GFW Day 3: Sironna, Mesh & Dahlia

The third night of Gainesville Fashion Week demonstrated the event's expansion with artists and designers coming from out of town (and out of the country) to partake in the event. The show began with a live performance by Indigovox from Atlanta, GA, followed by the Colombian swimwear line Sironna Swimwear; a new downtown boutique, Mesh; and closed by local favorite Dahlia.

Sironna Swimwear

Andrew Avila

In Colombia getting ready for the beach is like getting ready for the red carpet. The women come pre-toned and pre-tanned, with eccentric matching swimsuits, headgear and beach bags. Sironna Swimwear brought that attention to detail stateside with its collection of Caribbean-toned, hand-embellished swimsuits, headbands and shoulder bags.

The Sironna Colombian design team reminded us that the No. 1 tool for looking good and feeling good while wearing minimal coverage is confidence. And Sironna knows just how to offer that. Sironna uses fabrics and cuts that hit just at the right angles and cling just to the right places to make for the most flattering swimsuits. Add to that touches like ruffles on the bust to add volume to smaller chests; boleros along the waist to carve out a waistline and colorful weaving under the bustline of one-pieces to create the illusion of a longer torso, and you have a swimwear line that knows how a woman wants to look and feel. "We were really embracing hippie-chic with this collection," the designers said backstage. "We don't let any piece of fabric go to waste."

Mesh Boutique

Andrew Avila

Last night we welcomed another newcomer into the Gainesville fashion scene, Mesh boutique. The downtown store pleased every woman in the audience as it showed a varied collection that offered something for Gainesville's diverse population. We can see the wide-leg pants being perfect for "Casual Fridays" at work, and the breezy onesies being sported by girls all over campus. Or take your pick from the strapless maxi dresses just right for running errands on hot days; a one-shoulder body-con, bandage, color-block dress for a sexy night on the town; or a DIY-style strapless dress for a day browsing the farmers' market. What it came down to at the Mesh show was functionality. From corseted tops for nights when you just want to feel flirty, to flowing shapes for days you want to sway with the summer breeze, Mesh presented pieces for every occasion and demographic.

Dahlia

Andrew Avila

Dahlia's arsenal comes from its store owner, Christy Morgan, being a true trend-setter herself. She dresses her girls not in what is conventionally sexy, or what the men will find hot, but instead chooses looks that are alluring for their intrinsic femininity and sophistication that makes the woman wearing it feel unique and in control.

She gave us flowing silks, with zippered accents for edge; American outlaw denim and leather vests over softer pieces; an array of prints ready for an art gallery storefront; and plenty of shine in the fashion of quiet metallic fabrics and not just splashes of color, but full on colorful looks highlighted by colorful accessories like hot pink and rainbow sparkle clutches. Along the lines of the more urban looks she showcased, we love the denim shorts, black tank and oversized, fringed sailor sweater-look a model sported with chunky booties. And who can forget the jewelry? An array of cascading crystals, and large chain-linked necklaces, which draped the models, further highlighting Dahlia's talent for style that is bold and tasteful.

-Stephanie Granada, photos by Andrew Avila and Andres Farfan

Dahlia Darling

Christy Morgan, Owner of Dahlia Boutique

Christy showed off her style expertise in a sea of jeans at Dahlia’s Genetic Denim Trunk Show, March 25. Her Genetic Denim, button-up vest and funky, form-fitting striped skirt are two of the many fantastic pieces from Dahlia- and we can’t think of a more effective advertising technique! Her simple, long black tank adds perfect proportion to the look, and her adorable coral sandals bring a just-right pop of color. A chunky gold necklace polishes off Christy’s creative look. So what kind of girl shops at Dahlia? Christy says her clientele is made up of contemporary, unique, independent women of all ages-from college students to women in their 40s and 50s. Christy notes “it’s not just about being trendy- it’s about getting great pieces you can wear for a long time,” and we agree that Dahlia is the perfect place to accomplish this goal.

Vest: Genetic Denim, Dahlia Boutique
Skirt: Dahlia Boutique
Shoes: Devotte
Necklace: Vintage
Top: H&M

-Brooke Johnson


See more of Dahlia's great pieces at its runway show, Friday, April 9 at 10pm, during Gainesville Fashion Week.

It's All About Genes

Music, champagne and the line to score a fitting room flowed at Thornebrooke Village boutique Dahlia during the Genetic Denim Trunk Show last night. As guests mingled and munched on cupcakes, we caught up with lots of people involved in Gainesville Fashion Week, like Wolfgang owner Matthew Turner and DJ Vijay, as well as our friends from Salon La Di Da and INsite models Chanel Bird and Nicole Whyte.

