Dress to Shine: Sister Spokesman Celebrates Black Designers, Vintage Style and Community on the Runway
Damenica Ellis reports on Sister Spokesman's Dress to Shine fashion presentation, a red carpet runway event featuring designs by Autumn Frazier, Keith Dorsett and Kathryn Rodgers, with a surprise appearance by Nekima Levy Armstrong and a celebration of Black style rooted in the legacy of Jet, Essence and Ebony.
May 2nd, attendees entered on a red carpet, dressed to impress for Sister Spokesman’s fashion presentation Dress to Shine. Vendors and the smell of soul food greeted them as they walked to their tables on either side of a runway.
DJ Munya set the tone with upbeat, soulful music and Thomasina Petrus, a Minneapolis jazz vocalist, sang. Richard Moody, fashion runway show producer and event architect, kicked off the fashion presentation inspired by iconic vintage moments from Jet, Essence, Ebony, Fashion Fair and McCall’s.
“A lot of us grew up reading Jet Magazine, Essence, Ebony… that was our bible,” he said.
Moody is the founder of iammoody, a boutique production firm, and brings years of experience in both fashion production and modeling to his work.
Autumn Frazier of Autumn’s Vintage showcased her designs first. She wanted to include styles from every era, she said, the ’20s, ’30s, ’50s and ’70s, all represented in her segment. Frazier was even wearing a dress from the 1950s herself. The quality of clothing from that era is one reason she loves vintage.
“It’s not fast fashion. It is something that you can hang on to forever and pass it on down to the next generation,” she said.
She was inspired to go into fashion by the way her grandmother dressed, never leaving the house without a handbag, hat and gloves. As a child, she would play dress-up in her grandmother’s closet.
Next on the runway was work from Keith Dorsett, owner of Heimie’s Haberdashery, with locations in downtown St. Paul and Red Wing. A major part of his collection featured women’s suits showcased on a female model.
“We thought that we should venture into women’s clothing and keep the feminist touch with the strength of women, mothers, sisters, friends,” Dorsett said.
“The way we present ourselves, the community, this room… is the stuff of God, and so I ask him daily to use me as much as possible, to bring our community together and showcase this wonderful and diverse community.”
Bringing the show to a close was a collection of one-of-a-kind designs by Kathryn Rodgers, owner of House of KLynn and costume designer on the set of “Hidden Figures.”
Nekima Levy Armstrong made surprise appearances on the runway, dressed by both Frazier and Rodgers. She was later recognized by Tracey Williams-Dillard, CEO and publisher of the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder, for her work with the Racial Justice Network and her recent arrest following an Immigration and Customs Enforcement protest at Cities Church.
“She has turned her life into a constitutional test for our First Amendment rights,” Williams-Dillard said. “The Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder stands with her in this fight, providing the accountability reporting our community deserves.”
Armstrong said it was a pleasure being part of the experience.
“I’m just so honored to be here as a part of this amazing show, lifting up designers in our community who pour their all and ensure that we look beautiful,” she said.
“All queens need their flowers,” Moody said.
Backstage, Armstrong said she witnessed Moody inspiring young models and experienced firsthand the care of Black women designers.
“They make sure that the colors, the aesthetics, everything lines up with who you are and what feels natural to you,” Armstrong said. “So it’s been a phenomenal experience. I would encourage folks, if the opportunity comes, walk the runway. If I can do it, I know y’all can do it.”
MSR’s next event is the Legacy Yacht Cruise, visit www.spokesman-recorder.com/legacy-yacht-cruise/.
Damenica Ellis welcomes reader responses at dellis@spokesman-recorder.com.
