Posts tagged as:

lara miller

The Art Of Fashion: Lara Miller

by trish on October 16, 2011

Independent fashion designer Lara Miller will be showcasing her Spring 2012 Collection this year in “The Art of Fashion” 2011 runway show. The Art of Fashion is Friday, October 21, 2011. This event is part of Fashion Focus Chicago happening Oct. 17 – Oct 23, 2011.

This event will also preview preview Spring 2012 collections fellow Chicago designers and fashion lines: Nade Baer, Nora del Busto, Borris Powell, Eva Pazola, RÜCH, Squasht by Les, Shernett Swaby, Sylwia Wilczynska and Zamrie. General admission $35; VIP tickets are $95 which includes a cocktail reception beginning at 6:00 p.m. and a signature StyleChicago.com gift bag.

Please visit, www.stylechicago.com for show and ticket information.

While studying at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Lara developed her appreciation for organic clothing interning with Laurenceleste and then working for Cynthia Ashby, where she honed in on her creative and business skills. In 2002, after approaching the Chicago boutique p.45 to apply for a sales position, owners Tricia Tunstall and Jessica Darrow offered her an opportunity to show as p.45’s exhibiting artist, to run in conjunction with the Around the Coyote Arts Festival. Her small line was accepted with great success. Although still in school, Lara began her career continuing to sell her new found label. At the same time she collaborated with many Chicago dance companies where she was able to study the movement and proportions of various bodies, which still influences her work to date… read more

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Local Love: Chicago Independent Fashion Events

by Mo on July 25, 2011

We love how Chicago supports local! Here are a few darling events to add to your agenda this week if you can!

Learn all about the Chicago Fashion Incubator and tour their space this Thursday from 12-2pm.
Scroll down and read on about the Heshima Fashion Challenge coming up this Tuesday night, 7/26.
Lara Miller and more Chicago local looks in this WGN Style Files – Beach Wear video!

Chicago Fashion Incubator on Facebook

Lara Miller, Susie Skirt

Shop Lara Miller on Smashing Darling

Learn more: Heshima Fashion Challenge

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Chicago Independent Fashion: The Salon Series, Lara Miller

by Mo on June 19, 2011

Chicago darling fashion lovers! Head to Lara Miller’s studio Monday night, or on June 27th, to hear her inspiring words about surviving and thriving as an independent designer in Chicago. Lara is an inspiration to us; read about what a day in her life is like at PopSugar: Day in the Life: Local Designer Lara Miller.

Shop Lara Miller at Smashing Darling

Cynthia Short Bloomers

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Independent Designers: Features not Flash

by Mo on September 30, 2010

Darling Pow-Wow

We hit 700 designers on the site this week and we think you are all Darling! Independent fashion is a niche market that is here to stay, and has nowhere to go but up. We want to help people find you both across the country, but also right in your own community. We want to feature your high quality, unique designs (and events) for shoppers to discover…there is such joy in discovery. Local, handmade fashion is worth much more than a flash sale in our reality. Are you onboard? If so, take the next week to let 5 people, shoppers or designers, in your world know that Smashing Darling is here!

Gwen Beloti, Brooklyn, $315

Inside The Studio

We know some of you are in your studios full-time when you aren’t out on the road doing events. Others have full-time jobs and a studio you dive into when you get home. No matter where you land on the spectrum we would love to get a glimpse of your studio to share with the community. After all, Smashing Darling lives in a lovely sun-filled studio in CT; please show us where your designs are born! Who knows, your image could inspire another Darling to want to collaborate with you. Opportunities are endless darlings! Send your studio images to Trish (trish@smashingdarling.com), it will make her day guaranteed.

MarinaAsta, Virginia, $199

Darlings on the Runway

K.Hendrix: Kimberly just rocked the runway down in Tampa, FL. Don’t miss these beautiful images!

MinnaK: Love the new silk dresses coming soon from Minna!

Lara Miller: Eco Fashion Week, Vancouver…and it was so nice to finally meet Lara in NYC for the Green Catwalk!

Catalina De La Torre: Catalina’s jewels on the runway last weekend. Boston Fashion Week is still going if you are nearby, check it out.

House of Dali, Florida, $120

Resources and tidbits

New darlings be sure to check out the Darling blogroll for a list of resources we are always adding to! This PR planning post may be handy for some of you…and we are thankful for Darlings like Megan Auman helping us all switch gears into our business brain at Crafting an MBA.

Don’t miss this great article and convo from Australia: Inside the “business model” of emerging designers.

Great tidbits like this land in our Twitter stream, follow us darlings!

Adolfo Sanchez Boutique, Vegas, $110

Always * Darling * Forever

Love us? Like us on Facebook!

