The daily digest of Twin Cities culture | Secrets of the City

Photo of EC by vanessa meade / styling by eclecticoiffeur

Secrets of the City sat down for a chat with talented local trio, Eclecticoiffeur, the lead stylists for Voltage: Fashion Amplified fashion show. Jahna Peloquin, fashion stylist and fashion writer (for Vita.mn, l'etoile magazine, AND once in awhile, Secrets of the City); Di Medlock, makeup artist; and Kelsy Osterman, hairstylist, are a comely and charming group whose work you've no doubt seen in numerous local mags and advertisements. Their involvement as lead styling team for Voltage has helped put a polish on the production and has spawned many-a collaborations within the local fashion scene.

Tonight's event at First Avenue showcases some of the best and brightest fashion designers our cities have to offer. Presented in true rock n' roll style, Voltage combines music and fashion; local bands are styled by designers, and a runway show is presented during each musical performance. Featuring bands Gospel Gossip, Lucy Michele & The Velvet Lapelles, Maria Isa, First Communion After Party, and Mercurial Rage. With fashions from 2709, Allison Quinell, Amanda Christine, Arwyn Birch, Calpurnia Peach, Carmichael Claith, Emily Weich, Ivan Idland, Maritza Ramirez, and Max Lohrbach.

Tickets are still available, so snap yours up by clicking HERE or take your chances at the door.

SOTC: You've been working together for years. How did you first hook up?

Jahna: Kelsy and Di had known each other for years before, but we first got together as a styling team through a fashion show called Fresh Face Showcase. Through that we did one of our first photo shoots together, and that's how we met (photographer) Nic Marshall. About six months later we gave ourselves a name over a couple bottles of wine when creating a myspace profile for ourselves.

"Double Identity" / Photo by Nic Marshall / Styling by EC / Modeled by Kara / Jumper by Calpurnia Peach @Design Collective/Hat by Ferociter

SOTC: You've been lead stylists for Voltage: Fashion Amplified for the past three years. What does that entail?

Jahna: Before we came onboard, there really wasn't much organization when it came to doing hair and make-up. It was pretty much decided day of the show and it was pretty chaotic. When we came in, we implemented a system, much like we had with Fresh Face, that made everything move like clockwork. A new addition this year was working directly with accessories designers to create specific lines for the show, as well as having a great team of fashion stylists attending to all the little details.

Voltage 2008: Clothing by Laura Fulk, styling by EC, modeled by Joy

SOTC: Voltage is pretty much legendary. How would you describe the energy that surrounds it, and how do you think Voltage has inspired the local design scene?  

Jahna: It was such an honor to be asked by (Voltage producer) Anna Lee to join the show. She saw what we did with Fresh Face, and being involved has allowed us to be truly integrated into the local fashion community. It's a constant inspiration to be able to work with such creative people and it creates a constant opportunity for collaboration.

Ad for ROBOTlove holiday 2008. Photo by Nic Marshall / Styling by Eclecticoiffeur / Modeled by Catlin Weston / Toys from ROBOTlove

SOTC: EC has worked on an uncountable number of fashion shoots in the Twin Cities. What were some of your favorites? Any hilarious/embarrassing behind-the-scenes stories you'd care to share?

Di: Getting lost in Lakeville on the way to the apple orchard for a test shoot with Nic Marshall and having "fall mimosas" (apple cider and champagne).

Kelsy: And then having a dance party in the orchard parking lot!

Jahna: I will never forget Fashion Fight Night in 2008 when Kelsy poured water over our super-hot model Ashley Hawks. She wrung out her hair over the side of the ring and some guy opened his mouth to drink it! We still didn't win.
 
Fashion Fight Night 2008 Styled by Eclecticoiffeur. Photo by Nic Marshall. Modeled by Ashley Hawks. 

SOTC: Each of you has contributed to the scene in more ways than through just your work with EC. You've produced events, volunteered your time to help local artists, and generally helped shape the local fashion scene into what it is today. What do you think about Minneapolis as an arts city, and what would you do to change it if you could?

Di: I feel like we have all come a long way within the last few years, and there are constantly so many collaborations and partnerships emerging.

Kelsy: Once like-minded artists become aware of one another and collaborate, it brings a larger group of people together.

Di: I've never accepted the notion that something is "pretty good for the Midwest." We've always wanted our work to stand up to those in New York or any other major metropolis, and my hope for Minneapolis is for that level of talent and execution to continue, while having our own flavor. Oh and lots of money so that everyone can get paid for once!

For more information on Eclecticoiffeur, visit www.eclecticoiffeur.com

For more information on Voltage: Fashion Amplified, visit www.voltagefashionamplified.com