Tucson Care Card

Perfection Plastic Surgery & Skin Care presents the Tucson Care Card to benefit the Steven M. Gootter Foundation. Kicking-off its stylish event, TFW invites the community to shop and dine, all for a great cause. The Tucson Care Card is a special discount card; for $30.00, card-holders save 20% at merchants city-wide from Oct. 3rd through Oct. 12th. Tucson Care Card is sponsored by Alfonso Gourmet Olive Oil & Balsamics, Mills Touché, Fox Tucson Theatre and La Encantada.

Sudden cardiac death is the leading cause of natural death in the United States. The Steven M. Gootter Foundation was established in honor of Steven Gootter, a 42-year-old father of two whose life was taken by sudden cardiac death. The Foundation funds scientific research, works to increase awareness of the disease among those who might be at risk, and fosters education about SCD.

Purchase the Tucson Care Card online at TucsonCareCard.org or at the following locations: Brooks Brothers, L’Visage, Pottery Barn, Williams-Sonoma, St. John and the La Encantada Management Office.

Bloglovin  |  Twitter  |  Facebook

Featured Designer: Al Tucci

All images via altucciart.com

Al Tucci, a graduate of the Goodman School of Drama at the Art Institute of Chicago Received his Bachelor of Fine Arts and Master of Fine Arts from the Art Institute of Chicago, Tucci went on to have a 38 year career in professional theatre training and as a freelance United Scenic Artist Union designer.

Al Tucci’s theatrical work has been in the area of costume design where he found working with character development through clothing to be challenging and exciting. Tucci has designed museum exhibitions and gallery installations that have focused on clothing, fashion, and theatrical design. As a member of the Southern Arizona Art’s Guild (SAAG) and the Southern Arizona Watercolor Guild (SAWG) his work has been shown at the Southern Arizona Art’s Guild Gallery, the Southern Arizona Watercolor Guild Gallery, Tucson Sheraton Hotel, Jane Hamilton Gallery, Carol Curry Gallery, the Milwaukee Art Museum, and the West Virginia State Museum. He works primarily in gouache (opaque watercolor).

This year, Tucci will be showing a capsule collection of his costumes on the TFW runway. Don't miss a chance to see his beautiful work at the historic Fox Theatre in downtown Tucson. Buy your tickets here.

Bloglovin  |  Twitter  |  Facebook

Featured Sponsor: Tuson Ladies Council

Tucson Ladies Council, a group of community leaders dedicated to improving the lives of Tucson’s children was founded in 2005 by Stella Schaefer. With their spectacular yearly fundraising event, The Fashion Show, Tucson Ladies Council has supported the local and national fashion and arts communities by showcasing innovative and artistic designs and talented performers on the runway.

 

In 2015, Tucson Ladies Council will present “The Fashion Show: a DECADE” on September 26, 2015 at the Casino Del Sol Resort & Spa. The beneficiary will be Tu Nidito Children & Family Services. The Tucson Ladies Council has raised over $800,000 for Tu Nidito in the last 9 years. 

The Fashion Show: a DECADE celebration will be its most exciting and spectacular show to date. The runway will revisit some of TLC’s most recognized shows from the past: London Calling, Cotton Club and Cirque de Couture to name a few. In addition to showcasing a selected group of custom costumes from past shows, several talented entertainers and dancers from previous performances will also make an appearance. Local retailers and national brands will grace the runway to the live mixes from a DJ. Professional models and a celebrity guest host will also participate. This high energy, over the top event will celebrate TLC’s unique platform for fashion and giving. It will pay homage to the past and visit the future with original creations from regional designers, national brands, and a historic vintage showcase never before seen in Tucson. 

Tucson Ladies Council, along with The Stinson Group Realty Executives and Nova Home Loans, are sponsoring the Project Runway Sip and Shop on Sunday, October 19th. Buy your tickets for this event here.

Bloglovin  |  Twitter  |  Facebook

Featured Retailer: (W) Boutique

(W) Boutique, located in St. Phillip's Plaza, is our latest featured retailer. This high-end boutique is the perfect place to pick up a new piece to revitalize your wardrobe. 

(W) Boutique will be participating in the special Style Show hosted by Emmy-award winning stylist and bestselling author, David Zyla, at the Tucson Botanical Gardens on the second night of TFW 2014, October 17th. Don't miss a chance to see the wonderful styles at (W); get your tickets here.

