Back To My Roots--St. Louis Fashion Week

UPDATE: For a fun video I did on KSDK NBC St. Louis click HERE

Just as quickly as I unpacked from San Diego, I will be re-packing to head off to the place of my birth, St. Louis, Missouri to host the 1st ever St. Louis Fashion Week. I was honored to be the 'Cover Boy' of the St. Louis Magazine, ALIVE. Click HERE to read the article that accompanied the cover spread. As you will read, although I was born in St. Louis, I did not grow up there, so it will be nice to return for the 1st time since childhood. If you are in the St. Louis area come join us where I will be showing some designs from my Fall 2007 collection, alongside several local designers and fellow Project Runway Alum, Kara Janx.

Nolita 'Project'

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NOLITA 'PROJECT'
NEW LINE BY EMC2 GETS A BOOST FROM 'RUNWAY' VETS

July 15, 2006--HE'S gone from "Project Runway" to Project Retail. Emmett McCarthy, a castoff from the second season of the popular Bravo reality show, debuted his togs for fall/winter during a rain-soaked Wednesday unveiling at EMc2, his 4-month-old NoLIta emporium.
Though the weather did not hold up, the enthusiasm did.

"I never would have imagined a year ago that I'd be in my own store," says McCarthy, soaking up the residual post-storm humidity and post-show popularity in the quaint garden behind his shop.

He credits the boob-tube design incubator for taking him from behind the seams and forcing him onto the catwalk.

After toiling in nearly every capacity in the fashion industry, McCarthy stitched up his aspirations under the tutelage of host Heidi Klum and judge Tim Gunn, chair of the Department of Fashion at Parsons School of Design, McCarthy's alma mater.
"I didn't win, so there wasn't as much pressure. I was able to catch up to myself," he says.

Known for his dexterity for menswear, the designer underwent a sartorial sex change by instead opting to design a bright array of women's wear, including bold, flowered three-quarter length coats, geometric printed dresses, and halter tops and dresses in nearly every color and fabric.
EMc2's sophomore effort included textured double-breasted cropped blazers and a gray flannel swing coat.

"It's incredibly beautiful work," says Gunn, while signing T-shirts for adoring fans and industry folk at the intimate soiree.

"I am a son of Gunn," jokes McCarthy. "Tim has been a great supporter. I never knew how many friends I had until I went into business."

And he'll need those friends, because his own clothing line lands a few deviations from the high standards of Elizabeth Street, the power address for Manhattan style and cutting-edge independent commerce. A glaring discrepancy between the workmanship of the product and the prices might affect the overall take for the till.

However, redemption at EMc2 is found in the dressmakers form of McCarthy's reality show alums Chloe Dao, Nick Verreos and Kara Janx, whose duds he also carries.

Second-season winner Dao's party dress - a nifty cleavage-bearing black tulle empire-waisted number topped with a green sash - would win it for her all over again.

A romantic floor-sweeping muted orange and brown printed dress by Nick Verreos lends the fall/winter collection more cred, as does his striped oxford-cloth wrap dresses.

Also on sale are metallic kimono wrap dresses by Janx and various leather belts and beaded jewelry from an array of accessory designers.

Perhaps the item with the most pop is the Tim Gunn T-shirt designed by EMc2 brand director Dimitri Said Chamy. The printed cartoon-like semiautomatic bears the crossed-out names of Joan Rivers, Mr. Blackwell and Anna Wintour on the handle - a nod to Gunn's burgeoning reputation as the new arbiter of style and taste.

"I'm riding the wave. And it's all happened after age 50," adds the natty Gunn.

Thunder Show

THUNDER SHOW
No wonder most New Yorkers somehow find the resources to get out of the city in the middle of July. I woke up Thursday to a hot, sticky, humid New York day. The theme of the day was quickly materializing into : "I shvitst, you shvitst, we all shvitst!"( To quote my favorite Kara Janx).
Today was the Trunk Show at Emmett's NoLita boutique, EMc2.
David and I arrived at the store to set up in the lovely back garden space Emmett had created for Chloe, Kara and myself to show our lines in the back of his store. We signed 10 of the just-released Season 2 DVD's to be given to the "big-spender" customers at the Trunk Show.
In the beginning, the weather, though HOT and humid, was a bit sunny. All of a sudden, as soon as the store (and the back garden) seemed to be packed with visitors, shoppers and fans alike, a thunderous storm poured into New York. To be honest, it seemed as if the nucleus of the storm was EMc2!!! HUNDREDS (it seemed) of us scurried for cover under the garden tent Emmett's well-oiled employees had set up. Suddenly, the rain had poured so fast and furious that the tent seemed to be coming down and threatening the flooding of all our collections. With the unconditional help of all the fans, shoppers, and visitors, we gathered bags to cover the clothes and the racks and rushed through the uncontrollable downpour to bring the collections inside for safe cover.
Everything turned out fine, even with the snafu of the rain (remind Emmett next time to check the Acu-Weather forecast please). I sold A LOT, from my draped caplet jersey tops(they were a hit!) to my Cruise Collection linen skirts and jackets. Tarah, my model and muse from the show, recently moved to NY from Miami, along with her sister Sabrina, and I asked them to come by and model my designs while the guests and shoppers were there so they could see what my collection looked like, just as they do in other Trunk Show events I have been a part of. Amanda, the model from Season 3 whom I befriended , also stopped by and offered to model my dresses as well. A Getty_Images photographer stopped by and took several photos of my "Nikolettes".
Tim Gunn made another fabulous appearance holding court just as he did the previous night at Buddha Bar. He was diligently signing T-shirts, autographing bags and being gracious, classy and unflappable never letting on that there was a torrential downpour happening 10 steps away. He didn't even SHVITST, thank you very much. Chloe's model , Grace (wearing a cute vintage shift dress and jacket) also came by to congratulate Chloe and they posed for a photo with the Elle Magazine layout that just came out on the newsstand.
I had a great time, even with the thunderous storm that almost ended the whole event. Were it not for the unbelievable support, love and help of all the guests, shoppers and fans of "Project Runway" we would not have been able to "Carry On!" Speaking of fans: there were lots ! One in particular stood out, because of his shameless tenacity and fervent love for us and the show. Most fans want us to sign T-shirts, DVD's, etc. He asked, no DECLARED, that we sign his CHEST!!! Well, before I could say "Nipple Ring", he took his shirt off and handed Chole , Kara and myself a Sharpie. When it came time for Tim Gunn to sign his chest, unfortunately we left little room above the belly button for his autograph (on purpose of course!). Let's just say, this fan went home never wanting to wash his chest, torso, and abs ever again!