Modern, bold, couture debuts at Mid MO Fashion Week

Models showcase dresses and ensembles from Whitney Jones' holiday 2017 collection for her Liv & Kiss line, which includes clothing for women sizes 12-36, during Mid MO Fashion Week on Sept. 30 at Capital Mall in Jefferson City.
Models showcase dresses and ensembles from Whitney Jones' holiday 2017 collection for her Liv & Kiss line, which includes clothing for women sizes 12-36, during Mid MO Fashion Week on Sept. 30 at Capital Mall in Jefferson City.

Casual streetwear with an hipster edge, beautiful, colorful couture gowns and high quality men's jackets with mesmerizing patterns all made powerful statements on the runway during the inaugural Mid MO Fashion Week on Sept. 30 at Capital Mall.

Seven designers from across Missouri showcased their fall/winter 2017 collections, including four separate lines from the event's founder and director, Enjoli Dixon, of Jefferson City.

For years after moving back to her hometown, the architecture degree-holding fashion enthusiast wanted to produce a Mid-Missouri based fashion week that united "fashion, art, music and people." With the help of a hard-working team, she developed such an event for Jefferson City, Mid MO Fashion Week. The event showcased designers' collections, models, photographers, stylists and artists from Mid-Missouri and within the state during a slew of activities including model workshops, a Model of the Year contest, a kick-off party and preview show Sept. 29, philanthropic activities and four runway shows open to the public the next day at Capital Mall.

Mid MO Fashion Week's first runway show premiered Dixon's colorful swimwear pieces from her line WAVE; adorable matching young boys' shirt and short sets and dresses and skirts from her children's CK Lawrence brand; and unique scarf-infused garments from her Mama Fabulosa line. Then St. Louis based designer, Whitney Jones, showcased her holiday 2017 collection of dazzling dresses and skirt ensembles, which will be available for sale after Oct. 15. Jones, who sells her Liv & Kiss line at Honey Child Boutique in St. Louis, designs a variety of women's casual, business and formalwear in size 12-36.

"I design clothes for the everyday woman, clothes for the woman working 9 to 5. These are comfortable, classy and fun clothes where she will step out the door and feel like a million dollars," Jones said.

Two of her own favorite garments at Mid MO Fashion Week included a red lace cocktail blouse and skirt that fit plus-size Mid-Missouri model Terra Michelle Lynn Johnson like a glove as she cascaded down the runway with a flirty flair. Mid-Missouri model Da'Jah Dale's fierce walk made another one of Jones' favorite pieces - a hot pink skirt and shimmering gold short-sleeved top - pop off the runway, complete with audience applause.

Another veteran and increasingly popular Kansas City-based designer showcased during Mid MO Fashion Week was Christian Micheal Shuster. The self-taught fashion designer launched his christian MICHEAL brand 10 years ago, buying his first sewing machine and applying his lifelong drawing skills to creating high quality men's garments.

"My most popular pieces are my overcoats and jackets. They are very well-made, tailored pieces, plus I like to incorporate themes into my designs. My coats are my mainstays," he said.

Having shown his brand on runways across the Midwest corridor, Shuster continually builds his brand at events like Austin Fashion Week in Texas, Omaha Fashion Week, Northwest Arkansas Fashion Week and Kansas City Fashion Week. Having his label in 15 retailers throughout the Midwest, he was excited to showcase pieces from his fall/winter 2017 collection, sHe.

"I have always made menswear, but this year I did my first womenswear collection. The womenswear is very tailored, but is very masculine and a bit androgynous. It's still flirty and fun," Shuster said. White and black women's garments in Shuster's sHe collection follow the model's curves and offer a classic design but also a modern edge with its simplicity and clean lines.

Two other Kansas City fashion designers delivered modern clothing with bold, couture flavor on the Mid MO Fashion Week runway. First up was Natasha Shangari, a 19-year-old emerging designer who has won scholarships and contests and will showcase her bold, eccentric and fierce designs at Kansas City Fashion Week. With the use of bright colors, detailed patterns and cleverly mixed textured fabrics, her women's and men's garments bring a creative spark to casual and formal clothing.

Esmeralda Lole also brought some flavorful fun to the runway with her dynamic couture women's outfits. From a uniquely sliced skirt with an intricate pattern to a Native American inspired garment, her diverse styles pull from varied cultural influences and compliment many women's body types.

Showing more than 20 pieces, Jefferson City native designer Gayla Rogers makes bold choices with her womenswear but also transcends seasons with elegant, chic and gorgeous business, formal and couture pieces. Favorites among guests to this Mid MO Fashion Week finale runway showcase included a sparkly black and gold sequin two-piece hooded jumpsuit; a bright red pant and top ensemble with a cleverly designed train on the shirt's back; an elegant blue and gold striped ball gown; and pink, green and black floral skirt ensemble that Jefferson City model Phyllis Williams dazzled audiences in.

More cheers erupted when Jefferson City native designer Mi'Kel Anthonei's self-titled brand had its runway debut at Mid MO Fashion Week. Only launching his own clothing line about a year ago, Anthonei was excited to showcase 16 pieces from his fall/winter 2017 collection.

"It is hipster casualwear with an urban street type flair. It is casual, comfortable and hip," Anthonei said, noting his favorite pieces were a H2O bronze colored jacket with a flowing pattern and a camouflage womenswear ensemble.

More than 30 models participated in Mid MO Fashion Week, hailing from as close as Jefferson City like Delaney White and Yessnia Austin, nearby in Kansas City and St. Louis like models from EarKandi Model Academy and Management and as far away as Wisconsin like five models from a modeling agency, Dream, Inc. including Kashara Williams who recently walked in New York Fashion Week. Outside of being able to model a variety of clothing from these designers, they also participated in workshops Sept. 29, a Model of the Year photo contest and networked to further their own careers.

Proceeds from each of the runway shows also went to a handful of charities. According to Dixon, $100 was given to the American Cancer Society, HALO and Heart Transplant Association of St. Louis. A $200 scholarship will also be given to a Mid-Missouri student studying fashion design, music or art.

With the collaboration of all facets of fashion, music and art merging to produce an educational, fun and exciting showcase of Missouri talent, Dixon is encouraged this event will continue to grow each year.

For Anthonei, Mid MO Fashion Week was significant, having his first runway show in his hometown. In fact, Jefferson City Councilman Larry Henry ended up buying the sweater he wore in Anthony's runway showcase, and the now Atlanta based designer is encouraged to continue to grow his brand.

"There isn't a lot of fashion events like this here in Missouri. I hope they continue to grow this each year. Instead of people trying to make it to New York or California, they can get into fashion right here close to home. It is great to have something like this in my home state," he said.