Bloglovin  |  Twitter  |  Facebook

TFW 2014 It Girls at the Tucson Lifestyle Photo Shoot

Credit: Shelly W

Aly and Eve, the TFW 2014 It Girls, had the opportunity to model designs by Theo Doro (left) and Esteban Osuna (right) during the Tucson Fashion Week photo shoot for Tucson Lifestyle Magazine. The It Girls modeled barefoot in the gorgeous Tucson Botanical Gardens, one of our beneficiaries as well as the location for the second night of Tucson Fashion Week 2014. 

Meet our It Girls and see the designs live at the Tucson Botanical Gardens on October 17th. Purchase your TFW 2014 Tickets here!

Bloglovin  |  Twitter  |  Facebook

Featured: Shaffer Dry Cleaning and Laundry:

Recently, we sat down with Patricia Shaffer of Shaffer Dry Cleaning and Laundry and learned more about caring for our clothes in one hour than we had ever known before.The Shaffers have a real passion for their business, a contagious enthusiasm for their industry and the customers they serve.

Patricia Shaffer came to Tucson to attend the University of Arizona in 1979. After a short stint in California post graduation, Patricia found herself drawn back to Tucson where she worked in advertising until she met her husband, Bake Shaffer. After starting a family, Patricia brought her experience in marketing and advertising as well as in retail to Shaffer Dry Cleaning and has now been with the company for 14 years.

Patricia says that with the freedom that comes from being a business owner comes a great deal of responsibility. Shaffer Dry Cleaning, has a real sense of community. Bake and Patricia are close to their employees and they still conduct the interviews for new employees because it’s important to them to know the people who work for Shaffer Dry Cleaning.

Owning a business in Tucson has it’s own unique flair. Patricia loves how she’s learned so much about the rich culture of the area from both her customers and her employees.  And one of the things that she is most passionate about is giving back to the community. “I live here. I’ve lived here for 35 years. It’s natural that we would want to do other things that help Tucson and the people who live here.” With a smile, she adds, “So that part is actually kind of fun.”

Bake and Patricia both share a real enthusiasm for the technology  that drives their industry. Dry cleaning doesn’t really mean dry. In dry cleaning, clothes are washed in a liquid other than water. Shaffer Dry Cleaning was the first dry cleaner in Tucson to adopt green alternatives to the normally harsh and extremely toxic chemicals that most dry cleaners use. Shaffer uses GreenEarth, a non-toxic liquid silicone -- a safer way to dry clean, both for health and for the environment. “We no longer have the fear of groundwater contamination, of soil contamination, of our employees breathing this,” explains Patricia. Bake adds that patients on chemotherapy or people with very high sensitivity to chemicals or allergens can use their dry cleaning service, because it’s so gentle.

One technological advance in laundry that Patricia and Bake are very excited about is a new detergent that will reduce water usage by 80 percent!

Other technologies help them when it comes to customer service. Their computer system allows them to recognize the brands of individual clothing items. This lets Shaffer Dry Cleaning have a better understanding of their demographics as well as helps them build a relationship with the manufacturers of the clothing. A new online service is currently in the works that will allow customers to login to the system and have “a little bit more control” when it comes to their account. They’ll be able to see when they last had something dry cleaned, update their credit card information, and more.

We asked Patricia if she had some advice for emerging designers on how to handle and care for their fabrics. “Pretreatment is very important,” she said. It’s important that designers either dry clean or launder their fabrics before construction in order to avoid shrinkage. It’s also important to test that the fabric is for color fastness and to consider how ornamentation (beading, sequins, leather, etc) will affect how the garment can be cared for. “Basically,” says Patricia “you want to do everything to the garment that a customer will do.”

Proper labeling is also important, she explains. Some designers just label everything “Dry Clean Only” in order to avoid customers improperly laundering something. “Try to make your labels as detailed as possible,” says Patricia. “And give some options.”

We also asked Patricia for a few tips about caring for clothes. “It’s an absolute must to dry clean or launder before storing your clothes!” she emphasizes. If you store clothes without properly cleaning them, you may set stains you didn’t know were there or create the perfect environment for moths to feast on your finery and leave it riddled with tiny holes.