New York-based Genetic Denim fit specialist Davey Napoli (center) helped customers find jeans that “fit like their second skin.” Davey says that the Shane jeans in silver are one of the most popular pairs that they sell, and Britney Spears was even seen rocking them a few times. Christy Morgan, the owner of Dahlia (left), was sporting a cute Genetic Denim vest and says they probably sold at least 20 pairs of Genetic jeans so far. The jeans are so popular because of the soft fabrics and flattering styles, she says. INsite editor Maghan McDowell left with a pair in the straight leg Liam style (right).

“Every time customers try it on they can’t believe how soft and lightweight they are,” Christy says. Every person who tried on a pair last night was entered into a raffle to win a $100 gift card to Dahlia. See more of Dahlia, and other local Gainesville fashion hot-spots, at the upcoming series of Gainesville Fashion Week events.

—Lane Nieset; Photos by Brooke Johnson and Diandra Anwar

Denim of a New Generation

Photo from fashionwindows.net

This week, we caught up with Genetic Denim fit specialist Davey Napoli, who will be helping customers find the perfect pair of jeans at Dahlia during the Genetic Denim Trunk Show this Thursday (3/25), 6-9pm. Davey studied fashion at the Fashion Institute of Technology and has worked with the designers of the New York-based line Heatherette. He went on to represent Galina Sobolev, the designer of Single Dress (recently featured on Bravo’s Launch My Line), before joining the Genetic Denim team in 2009. Look for Davey to match you with your perfect celeb-worth jeans this Thursday, and enjoy a DJ, champagne, discounts and a chance to win a gift card for the store for everyone who tries on a pair of Genetic jeans. Here's some background:

What is a fit specialist? Someone with an in-depth knowledge of what makes Genetic different from other jeans. As each person has a different genetic code, they have a different shape. We make jeans that accentuate women’s assets and fits to their body types. We offer fits for every woman.

What advice do you have for women trying on jeans? It’s all about comfort! We all have a variety of different fits, but there’s one pair of jeans in every one of our closets that we wear the most. Picture your favorite pair of jeans. Chances are, they are your most comfortable pair, and when you are wearing another pair, you would rather be wearing that favorite pair. A well-fitting pair of jeans should give you a surge of empowerment, knowing you look amazing.

What do you like most about Genetic Denim? The way they feel. Celebrities love Genetic. Countless A-List celebs wear our jeans and are often spotted in airports wearing GD. Why? Because they are sooo comfy!! Our denim is the softest denim in the market. The lightweight, super-soft denim often surprises customers at how structured they feel on. They really hold you in and make you feel your slimmest and most comfortable!

Any good stories about fitting someone or helping a celebrity? We’re fortunate to have a lot of celebrity fans and support. We’re often told we are their favorite by them or their stylist. We’ve seen photos of Reese Witherspoon, Shakira, Halle Berry and Ashley Tisdale in the same jeans photographed multiple times in the same week! That’s the ultimate compliment.

—Lane Nieset

Dahlia Holiday Bash & Vintage Jewelry Trunk Show

Visitors mingled, drank champagne, shopped the 20% off sale and browsed vintage couture at Dahlia on N.W. 43rd Street for the Dahlia Holiday Bash & Vintage Jewelry Trunk Show on Thursday evening (Dec. 10).

Christy Morgan, of Dahlia, says the initial idea for the event was to have a holiday party and to showcase Victoria Rohn’s vintage collection. The women decided to hold the event because people are looking for Christmas gifts for their daughters or girlfriends, and also because visitors are looking for dresses and other accessories to wear to holiday and New Year’s parties.

Thus, Rohn, who is new to town, brought some of her vintage pieces to Dahlia to showcase. She said she has a little of everything – from turn-of-the-century pieces to runway pieces to pieces that feature stones such as sapphires and diamonds.

“I have new couture, old couture, pieces from every single era and type,” she says. She said collecting and selling vintage pieces is her passion.

“I love this,” she says. “You can have a plain dress, but when you put on a piece of vintage, it changes everything.”
For the Dahlia event, she picked out pieces that she thought would compliment the clothing sold at the store. She brought purples and golds and pinks, among others, so visitors could match up her accessories with Dahlia’s clothing.

Victoria said she can acquire the rare vintage pieces that she has because she has good contacts, not because she buys them from stores or finds them on eBay. She travels once a month to find and collect authentic, unusual and hard-to-find pieces from those she is connected with, and then she brings them back to Gainesville to sell at a reduced price. For example, she said one of her necklaces might sell for $2,400 on the market, but she might be able to offer it for $300.

If you're looking for a one-of-a-kind piece (for yourself or a gift), contact Victoria at 352-225-3958. “Call me and tell me what you’re looking for, and if I have it, I will come to you and show you what I have,” she says. “And if I don’t have it, I can get it for you.”

