Belle Isle to 8 Mile: An Insider’s Guide to Detroit

Posted on January 11, 2013 by katealtair

Belle Isle to 8 Mile cover art by Emily Linn and Angela Fortino

I know it’s not fashion or street wear but this book is my newest obsession. It’s quite brilliant and something I think the city has needed for years.

Edited by Andy, Emily, and Rob Linn this book covers pretty much everything you need to know about our favorite city. It’s an all-in-one guide, even if you feel like you know Detroit. Bell Isle to 8 Mile covers the newest shopping, restaurants, transportation and attractions the city has to offer. If you haven’t been downtown in a while you will be surprised by how much awesome new stuff there is to do. The book is broken down by area, e.g. Midtown, Corktown, Hamtramck etc, and covers points of interest, attractions, bars and restaurants, shopping and everything else you need to know about any given neighborhood. Each chapter includes a map, a quick introduction, and some history on the area as well. There’s even an annual events section and, my personal favorite “Getting it Strait” a guide to pronouncing or rather mispronouncing place names like a Detroiter!

(Don’t think we mispronounce our street names? Say Cadieux to a French speaker)

There is so much good in this book, I could go on and on, but it’s probably best to get it straight from the source. I truly believe that every metro Detroiter should have one. It also makes a great gift for our Detroit expats! Belle Isle to 8 Mile is available at City Bird and Nest on Canfield in Midtown for $22. Or at www.belleisleto8mile.com Thank you Linns! this is the guide-book Detroit has been waiting for!

If you don’t live in the area, midtown Detroit is worth the trip! City Bird and Nest are next door to each other and are just around the corner from two other fabulous shops, Hugh and Nora. Check out all 4 stores and reward yourself with coffee and a treat at Avalon Bakery or The Great Lakes Coffee Company. It’s all within walking distance!

For more info on these fine establishments visit:

City Bird and Nest

Hugh and Nora

Avalon Bakery

The Great Lakes Coffee Roasting Company

For more shopping, visit my Shops I love page.

Thanks for reading,

-kate

Sorry! I’ve been missing!

Posted on May 22, 2012 by katealtair

I’ve been gone for a while, but the good news is there are new posts coming soon! Exciting things are happening in the City of Detroit and I want to share them all with you! We have new boutiques, new locations to check out, and of course new styles to share! So check back often in the coming weeks, you won’t be disappointed.

In the meantime, in honor of World Goth Day (which must be a real thing since I learned about it on twitter) Check out this website for City Club, Detroit’s most famous Goth night club. I’ve seen some things there man, wild things….

www.lelandcityclub.net

In celebration of this day, here’s a pic from one of the most Goth places I’ve ever been. Bonaventure Cemetery in Savannah Georgia. Enjoy:

For more info on this amazing place visit: Bonaventure Historical Society

So once again, I apologize for my absence. My work is irregular so that will happen from time to time. I’ll try my best to stay in touch I promise! And if you want to keep in touch with me on a more regular basis follow me on Twitter; @katealtair

Thanks again for reading,

-k

More looks from Le Nain

Posted on March 27, 2012 by katealtair

Le Nain gets into Detroit Politics

Le Marche du Nain Rouge is a relatively new Detroit tradition which has roots that go back to the city’s inception. Every year at the spring equinox Detroiters gather in the Cass Corridor neighborhood of Midtown to remove “Le Nain Rouge” or the Red Dwarf that is said to bring evil to the city. The march is said to banish the little devil back to the spirit world and give Detroit new hope for the season. It’s a carnival/Mardi Gras style parade where locals get dressed up and create chariots and other crafts to help ward off Le Nain. It’s an opportunity for Detroiters to do what they do best, support their hometown in a creative way. Enjoy!

Le Nain joins the Marche

Le Marche begins!

More revelers

Friend of the blog, Mr. Darren DeWitt prepares for the Marche

Michel and Kevin enjoy the end of the Marche

Little red angel at the end of Le Marche du Nain Rouge.

