By Lesley Kennedy
Brandi Shigley’s e-mail signature reads “Dreamer/Doer” — the perfect title for this local style dynamo.
Shigley runs Fashion Denver, an organization that promotes local designers through fashion markets, fashion shows and business development.
“At any given day, I could be organizing our latest fashion market or building a Web site or working with our graphic designer on branding for one of our designers or teaching my workshop ‘Do what you love. Love what you do’,” she says. “I also am in a band called B.Sous where I write the music, sing and play the keyboard. I have a band that backs up me. It’s so fun to perform while wearing fun outfits!”
Fashion choices definitely figure in to Shigley’s busy schedule.
“The way I dress effects my business mood, and because I am an entrepreneur, it’s important to set myself in the right mood to be productive,” she says. ”If I’m wearing at least one professional piece — could be a fancy necklace or cute headband – it puts me in the mood to be professional and think professionally. Also, because I run Fashion Denver, I’m surrounded by beautiful fashions in my office and that inspires me even more to accessorize and support our local designers.”
Shigley describes her style as “an eclectic mix of local designers paired with fun fashions found at thrift stores, clothing swaps and other random fun outings. I love mixing local style with unusual, hard to find pieces. I also love to be a princess, while at the same time be able to hop on my bike and go play kickball!”
Princess meets tomboy — think hot pink with camo, tutus with boots. Dying to see it for ourselves, we asked Shigley to document seven days worth of fashion choices. Here’s a peek inside her Fashion Life.
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- Outfit one
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- Outfit four
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- Outfit two
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- Outfit five
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- Outfit six
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- Outfit three
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- Outfit seven
Outfit one:Taken at the Fashion Denver office during a remodel, Shigley wears a T-shirt dress by local designer What Majesty paired with a Fern and Sprout floral headband (also local) and a handbag from Buffalo Exchange. Her shoes are ”heels that I got at a clothing swap — and they’re comfy too! Bonus!” and handbag from Buffalo Exchange. Photo by Sean Fister
Outfit two:Shigley wore this yellow dress on location at a bridal fashion photo shoot for designer Maggie Burns. “This is a dress she made specially for me for a good friend’s wedding,” Shigley says. ”I told her to create what she thought would be best for me and it was dreamy. I could even rollerskate at the reception in this dress!”
The earrings are BallyHoo, by a San Francisco designer from Denver. Photo by Zach Johnston
Outfit three:For a warm September day, Shigley wore this jumper she bought in SoHo, New York, last summer on a trip to play softball with Ad-Rock from the Beastie Boys. ”I love this jumper,” she says. ”It reminds me of bloomers from the ’20s somehow.”
She paired it with her favorite boots, Obama socks and Denver accessory designer Mukee’s earrings. “I was working on getting the showroom organized, and have a clothes pin pinned to me, as this was taken in mid work,” she says. Photo by Sean Fister
Outfit four:“Fall is setting in, and the layers are coming out,” Shigley says. “I paired a simple T-dress from Buffalo Exchange with a long sleeve Western shirt — you can’t see the Western – with my favorite gray wool hooded sweater and favorite boots. When my hair is being moody, I have a tendency to slap on a headband and accept that it’s a bad hair day.” Photo by Sean Fister
Outfit five:“I flew out to San Diego to attend Premise’s 10 year anniversary, a company I worked for when I lived in San Diego,” Shigley says. “I brought this dress, as it’s my ‘go-to simple black cocktail dress’ for lots of occasions. It’s comfy, sassy and easy to accessorize. And my favorite thing: I thrifted it for $5! I paired it with some heeled boots that I bought at a costume shop on South Pearl Street that was going out of business for $7, and a turquoise necklace that holds together with a magnet. You can wrap it around and around or keep it long. I got that necklace at the MAGIC trade show in February. I love finding wonderful deals! This entire outfit was under $15.” Photo by Kristine Zuchetti
Outfit six:This outfit – taken on the front steps of Fashion Denver – was worn on a chilly, crisp fall day with a day filled with computer work. ”I paired my favorite pair of jeans that I bought at Fancy Tiger made by IT Jeans, with a sweater that I found at a clothing swap and a pair of boots that I bought from Denver’s Thriftonista,” Shigley says. ”I like to wear things asymmetrically, so I folded one boot down exposing the fun wool inside and kept the other one up. I’m also wearing earrings by Kansas City, Mo., designer Scarlett Garnet. We carry her accessories at the Fashion Denver showroom. I also love wearing really long sleeves so I can cover my hands.” Photo by Sean Fister
Outfit seven: ”I produced a fashion show at TAXI for ArtBike and also performed with my band B.Sous,” Shigley says. ”In this photo, I’m wearing Kimono Dragons by Francis Roces. I lovethis dress. It’s comfy, has a vintage appeal and I love the colors. I paired it with a pair of fuchsia boots from Denver’s Thriftonista. This photo was taken in mid song.” Photo by Oliva McClean
Check out more My Fashion Life diaries by clicking here.
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