When it comes to keeping whites white, Patricia has a wealth of good tips. She prefers to whiten with hydrogen peroxide rather than bleach, since it’s gentler on clothes. She also suggests washing in hot water and then air drying, since drying with any heat will be too harsh after the hot water. And her biggest tip? Don’t put lotion, makeup, and even perfume on after putting on your crisp white shirt. The little drops of perfume can stain or damage your clothes. Plus, she adds, the warmth of your skin is what activates the perfume in the first place. So spritz before you get dressed.

When caring for delicate garments with embellishments, Patricia suggests you wash them inside out or in mesh bags. And when hand washing, gently press the clothes, never squeeze or twist them.

With her natural, easygoing charm and her extensive knowledge, Patricia taught us more about clothes and how to clean them than we knew was possible. The Shaffers’ enthusiasm for their industry and their care of both their environment and their community make them exceptional leaders in the Tucson business community.

In addition to green dry cleaning and laundry services, Shaffer Dry Cleaning also cares for fine leather goods, designer handbags and shoes, can sometimes reweave holes created by moths, does alterations and even has a pick up service so you don’t have to drop off your clothes for dry cleaning! Be sure to check out Shaffer Dry Cleaning and Laundry (a TFW 2014 Sponsor) for all of your clothing care needs.

Bloglovin  |  Twitter  |  Facebook

You can check out Debra Bloomfield's image, selected by Giorgio Armani himself as the catalog image for Armani Acqua at Paris Photo 2014 in mid-November at the Etherton Gallery right here in Tucson. Don't miss out!

Bloglovin  |  Twitter  |  Facebook

Lawless Denim: Rebellion With a Cause

Situated between a Verizon store and a bowling alley, the entrance to Lawless Denim appears as nondescript as the rest of downtown Phoenix’s glossy CityScape. But from the moment you walk in to the cool interior, you realize that you've stumbled upon something special. Immaculately made jeans hang from crisscrossed ropes to create a denim archway. The music, set to the perfect volume, is so effortlessly cool it convinces you that you too can pull off one of the buttery leather jackets that adorn the walls.

To your left you can catch a glimpse of the workroom, dominated by a huge cutting table, patterns organized against the wall and a giant American flag hanging from the ceiling.  To your right, rolls of selvedge denim (a term that derives from “self edged,” referring to the finished edges of the fabric) line the walls beside displays crafted as carefully as the merchandise.

The decor at Lawless Denim is a unique blend of the artisanal and the industrial. The denim and leather goods take center stage, but you’ll also see the shelves peppered in vintage cameras and heavy black sewing machines, most of them in perfect working order. Motorcycle helmets and goggles hang above the leather jackets and a painting of James Dean looks on from the corner, an avatar of the American style that Lawless Denim embodies. You get the feeling that this American rebel would get his jeans here too.

Roman Acevedo, Founder and President of Lawless Denim & Co., perfectly captures what Lawless is all about. In a simple black tee and a beautiful pair of dark indigo jeans made from a rare “rainbow selvedge,” revealed by the crisp cuff above his heavy boots, his salt-and-pepper hair slicked back from his face, Acevedo embodies the timeless cool that is Lawless.

Originally from San Diego, Acevedo’s background is in food. He trained as a chef at the Arizona Biltmore Hotel. After a few years back in California, he returned to Phoenix ready for a change. A self-proclaimed denim enthusiast, Acevedo’s true passion is for American manufacturing. Almost everything you see in the store is created by Lawless Denim right in the heart of downtown Phoenix. Acevedo believes that “American Made” should not mean out of reach. Each pair of jeans is ethically sourced and lovingly crafted by American artisans, and Acevedo believes that they should also be affordable, not despite the fact that they are American Made, but because of it.

Transparency, says Acevedo, is something that he wishes there were more of in American manufacturing. He doesn’t just talk the talk. Customers can see Lawless jeans being crafted while they’re being measured for their own custom pair. The small workroom, though still in use, no longer meets the high demand. Lawless Denim & Co. now needs a larger workspace. Most of the vintage machines on which the clothes are crafted have already been moved to the factory space, also in downtown Phoenix and there is currently a Kickstarter campaign to buy more machines so that the company can hire even more American craftsmen. Vintage looms are also in place in the factory waiting to create the first batch of Lawless American-made chambray denim.  Soon enough, you’ll be able to buy a pair of Lawless jeans where even the fabric was crafted in Phoenix.

