Clothes Call

The Denver Public Library’s Fresh City Life program holds one of the most egalitarian fashion stances around. It promotes local designers at such events as the enormously successful Frock Out Denver and by sticking to the general view that everyone can enjoy fashion — not just the rich and famous. No, fashion rises from the street up, and it always has.

As a result, local fashion front-liners, such as the Fabric Lab’s Tran Wills, love an opportunity to give back to the program that touts them so frequently. Hence tonight’s Prototype: Fresh Designers Runway Fashion Show, a larger-scale library fundraiser based on the Fabric Lab’s intimate ongoing designer-showcase series (see westword.com/2008-11-20/calendar/the-kitten-walk/full), at the Denver Central Library, 10 West 14th Avenue Parkway. It features a runway show of saucy styles by Lynne Bruning, Tricia Hoke, James Silvrants and Fallene Wells. After that is a reception and book signing with Style Matters gals Evelinda Urman and Judie Schwartz, who’ve authored A Fashion-Lover's Guide to the Best Shopping in Denver and Beyond.

Wills is especially excited about black-light offerings from Bruning that will have the runway all aglow in the darkness, as well as morphing outfits from Hoke that can be worn four different ways. And she stresses that the event is a great opportunity for audience members to interact directly with the talent. “They can go right to the designers, who’ll have their measuring tapes with them and everything they need to do a custom order right on the spot.” Prototype begins at 7 p.m. in the Level B2 Conference Center; admission is $40 to $50 (or $100 for VIP seating and a copy of the Urman/Schwartz book). Reserve tickets at www.dplfriends.org or call 720-865-2050.
Mon., Feb. 23, 7-10 p.m., 2009