For more info on Le Marche du Nain Rouge: www.marchedunainrouge.com

I would like to thank Darren DeWitt, Michel Francois Soucisse, Kevin Ward, and everyone else who helped me to get the wonderful pics together! And thank you once again for reading! xoxo

-k

Marche Du Nain Rouge, 3.25.Detroit.2012

Posted on March 26, 2012 by katealtair

Reblogged from globaldetroithuman:

Detroiters march through Midtown to cast out le Nain Rouge, an evil spirit who dwells in our fears, cursing us with misfortune and division. The gathering of elaborate characters expels the centuries old curse from the city, and unifies us in peace and harmony in spring renewal.

From GlobalDetroitHuman, a fabulous blog which I suggest we all follow. I'll be posting some of my pics from Marche du Nain Rouge soon!

St. Patrick’s Day in Detroit

Posted on March 19, 2012 by katealtair

People take dressing up on St. Patrick’s day very seriously in Detroit. We’re so very serious, that we do it more than once a year. On the sunday before St. Pat’s there’s a parade in Detroit’s Corktown neighborhood. But the parade itself isn’t really what people come for. It’s one of Detroit’s biggest street parties, a great way to kick off spring, and the best people watching you will ever see. Also, there’s beer.

Gotta have pipers

Ruthie Underwood and Gretchen Gonzales Davidson take part in the Corktown 5K

Jack, The Balloon Man, he's makes my day every year!

These ladies are modeling some of Jacks best work!

More of Jack's creations

Is there a better day to wear PBR earrings?

Speaking of accessories...

The Grand Marshal

Sometimes, I just don't know what to say..

I hope everyone had a safe a happy St. Patrick’s Day! I’m on a road trip from Detroit to Los Angeles this week so stand by for some style from outside the Motor City!

Thanks again for reading,

-k

Homeslice, Joe Faris, and Denise Ilitch Designs at Fashion in Detroit 2012

Posted on March 16, 2012 by katealtair

Homeslice Clothing by our friend Emily Thornhill does it again with wearable, fresh, sustainable womenswear. Brava Emily! Detroit is proud to have you!

Homeslice Clothing

For more of Homeslice visit; www.homesliceclothing.com or like her on facebook: www.facebook.com/homesliceclothing

Joe Faris, Motor City Blues & Denise Ilitch Designs

The last show of the night featured event hosts Joe Faris (you may know him if you’re a fan of Project Runway) and Denise Ilitch Designs (you may know her if you’re from Michigan!) Our hosts showed their collections together, which my not have worked with any other designers that evening, but it did here.

Joe designs a casual denim collection called Motor City Blues and Denise designs fabulous jewelry and accessories. Both collections have some cool printed T’s too. (The Red Wings logo was of course the most popular) So the models walked the catwalk in a combination on both collections and it worked! A side note on the models, they were all locals rather than the agency ladies and gentleman that walked out earlier. This gave a little extra dimension to the show. The models walked out and smiled when they heard their friends and family cheering!

I love Denise’s designs! You may not be able to view her work properly in a runway show, so please visit www.deniseilitchdesigns.com to see her work up close.

Also for more of Joe Faris and Motor City Denim; www.motorcitydenimco.com or www.facebook.com/MotorCityBlues

For more about out fabulous hosts and the event visit: www.FashioninDetroit.com

All runway photos on this blog are by Brad Ziegler www.bradziegler.com Thanks again Brad!!

And that’s about it for the runway shows of Fashion in Detroit 2012. I can’t wait for next years show. There are new designers and new collections showing every year here in Detroit, it only gets better!

Next week I’ll be posting the craziest, fun, looks from St. Patrick’s Day in “the D”. (I already have a photo of a man dressed as a green pimp with a pig mask, so you won’t want to miss it!) Then, more fashionable street style including big hats and spring colors! Please click the Follow button on upper right column of this blog so you can be updated as soon as I post something new! I appreciate your support, comments, and everything you share!

Thanks again for reading!

-k

Peter Soronen and Neiman Marcus in Detroit

Posted on March 15, 2012 by katealtair

The much-anticipated Peter Soronen and Neiman Marcus shows at Fashion in Detroit 2012 were well worth the wait. Bloggers, photographers, fashionistas, and anyone else crazy enough to get up early on a Saturday morning and hike down to the Motor City Casino were not let down.

