*Shanel's preview party, "Chicago Calling," at Redlight above Trocadero has been moved to Friday, Sept. 15 at 8 p.m.

September is one hot fashion month in the States, with the major cities hosting fall Fashion Week events to showcase designers' new spring collections.

OK, so Milwaukee hasn't quite gotten to the point where it can host its own, but Gen Art -- the leading arts and entertainment organization scouting out and helping emerging artists of various media all over the country -- is making sure Milwaukee is represented this year at Chicago's "Fashion Focus," a 12-day lineup of parties, exhibitions and shows intended to raise the city's style profile.

Local clothing designer Shanel Regier is one of seven designers from the Midwest merging in Chicago's Millennium Park on Sept. 25 for Gen Art's 12th annual "Fresh Faces in Fashion" fashion show. Making its runway debut is her spring '07 collection, which she describes as 10 sleek and flowing pieces inspired in equal parts by flower petals and her signature Victorian era style.

"This is the next biggest thing that could happen for me within the region," she says. "And being involved in this organization (Gen Art) is a very big step towards something even bigger. "

She's got high aspirations for her future as an artist -- "I'd love to get to the point where I'd have somebody sewing my stuff for me," she says -- but the 25-year-old designer still has her heart in Milwaukee and says she sees herself staying around here and helping to grow the industry.

"I don't see myself in New York," she says. "That's where everybody goes because they think that's the only place where you can make it. But I'd like to stay and help turn that attitude around. Being here and being recognized and picked up by bigger organizations makes me feel good and makes me feel like what I'm doing would be valid in other cities."

If you are unable to make it to the Windy City's fashion week, this "rising star of Midwest fashion" -- as she was dubbed in the September '06 edition of Chicago magazine -- has a couple upcoming local events to showcase her one-of-a-kind wares.

On Saturday, Sept. 9 -- the kickoff day of New York's illustrious Fashion Week -- the Third Ward's Lela Boutique is hosting its annual fashion show under the huge tents on Broadway. As one of several local designers featured at Lela, Regier is showing 15-20 pieces from her fall '06 collection, one that she says is more conservative than things she's done in the past with lots of dark colors, high empire waists and bustled fabrics.

The following weekend on Friday, Sept. 15 at Redlight above Trocadero Regier is throwing a preview party of sorts that celebrates her career in fashion thus far and features pieces from her past, present and upcoming collections, including her spring '07 that will soon walk the Chicago runway. The "Chicago Calling" event costs $20.

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