Midwest Fashion Week Spring 2017 | Chicago

March 30, 2017 kicked off the Midwest Fashion Week Spring 2017 showcase, first touching down in Chicago. From there the fashion showcase will travel to my hometown of Indianapolis. Midwest Fashion Week was founded and is produced by Berny Martin, a Haitian native raised in Brooklyn, NY. He is the designer of Catou, a luxury line that caters both to men and women. The goal of Midwest Fashion Week is to celebrate the timeless possibilities of the clothing design community. 

This past weekend I had the honor of being a guest blogger for Midwest Fashion Week where the showcase was held at the Godfrey Hotel in downtown Chicago. The theme and concept for the showcase was "Fashion For A Cause". The main partner and headliner for the event was "Holiday Heroes". Holiday Heroes brings happiness and emotional support to children who battle diseases such as cancer in the Chicago area. 100% of the proceeds, donations and ticket sales were given to this organization. 

During the showcase several designers were featured but there was one that stood out to me the most. This designer was Shaly Guo, @shalyguo on Instagram. Shaly is a fashion and textile designer based in Chicago by way of New York. Her designs were colorful, bold and very avant-garde. There was intricate detailing and unique prints and patterns. From the start the opening design captured my attention and had me on the edge of my seat wanting more. The whole collection had power and energy behind the designs just like the song the models were stomping the yard to. The song was entitled Y.A.L.A by M.I.A. (click the link to listen in.) The bass, the rhythm and syncopation gave this collection so much life aside from the collection being flawless in its own. As a born and raised Midwestern Native, this collection made me very proud. No we aren't New York, Paris, Los Angeles or London. We are the Midwest. This show was all about sticking to our aesthetic and even stepping outside of the conservative border lines that some Midwesterners' tend to have. On a personal level I could totally relate to this collection because I love to live a bold life. People may think or call me crazy but at the end of the day I am living my life as authentically as possible, playing by my rules. 

It's amazing to have a fashion outlet that empowers creativity, expresses individuality and confidence through fashion. I couldn't be more proud! Job well done to Berny, the designers, models, hair, makeup and the Midwest Fashion Week team. The show was entertaining and I am looking forward to seeing what is next for the Midwest!  

**All photography provided by Executive Image Group**

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