Words cannot even begin to describe my disappointment last night when Kenley won the challenge. Look at that dress! Just look at it! I bet when you first saw the photo you might have guessed that it was the ultimate loser of the night, but no, it was actually the dress that Heidi and Co. deemed the BEST. Yikes!

The way that her one hip is made to look huge and fat because of all that voluminous, hideous tulle is just too much. And I can't have been the only one who was shocked when the judges went over their top three picks -- I thought they were all some of the worst looks to walk to the runway.

What about Kelli's funky black number? Or Jerell's green, slinky stunner? Even Suede (who continues to annoy everyone by referring to himself in the third person) managed a rather beautiful shirt dress. Well, you know, beautiful for a shirt dress isn't really saying much, but still...

I sure hope the judges' bad taste will improve next week, because while we all love watching the hideous outfits get made, no one wants them to actually win a challenge. Geez.

To see all of last night's looks and rate the runway for yourself, click here.

-- Aubrey Shoe

A few weeks back we received a press release introducing us to the wonders of the "fresh, new color from KitchenAid." This color, while called "pear," looks decidedly more like the pukey green avocado color that was all the rage in the '70s. Even if this new green shade is a little, tiny bit yellower, I don't think the name change justifies unleashing this color on the public. No word yet on if any one is actually buying any food processors, blenders or mixers in the new color, which has been on sale since June.

-- Aubrey Shoe

While “Secondhand Sartorialism” is technically a street style blog, I simply have to share the incredible taste and style of my dear friend, Naomi Kelly. Naomi, who has a strong sense of personal style and an excellent eye for what suits her, has long been one of my personal style inspirations. Whether she dons exquisite vintage pieces that showcase her innate elegance, modern pieces that acknowledge her playful side, or outfits that meld old and new in unique and inspiring ways, Naomi always looks effortlessly and seamlessly put together. And she has the most incredible closet I have ever seen — a warmly lit walk-in filled with vintage clothing, shoes, jewelry and art laid out in beautiful displays that meld her accessories with little tchotchkes she has collected over the years.

When I mentioned to Naomi that I would like to interview her for “Secondhand Sartorialism,” she invited me into that closet, where I talked to her about shopping for vintage while surrounded by one of the most amazing clothing and jewelry collections I have ever seen.

Naomi Maestas-Kelly
Age: 30s
Hometown: Denver, CO
Dress: Her mother’s from the 70s.
Necklace and Charm: Thrifted. The charm is a tiny bell that actually rings!
Shoes: Thrifted.

How long have you been into vintage? My whole life. (laughs) Ever since I started dressing myself.

More

Summer is slowly coming to an end, and we are all racing out to do our back to school shopping. It's important to keep in mind your own unique style, while also nodding to the fashions and styles of fall.

If your style is: “Urban Hippie”

Look for Hippie inspired tops that are oversized creating a flow.

Cross Stitch Accent Tunic - $27.80 Forever 21

With an oversized, flowing shirt, you don’t want to add any more volume. Look for a skinny jean to wear on the bottom.

Urban Skinny Jean - $15.80 Forever 21

If your shirt has embroidering on it, don’t wear a chunky necklace, this will only add chaos! A sweet chain with some beads will be perfect!

Ambra Vintage Charm Necklace - $4.80 Forever 21

During daytime, pick a casual shoe, like a sandal for comfort and style!

Tease Floral Sandal - $14.80 Forever 21

-- Sarah Bolliger

One thing I have always loved about fashion is watching the ebb and flow of styles. Sure, every season there is some crazy trend that may stick -- a la the skinny jean -- or culminates in total disaster, like the popped collar. But there are always staples, pieces that don’t dramatically change with the times but stay their course and gently evolve to fit the present.

Perpetual Clothing, located in Denver’s lower Highlands, is like a big closet where you can find these enduring looks. Providing what owner Lanine Baccam calls “modern resale,” the store buys, sells and trades quality brand clothing and accessories for both sexes. It feels like a designer boutique and many of the labels make it one. I saw BCBG, Seven For All Mankind and Kate Spade to name a few. Lanine even provides a card with a list of brands they will not carry, which is a great idea because the less Faded Glory and Dress Barn out in this world, the better.

Besides offering eminent brands and amazing service, Perpetual Clothing presents a state of mind that is often lacking in business. It is one of continuing a cycle, whether it be the obvious re-sale of clothes or the neighborhood support of a small business. They also have a Bags and Tags Recycling Program, where they ask customers to donate lightly used paper and plastic bags from malls or boutiques to be used in the store.

Remember how much fun it was (and still is) to raid your friend’s closets? How something someone else had worn out seemed brand new on your body? Perpetual Clothing brings back that feeling.