Buying a pair of jeans from Lawless Denim & Co. is a completely different experience from a couple of hours spent trying on ill-fitting jeans in a cramped dressing room. It begins with the perfect denim. Most of these denims come in batches of 50 to 100 yards, and once it’s gone it can’t be restocked making each pair of jeans something truly special. Roman asks what pair of jeans you have in mind. Perhaps you describe a vintage-inspired pair of high-waisted cigarette jeans that end right above where an ankle strap would hit and Roman helps you select a beautiful (and rare) dark indigo denim with a white selvedge. Unlike most selvedge denim, this one has some stretch. Roman says it will be perfect for skinny jeans.  

Next, he asks if you prefer a zipper or button fly and then you can pick out every detail down to the color of the stitching on your custom jeans and the fabric that will line all the pockets. You might pick black and copper buttons, gray stitching, and a dark plaid fabric in greens and blue for the pocket lining that goes beautifully with the deep blue of the denim.

After you’ve designed your jeans, you are measured so that they will fit you perfectly. They take ten different measurements to ensure the perfect fit. Here’s where it’s handy to come dressed in pants, as you’re going to get up close and personal measuring everything from your waist to the exact lengths of the front and back rises.

And then you’re done. A month or so later, you return for a second fitting and if the custom jeans aren’t to your liking they make you a new pair and sell the old ones at a steeply discounted price. It can take as little as ten minutes to design your own custom jeans, which at Lawless Denim you can get for less than the price of a new pair of Sevens.  

At Lawless Denim you can feel great, not only about your new pair of jeans but about everything that went into making them. With customer service that makes buying jeans enjoyable rather than painful and a real commitment to quality and American industry, Lawless Denim & Co. is revolutionizing the way that consumers experience shopping. Here, every pair of jeans is the perfect pair of jeans.  

[Don't miss Lawless Denim, TFW 2014's Featured American Made Designer, at the TFW 2014 Launch Party at Connect Coworking on October 16th in downtown Tucson, where they will reveal LD & Co., their brand new ready-to-wear line. Purchase your tickets here.]

Bloglovin  |  Twitter  |  Facebook

Meet the TFW 2014 It Girls: Aly and Eve

We asked our TFW 2014 It Girls to answer a few questions so that we could get to know them better. Check out their answers below.

Follow Aly's Instagram - @alyjay_g

1. Tell us a little about yourself. Where are you from, how old are you, how did you first hear about TFW, and what are your plans for the next year?

I was born in Mesa, AZ. We lived in Las Vegas until I was around 7, and then moved to Tucson, where I was raised. I am now 18 and just graduated high school. Last year I started to hear things about TFW and kept asking myself how do I become a part of this? I then liked the Facebook page and continuously checked the blog website patiently waiting for the moment they would say they needed models. In the next year I plan on working, taking Pima classes along the way, continuing my model experience, and representing TFW.

2.How would you describe your personal style?

I'm rather casual. I'm a jeans and T-shirt kind of gal, but I like to add some retro sass.

3. Who's your style icon/personal It Girl?

My personal fashion icon is Chriselle Lim. She started out as a stylist, turned personal style blogger, turned YouTuber. I absolutely adore her. She is one stylish, classy, and chic young woman.

4. Let's talk about favorites: Food? Book? Music? Accessory? Beauty Trend?

Food: My grandma's stuffed peppers. So good!

Book: The whole Harry Potter series. It sounds really nerdy, but I love it.

Music: I enjoy all genres of music. I listen to a variety of artists. I rock out to some Metallica and when I'm feeling artsy, I listen to Young the Giant. To soothe me, I go for some Michael Bublé and then fan girl over boy bands.

Beauty trend: Love a coral/orange lip!

5. How does living in Tucson influence your style?

It's just a matter of dressing for climate. I wear shorts and skirts a lot but that's not a problem. I like showing off my long legs.

6. How did you first start modeling?

Modeling was always a thought in the back of my mind but I didn't get serious about wanting to model until a couple of years ago. I didn't know where to start but luckily my school had a fashion and modeling board program. I joined my last year of high school and it has opened many doors for me.

7. What would be your dream modeling job?

I think my dream modeling job, like most girls, would have to be Victoria's Secret. I mean who doesn't want to be a VS model?

Follow Eve's Instagram - @evesarris

1. Tell us a little about yourself. Where are you from, how old are you, how did you first hear about TFW, and what are your plans for the next year? 

