Ten October Fashion Events — and a Way to Fund More Fashion in Denver

October is zooming by, and Halloween will be here before you know it. But fear not, the next ten days are filled with fashion events, everything from haunted boutiques to killer runway shows. Even fashion funding is an option: Until November 14, emerging fashion designers can apply for the Fashion Arts Fund, a new fashion funding system courtesy Mona Lucero and Stephen Replin. The Fund will help out new designers with small loans ranging from $500 to $5,000, so that they can develop their fashion brands. Womenswear and accessory designers, particularly Denver designers, are encouraged to apply. “This will make Denver the leader in fashion funding,” says Stephen Replin, president of the Fashion Arts Fund, LLC. “Denver will become the mecca for womenswear fashion designers who possess skill and determination and are looking for the money to grow their businesses.” 

Adds Mona Lucero, of Mona Lucero Design:  “Lack of capital is one of the most common reasons that designers fail to develop their fashion businesses. We can help solve that problem for the right designers.” For more information and to set up an appointment to present your company, e-mail either [email protected] and [email protected]. 

Not a new designer? There's still plenty to do in Denver. Here are ten great fashion events, presented in chronological order. 


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10) Knitting Party
7 p.m. Tuesday, October 20
BookBar 
4280 Tennyson Street
Do you love books and fashion? Head to BookBar to make a scarf or a beanie — and maybe grab a new novel. And a glass of wine. This Knitting Party is hosted by Wool and the Gang, a British fashion brand that has a website with all kinds of DIY-inclined projects as well as ready-made items handcrafted by a gang of makers from around the world in a sustainable way. For more information on Wool and the Gang’s knitting parties and to reserve your spot at this free event, click here. 

9) Science Fashion Impact
6 to 10 p.m. Friday, October 23
Fashion Design Center 
3301 Lawrence Street
Colorado-based Estaine designs and produces luxury fashion inspired by the "hauntingly beautiful" shapes, colors and patterns of dyes used in medical diagnosis. Through the sale of this fashion, Éstaine helps fight the war on cancer by revenue-sharing and sparking conversations that can lead to early detection. Éstaine will host an evening of art and fashion, where beautiful luxury accessories become educational canvasses. Enjoy hors d’oeuvres, wine, science, art and fashion; all proceeds from tickets and a portion of art and accessories sold will benefit Breastcancer.org. Click here to purchase tickets and for more information. 

8) ArtWear Fashion Week Fashion Show
7:30 p.m. Friday, October 23
Lincoln Center Performance Hall
417 West Magnolia Street, Fort Collins 
ArtWear Fashion Week is a week-long celebration of wearable art in Fort Collis; events include fiber art demonstrations, lectures, workshops  and this theatrical fashion show, where you can see artist-made garments and accessories on the runway — which you can then buy in the Sales Gallery. Click here to get tickets. 

7) Fashion Culture 2.0 
7:30 to 11 p.m. Saturday, October 24
Tivoli Student Union, Turnhalle Theater
900 Auraria Parkway
The Colorado Photographic Arts Center is hosting this fashion show by El Salon, Charlie Price and Fancy Tiger, with a silent auction, cocktails, music, and more. Overseen by Natascha Seideneck, Fashion/Culture 2.0 is a fundraiser and fashion show inspired by icons of fashion and music, from Grace Jones to David Bowie. Guests will also enjoy beer from newly-opened Tivoli Brewing Co, music, dancing, free parking and more. All proceeds benefit the Colorado Photographic Arts Center, a nonprofit dedicated to promoting photography through education, exhibitions and outreach. Click here to purchase tickets. 

6) Elizabeth Locke Trunk Show and Appearance
10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturday, October 24
Neimen Marcus Cherry Creek 
3030 East First Avenue
Head to the precious jewel salon on level one of Neiman Marcus in the Cherry Creek Shopping Center to meet accessory designer Elizabeth Locke during her trunk show. Locke scours the world in pursuit of uncommon elements that she incorporates in her 19-karat gold designs: Grecian coins, Venetian glass and Cabochon stones in vibrant hues. Click here for more information about this in-store event. 
5) Sublime Spirit: Hair and Make-up Show
7p.m. Saturday, October 24
Aveda Institute of Denver
700 16th Street
Aveda Institute Denver is hosting Sublime Spirit: A Hair and Makeup Show, which supports the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, as well as displaying the work of its students. Light refreshments will be available for donations. Seating is limited, but there is a VIP option; click here to purchase tickets. 

4) #Source Pop-Up Shop Fall Market
10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, October 24 and Sunday, October 25 
The Source
3350 Brighton Boulevard
The fall Pop-Up Shop is a curated market showcasing eight vendors: Colleen Heineman, Valentich Bags, Simply Guapa, Cure Organic Farm, PB Love, Craft Boner, Kirstin Childs, Craftsman&Apprentice and more. Click here for more information. 

3) H&M Grand Reopening
10 a.m. Thursday, October 29
H&M Denver Pavilions
Head to the Denver Pavilions to see the new third floor of H&M, where a DJ will be spinning all day. The global department store will celebrate the addition of its new home line, available for the first time in Colorado. The first 200 shoppers in line will receive an all-access fashion pass with a mystery amount of store credit for up to $300. H&M is also encouraging shoppers to bring in old garments to be recycled before the store opens for 15 percent off your next purchase and the chance to win an H&M gift card valued between $50 and $100. Click here to join the Facebook event page for more information. 

2) Black Lace Fashion Show 
5:30 p.m. to midnight Friday, October 30
Denver Green Lab Event Loft
1250 31st Street
Are you searching for fashion, drinks and dancing on Halloween weekend? Look no further than this event, sponsored by DANTÈl NWA and Denver Green Labs. Check out Colorado's latest THC vendors and get a feel for the industry, and then at 7 p.m. free food and drinks will be served as a sexy, black lace fashion show begins. After the show, a live DJ will spin hip-hop jams. Click here for more information and to purchase tickets to this 21 and up event. 

10) Fashion Haunted House
Starts at noon, October 31 and November 1
Spruce
4347 Tennyson Street 
Spruce, a Denver-based menswear boutique and barbershop, will host a free virtual reality-inspired haunted house this Halloween. Spruce co-owners Becca and Taylor Romero will be transforming their retail space into a haunted house. The premise is simple: Attendees will be given video goggles that allow them to see nothing but a video stream of the room in third person, and will then have to retrieve a key from the other side of the house and bring it back — alone.  "Halloween is our favorite holiday,” says Taylor Romero. “We’ve known since we opened Spruce that we wanted to use the space to really blow it out this year for Halloween. We wanted to do something completely different that would combine our tech focus with how much we love the holiday." The retail space has gained a reputation for not only being a completely unique concept, combining both men’s fashion and men’s grooming under one roof, but also for its tech innovation, particularly in the world of the Internet of Things. Appointments are booked on a mobile device; iPads are used in-store for everything from dressing-room lighting changes to shoe inventory searches.  Click here to schedule style and grooming appointments; reserve your solo haunted house journey by clicking here or by texting 303-622-3310.