Visit them at 2027 West 32nd Avenue or call 303-953-0816 for questions or to set up an appointment. More information can be found of their web site, www.perpetualclothingdenver.com.

-- Rossy Kay

The other day I was driving up 14th Ave and saw a young man out for a jog, sans shirt. Based on his physique, I would say this young buck is an aspiring Abercrombie model. So yummy. So, so yummy. I couldn’t keep my lecherous eyes off him.

That was unfortunate because, as I said, the other day I was driving up 14th Ave.

Because of my pervy rubber-necking, I nearly rear-ended the car in front of me when the driver stopped for one of those stop lights that are hung, not at an intersection, but in the middle of the street for no reason at all. My “significant other” calls them “squirrel crosswalks.”

My near death experience on 14th left me to ponder two things:
1… Why are those, particular, stoplights even there? Stupid.
And 2… Why is it all right for men to run around in public, shirtless, but not women?

Summer heat demands that summer fashion accommodate high temperatures. Men can wear nothing more than a pair of little jogging shorts, whereas women’s breasts must be covered at all times. That’s stupid and unjust. As near as I can tell, this law is simply a way to legalize sexism. It’s an example of discrimination being written into our law books for absolutely no good or valid reason, whatsoever.

Why can a man, regardless of physical appearance, run around shirtless, while a woman, regardless of physical appearance, cannot?

One might simply say, “Well, women have boobs.”

More

Perhaps you know of Habitat for Humanity as a nonprofit organization that helps people in need to build or renovate homes that it then sells to them at an affordable rate, using all mortgage payments to fund future building efforts. And when you think about a Habitat for Humanity thrift store, you may picture used building implements being sold to people seeking to update and improve their homes. While Habitat for Humanity does have a home improvement outlet in the Denver area, the Flatirons Habitat for Humanity Thrift Store (6900 West 117th Avenue in Broomfield) is actually a typical thrift store that sells used (and sometimes new with tags) clothing, accessories, housewares, fabric, craft supplies and electronics at delightfully affordable prices.

I chose the Flatirons Habitat Thrift Store as the site of my first installment of “You Should Thrift Here” (where I will profile local thrift stores and discuss the causes they support and the selection that they have available and, ideally, find a customer willing to allow me to style them in goods found only at that store) because I was surprised to learn, after contacting manager Erik Brack, that the store actually has a considerable clothing section. It occurred to me that other thrifters may also have assumed that a Habitat for Humanity Thrift Store would have nothing in the way of sartorial delights and passed up an excellent opportunity to shop for quality new and used clothing while helping a very good cause.

More

Slide Show

Last Night's Lingerie Party at the Chateaux Mansion at Fox Meadow had the men channeling their inner Hugh Hefner and the women showing plenty of skin in the summer heat. Check out photos of the fashion show and flirty guests in this slide show with photos by Jim Narcy.

I love accessories! My mom has always had a ton of great jewelry and while I know that my own collection of earrings, pendants and bracelets will never match hers, my shoe collection is quite astounding -- fifty pairs, at last count. I even like to joke that I married my husband so that my last name would be "shoe," in honor of my favorite accessory.

But there's one accessory I've never had more than one of (much to my dismay): eyeglasses. And that's a damn shame, because I am so blind that I really depend on my glasses for everything. However, in addition to being addicted to fashion, I also tend to be hopelessly broke, and while I might occasionally pick up a great pair of Nine West or Steve Madden shoes at Ross or another discount retailer, I've never found a pair of glass frames with my own special prescription already in them.

Happily, at the new SEE (Selective Eyewear Elements) shop in Cherry Creek North, I can not only afford a stylish and unusual pair of new glasses at a great price -- most likely I can afford two or three pairs, which means my eyeglass collection can start to slowly catch up to my shoes. -- Aubrey Shoe

More

As an honorary deputy of the Global Grammar Police, I’ve always taken issue with the “Buy Local Bitches” sign displayed on the front door of the Fabric Lab (3105 East Colfax Avenue) and in the windows of other Bluebird Beat businesses. “Where are all these local bitches for sale?” I like to joke with Tran Wills (co-owner of the FabLab) and Suzanne Magnuson (co-owner of Big Hairy Monster, located in the back of the FabLab) every time I go in for a haircut or a $30 T-shirt. This, of course, is not the semantic effect Tran hoped the signs would have when she created them, and I’m sure most passersby understand that she’s encouraging them to buy local wares, not local women. Still, she’s calling us all bitches, and now that I’ve seen the chalk-scribbled sign in front of Babooshka (3225 East Colfax Avenue) encouraging drivers or walkers with wind in their bowels to “Honk If You Think Our President is A Bitch!” well, my feelings are kind of hurt. If the head of our own Evil Empire is a bitch, what’s that say about the average Colfax crawler being urged to purchase local clothes, art, toys and other accoutrements? Am I to understand that this once-derogatory term has become so ubiquitous that, in effect, we’re all bitches?

