Come down tonight as we celebrate the first collection of published works from photographer Michael Watson : Forever Gold Vol.1.

The pics below may or may not be in the collection available for purchase tonight, but we feel they represent his love for local culture, pups and snacks.

Forever Gold.  The Journal.  The Party. 7 to 9pm.

Limited edition prints will also be available at the event.

Designer Q&A: Dani Ausen

Meet Dani Ausen, the designer behind daniAWESOME. She is exciting to talk to, fun, and creative. You can find her accessories at the Vitae Design Collective shop. Read on to find out Dani’s favorite trends, her top style essentials and what she will be up to next!

Introduce yourself
I’m Dani. I’ve always been a person who enjoys making things and being busy. That is what I do. I am always busy and always making something.

How did you get started?
I started making accessories four years ago, and I have been selling at Vitae for three years. I was in an Urban Outfitters 4 years ago and first saw feather accessories. I was really disappointed how expensive they were for the quality. I thought I could do better. I made hair clips for my friend’s wedding and people kept asking where they came from and that’s how I got started.

Designer Q&A: Alyssa Bowers

Meet Alyssa Bowers, an entrepreneur and clothing designer. She is laidback, easy to talk to and hardworking. You can find her t-shirts, hoodies, dog clothes, and more at our shop. Read on to find out Alyssa’s go-to style essentials, her fashion philosophy, and what she is up to next! 

 

Introduce yourself  

I co-own Vitae and I also own a clothing company, Acanthus Apparel, with my husband Joshua.

How did you get started?

Our clothing company kind of started in college when we taught ourselves to screen print. Then we took a break for a while. And then I bought my husband a sewing machine for Christmas in 2005 as a present. We started doing crazier shirts, like dyeing and sewing patches and screen printing. And people just started asking, “Where can I buy those?” So a hobby turned into a business.  That led me to meet the other women that I own Vitae with. We met at a fashion show. I had been working with a clothing company and was asked to do a fashion show. They (Julie and Melissa) were also designers in the show and that’s where I met them.   

Designer Q&A: Julia LoVan

Meet Julia LoVan, the woman behind J. LoVan Designs, Trouvés and modeling agent at LVN Models. She is a ton of fun to hang out with, energetic, and talented. You can find her work (bowties & dresses) at our shop. Read on to find out Julia’s thoughts about Des Moines, tired fashion trends and what she has next for Vitae!

Introduce yourself 
I’m a designer and an agent for a new modeling and talent agency called LVN Models. 

How did you get started? 
My Mom is a seamstress. I grew up sewing random items by hand (Barbie clothes, pillowcases) I remember going to the library, checking out magazines and just reading every single thing. I would even read the advertisements. I was studying the pages, and I realized that others would just flip through the magazines. I had never thought I could have a career in fashion, living in the Midwest, so I just did sports and thought about being a teacher and a coach. 

Other major fashion demarcations are my college internship in London with Zandra Rhodes Enterprises, my jobs at Chan Luu and Core Clothing, helping start Hope in the City and being a part of LA Fashion Week and at the same time being able to work with some great groups like Falling Whistles, Raven + Lily, Mike Colon photography, and showing my line at Project Ethos fashion show in Hollywood which got me on the cover of California Apparel News.

Fashion Show No Accident

The Accidental Industry Fashion show last Friday was a well orchestrated major fashion event, and nothing less.  Kudos to the Producers Lacy Brunnette, Lucy Shay and Sarah Jae, they pulled off one hell of a production.  Most of us, after we regained our speech, could only mutter "when's the next show"?????

Well, stay tuned kittens - it's in the works!

Pictured from the top:  An elaborate collar look from Shu Shu maus, a layered lace gown by Magpie, and a black lace cocktail dress by Pink revolver, both available at vitae ;)

Accidental Industry Fashion Show

It's FINALLY here! The Accidental Industry Fashion Show will be THIS Friday and we can hardly wait.  Lacy Brunnette, Lucy Shay and Sarah Jae Johnson have been dreaming, scheming and working nonstop to pull off what's looking to be a great event here in the East Village to kick off the holiday fashion season.  The focus is party wear, and that's essential this time of year.  Everyone knows, when you have the perfect dress lined up, the tinsel looks brighter, the cookies don't crumble and Santa's on his way.


Here's an exclusive: We asked Lacy/Lucy what was behind the name and here's the response.  The Accidental Industry Fashion Show is inspired by underground fashion and the accidental discoveries that lead to high fashion innovation driven by the passion of the artists and its curators.  Side note: I got into this business quite by accident, but that's just a coincidence, and a story for another time.


The show will feature collections from: Atomic Garage, Shu Shu Maus, Vitae Design Collective, Magpie, Raygun and Hill Vintage.  Hair By Atelier and Eyecandy Artistry will be on make up.


There will be a silent auction to benefit Geez Louise! Young Women's Organization, and Van Holmgren (who also did the poster) has been setting the scene as only he can.  Tickets are $12 at the door or $10 at Vitae and Raygun through Thursday evening.  There will be a cash bar and after party at the venue.  Must be 21+ to attend.


For more info check out the event Facebook page... https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=261346020576345

Julia Lovan Designs

Julia LoVan is an American fashion designer, fine artist, and urban community developer. She worked in the fashion industry as well as in gang prevention/youth development in the Rampart district in Los Angeles, CA . In 2009 she was one of 6 designers chosen to show 15 pieces in the Project Ethos fashion show in Hollywood from which she subsequently made the headlines and front cover of California Apparel News, which serves the largest apparel center in the country. She was also on the founding core team of the Mosaic fashion show fundraiser Hope in the City in 2008, becoming sponsorship director and designers coordinator in 2010, steering the annual show to become an official part Los Angeles Fashion Week. She has worked with many top photographers, models, designers, and companies such as Mike Colon, Jeannie Mai, Catwalk Pros, Lemon Lime Agency, Johan Khalilian, Core Clothing, Chan Luu, Dear Abigail, Fuze Beverage, International Silks and Woolens, Shekhar Rahate, David Kang Casting, def.i.ni.cion, paqit, Raven and Lily, Falling Whisltes, To Write Love on Her Arms, Awaken, and The Border feature film.

Born to Laotian immigrants, LoVan grew up in northwest Iowa with two siblings. She studied fine art at Northwestern College, completing a design internship at Zandra Rhodes and the Fashion and Textile Museum in London, England. From junior high through college she enjoyed competing in many sports and painting portraits, and after college did a year-long program in Atlanta with Mission Year which drove her passion to combine creativity with social justice after living in and serving in under-resourced areas. LoVan currently lives in Des Moines, Iowa where she works at Serve Our Youth providing mentoring for adjudicated youth, and creates wedding dresses and women's contemporary apparel for sale in the midwest, California, and online and is working towards opening her own boutique. She is a part of the Los Angeles cohort of the DeVos Urban Leadership Initiative which increases the capacity of urban youth leaders. She also enjoys cooking and baking, Soup Night, hanging out with family and friends, and buying fabric. www.JULIALOVAN.com