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Eco-Designers Rethink Yesterday’s News, NYC

by Mo on September 24, 2010

Over the past six months four eco-friendly designers – Darling Lara Miller, Bahar Shahpar, Samantha Pleet, and Anthony Lilore, Restore Clothing – have been working on a design challenge. Recruited by Yesterday’s News each designer was asked to create a garment out of recycled newspaper, with each unique creation to be auctioned off to a charity of the designer’s choice — ahh, excellent! The Green Catwalk event was this past Tuesday evening, and also included a few pieces of each designers’ collections. Check out some images below, and a bunch more over in our Flickr photostream. Lara’s convertible fashion seemed well-loved by the room (slideshow below) as the model re-arranged her outfit while strolling down the runway. This instantly reminded me of shoppers in Frock, happy to pull creations they love off the rack and onto their body as quickly as possible…in the middle of the room: throw caution to the wind. Happy Friday darlings!

Lara’s dress in progress

Lara Miller’s tea-stained dress, and Anthony Lilore’s (Restore Clothing) amazing newspaper trench

Newspaper yarn! Designed by Bahar Shahpar

A ballerina-like mini by Samantha Pleet

Lara Miller Convertible fashion is darling…

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Independent Fashion Community: Chicago

by Mo on July 8, 2010

Lara Logo Sustainable

Queen of Hearts Sale

Either pull a card, roll the dice, or pick your poison for a chance to win an additional discount.

Shop vintage Lara Miller pieces at super discounted prices.

All merchandise will be between 30-80% off.

Also, don’t miss the opportunity to order a custom piece from her hand-loomed sweater collection.

Hudson Long Dress Fall 09 Tiered Ronnie Dress Spring 09

What: Lara Miller Queen of Hearts Sale

When: Sunday, July 11, 2010, 12pm-6pm

Where: 931 W Cornelia Ave (Entrance will be through the alley behind Cornelia Ave, in between Sheffield and Halsted)

Why: Who doesn’t want to refresh their wardrobe with great sustainable styles from Lara Miller?

Pick Your Poison:

Purchase 3 items or more and choose any one item at 10% off.
Roll the dice:

Get between 3-12% off your entire purchase.

Even better, Roll snakes eyes and get 20% off your entire purchase!
Pull a Card:

Get between 2-10% off your entire purchase.

Pull a Queen of Hearts and get 20% off your entire purchase!

(Sorry, Ace, Jack and King don’t mean a thing).

Custom orders are brand new and are often one-of-a-kind so they will be full price, but they’re joining in on the fun and the sale games will apply to your custom orders too. As always, no returns or exchanges.

Stay up to date on the most recent Lara Miller news: Follow on Twitter @LaraMiller and join the group Facebook page Lara Miller Designs. Can’t make the sale? Shop Lara Miller right here on Smashing Darling.

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Eco Salon Shopping Event

by trish on May 31, 2010

Join EcoSalon’s EIC Sara Ost, Fashion Editor Amy DuFault, and a host of other EcoSalon writers when they host their first ever event, EcoSalon Shops! at Green Spaces on June 4, 2010, from 7 p.m.-10 p.m. at their 394 Broadway, New York, NY location.

Their susty soiree will be haven to 20 sustainable clothing and accessories designers including Lara Miller, Study by Tara St. James and Cri De Coeur shoes, four eco-boutiques, Buddha Nose organic body care and A Perfume Organic. Designers from all the lines will be on hand to chat with you as you peruse new looks and try on your favorites.

RSVP for the event via facebook.

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Today’s Featured Item: Roxy Tube

by trish on May 27, 2010

Roxy Tube by Lara Miller

The Roxy Tube is the perfect knit piece to compliment the Cynthia Bloomers or even pair it with the Abram Pants. Shop the full collection online at Lara Miller’s Smashing Darling Boutique. Lara Miller designs her collection in Chicago, IL.

Scroll through and shop more, must have, featured items in our Smashing Darling blog. We bring you the very best of independent fashion everyday.

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Designer Toolbox: Support for Independent Fashion

by Mo on May 25, 2010

In Your Experience…

This month began with the news of GenArt closing it’s doors after 16 years supporting emerging artists across the country: fashion, film, music. While this was sad news for so many, the news left us with lots of questions: What will replace it? How can indie artists come together to support each other in a way that is financially viable today?

It was also unsettling to read that many designers had lost money in the fallout, including Kate Boggiano who has a boutique here at Smashing Darling. Have you ever lost money to a production company? Is there a solution to situations like this? How do you protect yourself? Please comment or send us an email (trishandjulie@smashingdarling.com) if you have advice for fellow designers.

Uniform Project wears Papusza Limbs

how to: Help Your Shoppers

If you are sending out newsletters to your customers, chatting in person, tweeting, or all of the above…be sure to let them know about our new Frequent Shopper Program — it rocks! The more they spend, the more they earn.