—Sarah Hsu

Dahlia Vintage Jewelry Trunk Show

The holiday shopping season is well under way, but if you're still looking for a special gift or an accessory to finish off your holiday party outfits, check out Dahlia this Thursday (Dec. 10). From 6 to 9pm, this fantastic local boutique will be hosting a vintage jewelry trunk show.

There are sparkly beauties in every price range: from costume jewels, to real designer pieces from Chanel, YSL and more. Enjoy 20 percent discounts and champagne, and welcome personal shopper and stylist Victoria Rohn, who will show off her beautiful assortment of vintage jewelry and clothing. You can even purchase pieces from her collection! What a great way to make your holiday wardrobe a bit more special.

Check out the Dahlia facebook page for more information.

Dahlia Fall Fashion Event

Last night, we attended a fun fall fashion event at Dahlia, a 3-year-old boutique in Thornebrook Village. The quickly cooling night air played perfect host to the warm atmosphere inside—fueled, in part, by the (pink) bubbly and 20-percent discount. With DJ Thomas (who regularly works the Lux/Atlantic/Alcove circuit) spinning groovy tunes, shoppers and friends clogged the dressing rooms as we managed to have a quick chat with owner Christy Morgan (who was wearing a great navy Rebecca Taylor fringe dress).

This season, Christy says she’s really excited about bringing fringe, feathers and zippers into the mix. Case in point: her favorite look in the store (and the favorite of many others) was a black Madison Marcus cowl-neck silk dress with—get this—ostrich feathers on the tiered skirt (above). We usually try to talk ourselves out of black dresses, but this was really a standout.

We stuck to our guns, however, and ended up walking out with an “orchid” Rory Beca silk zipper blouse and an Ali Ro belted dress in “wildberry”—not without saying “hi” to our friends from The Tonnish Touch, Salon La Di Da and the Fashion Notebook.

Sad you missed it? Don’t worry—Christy promised us she’d be getting in even more holiday cocktail dresses and gifts (we suggest some of her great vintage bags and jewelry) and items at varying price points. To make sure you stay in the loop, join Dahlia’s Facebook group.

Photos by Sean Kelly

Fall Fashion Event at Dahlia tomorrow

Loved what you saw at the Dahlia fashion show? We did too.

Tomorrow night (Nov. 12) at Dahlia, celebrate fall fashion with the boutique's best event yet. From 6 to 9pm, enjoy champagne, sweets, a live DJ and shopping the best holiday fashion and gifts at up to 20 percent off. Plus, get access to Dahlia's newest arrivals from Rebecca Taylor, Madison Marcus, Karina Grimaldi, Blaque Label and mingle with the editors of INsite. Last week, the owner promised us tons of great holiday party dresses—think "feathers, fringe, sequins and lace!"

Dahlia is located at 2441 NW 43rd St., suite #22. Check out their Facebook event for more info!

INsite's Picks: Gainesville Fashion Week

Click here for some of the best pics from Gainesville Fashion Week, both on and off the runway.

(Photo: Sean Kelly)

INsite's Picks: The Best Runway Looks of Fall Fashion Week '09

Here are INsite's picks for the best looks from GFW '09. What do you think?

Bobby K

We love Bobby's bright colors, hyper-sexuality and unapologetic over-the-topness.

We can definitely see ourselves in the fuschia button-down dress (right) for class, work or even a party.

Calzatura

We were partial to Calzatura's more conceptual pieces, like this sexy, cut-out dress (left) and the peacock-printed jumpsuit (right). We love the user-friendly aspect of this black and white strapless dress (center).

Dahlia
Dahlia delighted us with it's versatility. From the downtown chic ripped jeans and plaid button-down combo (left), to the super eye-catching swimwear (right), Dahlia has something to satisfy our MSPD (multiple-style-personality disorder).

Etc. Boutique

We love the way Etc. Boutique spruced up its denim looks. This mustard scarf (left) and toga-inspired top (right) are new must-haves of ours. We also fell for the delicately detailed accents on this LBD (center).

Natalie Kim

Natalie impressed us with her unique take on Gator wear, adapting popular styles and creating new silhouettes to fit G-ville's Gator Mania. We appreciated the girliness and flattering cuts of the dresses like this white-trimmed hem, strapless dress (center left), and the ruffle neckline halter (left). But we are really in love with the sassiness of the wrap dress (right), and the edginess of the tulle piece (center right) .

Wolfgang

Wolfgang's looks spoke to the free-spirited fashionista in us. The show took each trend all the way, like the dark-rimmed glasses and suspenders in the androgynous nerdy look (right), and the hat topper on this Kentucky Derby dress (center right). We also love the store's use of bright prints (left) and the men's slim-cut silhouettes (center).

—Stephanie Granada

Photos by Sean Kelly and Sarah Hsu