Peter Soronen is a Michigan native who, even though he already had a well-known collection, gained national recognition by dressing Michelle Obama for the Governor’s Ball in 2009. His collection of evening gowns and day dresses are available at Barney’s, Nordstrom, and locally at Tender in Birmingham.

Peter Soronen

www.petersoronen.com

Neiman Marcus

The Neiman Marcus show was produced locally by style advisor Ken Dewey who did a fabulous job. I think Detroit can be proud of that!

Neiman Marcus’ Detroit location is located at the Somerset Collection, South, in Troy Michigan. I am happy to report that they now accept Debit, Visa, and Master Card instead of their old habit of simply Cash, Check, or Neiman Marcus Charge.

www.neimanmarcus.com

All photos by Brad Ziegler; www.bradziegler.com

For more of this show and Fashion in Detroit, visit his Tumblr: BradZieglerphoto.tumblr.com

Thanks again for reading! Still more coverage from the show coming soon!

-k

Brightly Twisted and Morada Blue Swimwear

Posted on March 13, 2012 by katealtair

These two collections, both based and made in Michigan are the perfect thing for a sunny day like today. Brightly Twisted and Morada Blue Swimwear didn’t show back to back like this at Fashion In Detroit, but I think they look good together. Enjoy!

Brightly Twisted uses tie-die and hand-dyed techniques to create fabulous womenswear and accessories. Unfortunately, I don’t think that description does their collection justice. I’m trying my best to stay away from clichés like “hippie chic” and “summer of love” because I think what Brightly Twisted does is far more up to date and fashionable. Either way, you don’t need my description to see that this collection will get you in the mood for summer!

Brightly Twisted is based out of Dearborn Michigan and sells their collection online and at national retailers like Nordstrom and Intermix.

For more information visit BrightlyTwisted.com

Morada Blue Swimwear also showed an amazing collection that had us longing for warmer weather. As a curvy girl, I was happy to see sexy one pieces as well as sexy bikinis. Morada Blue utilised bright, beautiful colors along with fresh and sexy cuts. There’s something for everyone in this collection.

Two lovely models with Morada Blue designer Kathryn Johann

Morada Blue Swimwear is based out of Grosse Pointe Michigan and is available at

www.moradablue.com

Once again all of our Fashion in Detroit photographs are by Brad Ziegler: www.bradziegler.com

Thanks again for reading. We’ll have even more collection photos from Fashion in detroit 2012 up later this week!

-k

Natalia Villafana Show Fashion in Detroit

Posted on March 12, 2012 by katealtair

Natalia Villafana has become one of my new favorite designers since seeing her show on Saturday! She showed a very marketable and wearable collection with a serious chic personality. Her young-contemporary silhouette was highlighted with earthy influences like 3-dimensional flowers and leaves that gave her garments a little something extra. Structural and soft, it was a lovely spring collection.

Natalia Villafana, photograph by Brad Ziegler

For more of Natalia visit: www.nataliavillafana.com

All photography for this post by Brad Ziegler www.bradziegler.com

For info on Fashion in Detroit visit; www.fashionindetroit.com

We’ll have more posts this week highlighting the other designers that showed at Fashion in Detroit 2012. Please follow the blog and check back!

Thanks for reading,

-k

Fashion in Detroit 2012 part 1

Posted on March 12, 2012 by katealtair

So the madness of the weekend is over and I finally have a moment to sit down and share some of the amazing photos from Saturdays Fashion in Detroit 2012! Fashion in Detroit is an annual even that showcases Detroit’s fashion design scene. This years show was a combination of student work from local schools, collections by up and coming local designers, and collections from national retailers. While the national collections didn’t necessarily highlight local designs, all of the shows were styled locally and they did a fabulous job!

A quick disclaimer, there are a LOT of pics from the event so I will have to break up our photos several posts throughout the week. I’ll start with the student work today. The following work was done by students at the International Academy of Design and Technology Detroit. The second group of students known as Amantes de La Moda. These students range from 11-17 years old and created their collection using recycled and reclaimed materials. There work was ridiculously impressive, I loved it especially since I couldn’t make a scrunchie at that age!

Here are some looks from IADT Detroit