I am twenty-four from Adelaide Australia, I came to Tucson 2009 to swim on the University of Arizona’s swim team and study a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Photography. I fell in love straight away with Arizona, the heat, sunshine, nature, and lifestyle all suited my personality and being. I actually first heard about TFW on Instagram. I saw the post and decided to give it a go. After recently graduating and completing my swimming commitments, with a new freedom and a lot more time I’m openly and actively seeking out new opportunities in the next year that will lead me to future goals.  

 2.How would you describe your personal style?

I would describe my personal style as being true to myself, what I feel comfortable in and what works for me in the moment.

3. Who's your style icon/personal It Girl?

I have many style icons a few are Erin Wasson, Jennifer Hawkins, Elle Macpherson and Grace Kelly.

4. Let's talk about favorites: Food? Book? Music? Accessory? Beauty Trend?

Food: I like to eat clean; lately I've been adding quinoa into many of my salads. 

Book: Plain and Simple by Sue Bender.

Music- that’s too hard for me I love music and have too many favorites. 

Accessory: I love Native American jewelry, I have a 1960 large turquoise stone Navajo bracelet that I love to wear, it’s very special to me. 

Beauty Trend: working out is my number one I love feeling healthy and strong.   

5. How does living in Tucson influence your style?

I've always been a desert child but the South West has influenced me with the unique beauty that it has to offer, I love the influence of the Native American community and I actively collect their art.

6. How did you first start modeling?

I've always liked being in front of the camera from a young age.

7. What would be your dream-modeling job?

My dream modeling job would be traveling the world and getting to a level that I would be working with very talented people in their fields from designers to photographers and parts of fashion industry.

Bloglovin  |  Twitter  |  Facebook

Street Style with TFW 04.11.14

Matt Sawyer's outfit is a bold mixture of textures in neutral colors with a few rugged accessories thrown in. We love the slight hint of retro flair in his tough outfit. 

Jacob Woodside's outfit is a perfect example of Tucson style. A couple of perfectly worn in basics like his black jeans and plaid top, made memorable by a few well placed accessories like his silver ring, watch, and a pair of sunglasses we're immediately coveting.

Bloglovin  |  Twitter  |  Facebook

UA TREND Aquatika Party

Last Friday, the University of Arizona TREND Fashion Club hosted a sea punk themed party at Lovesmack Studios in downtown Tucson. The event featured live fashion photography, great music, underwater themed decor, and plenty of fun interpretations on the sea punk trend. TFW 2013 Designer Donni Charm and Buffalo Exchange hosted pop up shops where revelers could stock up and the perfect accessory or statement piece for their ensembles. 

Bloglovin  |  Twitter  |  Facebook

April Blogger of the Month

We are so excited to announce our Blogger of the Month for April. Sydney Ballesteros of Golden Girl of the West is a stylist and blogger with a sense of style deeply connected to her sense of place. We fell in love with her elegant outfits, and the way the pictures on her blog tie her style together perfectly with her Tucson surroundings. 

Sydney: These outfits were styled with the homage to Tucson, my desert hometown. I love pulling inspiration from the elements and culture of the southwest and the desert. I like to refer to this style as "desert chic.” It’s about mixing these large statement pieces with minimal ones, much like the way the southwest is rooted in its natural beauty.

The De Grazia gallery is one of my favorite places to connect with the quietness of the desert, gather my thoughts and find my inspiration. It is such a simple, minimal place, yet filled with so much energy to connect with. 

Credit: All photos by Puspa Lohmeyer  | Turquoise Jewelry from Razzle Dazzle Vintage

The Chase bank is the perfect architectural setting for desert chic. It’s mid-century modern lines and clean, crisp white backdrop are reminiscent of Palm Springs, and the perfect example of how the desert can fit into this style approach. The cut of the simple green dress blend into the background of native plants and the silver jewelry and accessories bring out the best of the modernists era lines. 

Bloglovin  |  Twitter  |  Facebook

Oct 16th Design Competition

The first night of Tucson Fashion Week 2014 will be Thursday, October 16th, and will include a Design Competition. Ten Arizona local and or regional Fashion Designers will be partnered with ten local Interior Designers. Interior Designer will provide and present an object he/she has created such as a chair, lamp, decorative pillow, etc. Fashion Designers will create a garment that is not only inspired by the object but that is a creative fashion interpretation. All ten designers will showcase their garment on the runway at the Opening Night of Tucson Fashion Week. If you are interested in being a part of the Design Competition, you can download an application here. 

Bloglovin  |  Twitter  |  Facebook