The West 18th Street Fashion Show

Online ticket sales have ended, but both Patron and Spectator tickets are still available for purchase at Birdies. 116 W. 18th Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64108. Birdies is open Tue-Sat 12pm-7pm. All tickets are sold in advance; there are no on-site ticket sales.

As always, this is a free event and open to the public, but we sell a limited number of VIP runway seating. In the event of inclement weather, the show will be moved to the Arts Incubator Event Loft on West 18th Street. Only ticket-holders are guaranteed entry.

There are two types of VIP tickets:

$100 Patron Seat:

Includes a front row seat, fabulous swag bag, and exclusive access to VIP pre-show patron party in the Cocoon Gallery at the Arts Incubator. The Patron’s party includes complimentary wine by Cellar Rat, Boulevard beer, snacks from Happy Gillis and beautiful decadent mini-cupcakes from Dolce Baking Company.

$35 Spectator Seat:

Includes a guaranteed seat at the show.

TICKET INFO

Last night, the designers and producers of the upcoming West 18th Street Fashion Show had a cocktail party at the lovely and local JP Wine Bar in the Crossroads.  Everyone had a wonderful time mixing, mingling and sharing what they are working on for the upcoming show. Each designer brought a sample or photo of a runway piece to share with the production committee, and we were blown away at the level of creativity, construction, and enthusiasm of these extremely talented artists and designers. It was wonderful to get a glimpse of what they are envisioning for the runway, but it was also fun to get to know them a bit better. Each of our 18 fashion designers and five accessory designers all have impressive credentials, training, and artistic talent. Many of them live in Kansas City, but not all of them. Some live in fashionable locals like New York City, many have displayed in galleries all over the world, they have connections to celebrities such as Lady Gaga and Mia Tyler, we have award winners, international artists, and even several entrepreneurial designers who sell their designs all over the world. You can read more about each designer and view their websites in the designer section of our website.

Please enjoy these photos of last night’s event taken by this year’s official show photographer, Brad Austin Rocketbox Photography, and be sure to get your tickets online or at Birdies. Thank you to JP Wine Bar for your sponsorship support. We love our sponsors and this event would not be possible without their generosity.

The planning meetings for the West 18th Street Fashion Show production committee are getting more frequent and more intense as the show approaches. Here are some photos of the producers hard at work. Just look at this fashionable crew! Thanks to the Arts Incubator for letting us meet in their lovely event loft.

Kathleen and Danielle

Mark Southerland, Ryan Gove, and Peregrine Honig

Ashlee Broome, Kathleen Cheevers, Danielle Meister, Mark Southerland, and Ryan Gove (Peregrine Honig and Sarah Snodgrass not pictured)

Congratulations to the 10th anniversary West 18th Street Fashion Show Designers. The 18, A Decadent Summer designers are as follows (in no particular order):

Rachel Rolon
Shannon Bailey
Liz Peters
Cheryl Acosta
Jovana Mirabile
Spool*
Peggy Noland
birdies
Katie Coble
Amanda Nervig
Sara Emami
Nataliya Meyer
Tricia Rock
Sarah Nelsen
Jamilah Knight
Kaylin Hertel
Emma Burgess-Olson & Lauren Fallis
Maegan Stracy

Congratulations, designers! We can’t wait to see what you bring to our decadent runway this June 12.

The Kansas City Crossroads West 18th Street Fashion Show returns! This year’s TENTH ANNIVERSARY event, A Decadent Summer, is looking for artists and designers to be a part of KC’s annual runway tradition. As our 10th anniversary event, this year will be bigger and more extraordinary than ever!

To apply:

• * At least 3 photographs of previous garment/clothing design work (not on CD)
• * Resume
• * Please tell us­– through both sketches and an artist statement­– how your designs will interpret this year’s title/theme, “A Decadent Summer.” Be bold; be brave; be excellent; and collect your inspiration from romantic elegance, drama, classic luxury and Edward Steichen.
• * Registration Fee: $25 (cash or check made payable to “18^th St. Fashion Show”)
• * Application materials may not exceed 12” X 15” in size.

Please mail or hand-deliver the above information to:

• Call for Artists
• c/o birdies
• 116 W. 18^th St.
• K.C., MO 64108

To be considered, all registration materials must be received by 7.00pm on Tuesday, March 9. Application will not be reviewed if ALL application guidelines are not followed. Please note, no materials will be returned. The selected eighteen collections will be announced during the week of March 8.

Selected designers must be available the following mandatory dates: May 22, June 6 & June 12. This year’s event will be held on Saturday, June 12, 2010.

Questions? Email 18thstreetfashionshow@gmail.com.

Last year’s ninth annual West 18^th Street Fashion Show, Summer in Space, featured eighteen collections showcasing the best in cutting-edge fashion design. Each year, this event draws a record-breaking crowd and coveted press. The West 18^th Street Fashion Show has been featured in Women’s Wear Daily (New York), My Midwest (Midwest Airlines’ In-Flight Magazine), KC Star, Verge Magazine, INK, Present Magazine, Urban Times, KC Studio and The Pitch, among others. Also, the event organizer- the 18^th Street boutique merchant birdies- has been covered locally in such further publications as KC Magazine, KC Living and Spaces, as well as nationally in Elle Magazine, Country Living, USA Today, Midwest Living, BUST and Nylon.

Photos are coming in from our official West 18th Street photographers Tom Foley and Vicki Smith. We are in the process of sorting through them and should have some up by the end of the week. Thanks again for your support of the West 18th Street Fashion Show; it is truly a community event and we could not do it without you!

Hopefully these will tide you over:

Below is a sneak peak from our dress rehearsal. Along with the models and designers, the musicians were on hand at rehearsals to run through the music for the night. Below is a photo of Cody Wyoming and John Furguson, with DJ Josh Powers in the background. They will be joined by our show’s music director, Mark Southerland along with special guests… For the first time ever for the 18th Street Fashion Show, we are featuring custom-produced musical accompaniment for each designer’s collection. The music you will hear is original music produced by local musicians with direction from the designer. I won’t spoil it by going further into detail, but I will say that it sounded incredible.

Below is a behind the scenes look at last year’s Summer at Sea fashion show. We hope it gets you as excited as we are about the upcoming show on June 6, Summer in Space. It features some great runway shots, as well as some behind the scenes interviews and video. Thanks to Metro Productions for their incredible filming and production – you know how to tell our story.

Below is a photo collage provided by Tom Foley, of Tom Foley Photography. Tom has been an official West 18th Street Fashion Show photographer for several years now, and we are pleased to have him involved again this year for Summer in Space. Following this year’s show (quickly approaching on June 6), our event website will feature his photographs from the event.