Think about that. Bitch.

-- Drew Bixby

The hot sticky weather obviously hasn't been getting to these people. It seemed like everyone was wearing a hat and not giving the sun a second thought. My favorite is Morgan, who layered his over a white bandana and added a PBR pin. Can you get more Colfax than that?

-- Rossy Kay

As promised, I’m bringing you the popular teen "preppy" style and mixing it with this fall's latest fashions. Shopping at stores like American Eagle, Hollister, and Abercrombie & Fitch will give you great tools to add a pop of color to the grunge styles that are in right now.

Keep your favorite Polo in a bright color:

Magenta-Rose Striped Polo - $29.50 American Eagle Outfitters

Torrance Grey Sweater - $39.50 Hollister Co

Erin Skinny Jean- $89.50 Abercrombie & Fitch

Naughty Monkey Shredded Card Peep Toe Flat - S49.50 DSW Shoe Warehouse

- Sarah Bolliger

Just in time for the summer rush, Crocs is going to start warning customers about the dangers of riding an escalator while wearing their flimsy, colorful plastic footwear. Avid readers will recall that we issued an appropriately Cassandra-like alert on gruesome Croc-related escalator accidents more than a year ago.

Crocs plans to tag its ungainly boat shoes with an advisement about avoiding situations in which "shoe entrapment can occur." Presumably this will help small children from getting mangled by dangling their crayon-colored shoesies too close to the sides of the conveyance.

Now if only the company would issue a similar warning to wide-eyed investors who've been taking a tumble on their Crocs stock.

–Alan Prendergast

Vanessa Gochnour, our local designer this week, is a model of preparation, single-minded vision, and involvement in the Denver scene.

Stills in Motion, the name of her line of bags, purses, and wallets, combines Vanessa's personal photography with her hand-sewn fabric creations. She uses pre-cut fabrics with paper backings that can be printed with a photograph. She then hand sews the fabric directly onto the bags.

Vanessa has many interesting designs of her own, but is also willing to take orders for custom designs. Her work is a unique, affordable (most of the designs run under $50, and some are only $10), and cleanly stylish take on accessories. Vanessa's designs avoid being overwrought or bland because she spends so much of her time involved in fashion -- whether working at the uber-hip store Fancy Tiger (which also sells her work), or doing photography and designing.

She also sells at Fabric Lab and Taboot, which means that she’s represented in both the South Broadway and East Colfax fashion areas, where many of Denver’s most distinctive shops reside.

Vanessa didn’t rush her appearance on the Denver scene, chosing instead to prepare and work on her style before starting under the Stills in Motion banner early last year. “Before that, I was just making purses for friends and family and just kind of testing out stuff,” Vanessa says. She knows she prepared as well as she could have, and remains optimistic about her chances for success in Denver. “It’s kind of difficult at this particular time (with the economy) for Denver to be as big as it could be, but its definitely heading in the right direction,” she says of the local fashion scene.

Stills in Motion can be found online at www.stillsinmotionbiz.com, by emailing stillsinmotion@hotmail.com, or at The Fabric Lab, 3105 East Colfax Avenue, Fancy Tiger, 14 South Broadway, and Taboot, 3000 East Colfax Avenue.

-- James Anthofer

There seems to be some sort of magnetic attraction between my soul and old clothes. From funky pieces that have clearly been pre-loved, but still have life in them, to immaculate relics that somehow remained unworn for decades, their faded and yellowed tags still attached, I am draw to seek out vintage clothing the way iron shavings slide unerringly towards lodestone. I am powerless to resist.

Over the years, as I have lovingly worn and collected vintage clothing, I’ve encountered other collectors who share my passion and who have inspired me with the ways that they choose to wear or modify their pre-owned pieces. I have also met people who expressed an interest in vintage and thrift shopping but insist that they simply don’t know how or where to wear vintage clothes. This column will be dedicated to the entire spectrum—the collectors, the curious and everyone in between. It will feature vintage wearers that I encounter at vintage shops, thrift stores, estate sales, and just about anywhere else, who are willing to talk to me about why and how they wear vintage. In the process, perhaps it will serve as inspiration for the many fashion lovers out there who covet vintage looks but aren’t quite sure how to pull them off.

Brittany Gould

Age: 24
Hometown: Potomac, MD
Occupation(s): Art Student/ Musician (she surprised me with the bird print you see pictured)
Glasses: by Paul Smith, from My Optics on Larimer and 19th
Shoes/Dress: Buffalo Exchange, “Shoes belonged to my friend, Kat, before me.”
Backpack: Thrift
Necklace: Grandma hand-me-down
Glasses Chain: thrift

More