn Birch
Ivan Idland
Ivan Idland
Ivan IdlandGospel Gossip, dressed by Emily Melchert
Runway lines by Alison Quinnell and Maritza Ramirez
In a slinky, black off-the-shoulder number, Gospel Gossip’s Sarah Nienaber tore through fierce shoegaze rock as Allison Quinnell’s models showed off a line of ready-to-wear dresses with metallic and origami-inspired accents. The short dress and skirt combinations shown by Maritza Ramirez were an exercise in restraint, but their sharp details and muted grey-and-pink palette exuded a sophisticated sexiness.
Runway lines by Alison Quinnell and Maritza Ramirez
In a slinky, black off-the-shoulder number, Gospel Gossip’s Sarah Nienaber tore through fierce shoegaze rock as Allison Quinnell’s models showed off a line of ready-to-wear dresses with metallic and origami-inspired accents. The short dress and skirt combinations shown by Maritza Ramirez were an exercise in restraint, but their sharp details and muted grey-and-pink palette exuded a sophisticated sexiness.
Gospel Gossip
Allison Quinnell
Maritza RamirezLucy Michelle And The Velvet Lapelles, dressed by Standard Issue Clothing with Branch Office Design
Runway lines by Carmichael Claith and Calpurnia Peach
Taking a cue from their old-timey sound, Lucy Michelle and her band were costumed in a hodgepodge mix that looked like the extras' wardrobe on Deadwood. As they stomped through their onstage hootenanny, Carmichael Claith invited everyone on a Highlands hunting adventure with her plaid numbers. IKEA Design Challenge winners Calpurnia Peach took on Where The Wild Things Are with their demure screenprinted look.
Lucy Michelle And The Velvet Lapelles
Calpurnia Peach
Calpurnia Peach
Carmichael Claith
Carmichael Claith
Carmichael ClaithMaria Isa, dressed by Jordelle Gerdes
Runway lines by Amanda Christine and Max Lohrbach
Reggaeton princess Maria Isa pulled out all the stops (even as her dress tried to ruin it by riding way up) and blew away the audience for the finale. Amanda Christine’s line of bold-hued dresses in layered tulle alternated between summery and '70s, while Max Lorbach took “art-damaged” to a new level with a giddy line of Victorian hand-painted dresses shown on models smashed through gold gilt frames.
Runway lines by Amanda Christine and Max Lohrbach
Reggaeton princess Maria Isa pulled out all the stops (even as her dress tried to ruin it by riding way up) and blew away the audience for the finale. Amanda Christine’s line of bold-hued dresses in layered tulle alternated between summery and '70s, while Max Lorbach took “art-damaged” to a new level with a giddy line of Victorian hand-painted dresses shown on models smashed through gold gilt frames.
Maria Isa
Amanda Christine
Amanda Christine
Max Lohrbach
Max Lohrbach
Max Lohrbach
The winner of Voltage's Ikea Design Challenge
Ikea Design Challenge
Ikea Design Challenge
Ikea Design Challenge
Ikea Design Challenge
Ikea Design Challenge
For a longer version of Carl Atiya Swanson's recap, visit cakein15.com.
