The Twin Cities are in the midst of a fashion emergency. Last month's Fall Fashion Week, sponsored by MNFashion, featured eight days of presentations, cocktail parties and shopping shindigs. And while nobody showed up wearing duplicate outfits, many of these stylish soirees overlapped and wound up competing for fashionista attention.
The overall strength and quality of the fashion community has dramatically improved thanks to the nonprofit MNFashion, but it's time for the organization to really organize a fashion week that is the perfect fit. Other cities -- such as New York, Los Angeles, St. Louis and Detroit -- have done so to great success. Detroit just wrapped up the fourth consecutive year of its Fashion Week.
Several frustrated show organizers mentioned that they had booked their show months earlier, only to encounter unexpected time-slot competition. MNFashion should offer premium nightly time slots (such as 7 and 9 p.m.) on a first-come, first-served basis.
Twin Citians (and their closets) are hungry for local fashion. In a challenging economy, a more carefully orchestrated Fashion Week might broaden the appeal and position designers and boutiques for success.
Besides, getting stomped on by a stiletto really hurts.
SARA GLASSMAN
