As It Happens

Clothing designers aren’t yet as numerous as guitar players, but sometimes we wonder if the fashion-show circuit isn’t starting to look a lot like the indie-rock scene. Despite what seems like a near-weekly occurrence of runway events, DIVA Minnesota’s annual affair is among the few absolute must-sees. For its 2006 fund-raiser, which took place last month, some twenty local designers worked a “femme fatale” theme, concocting killer gowns, cat suits, and 007-inspired jackets; we saw shades of Medusa, Cleopatra, and Glenn Close’s character from Fatal Attraction slinking and strutting around. But what really stood out, given the preponderance of bias-cut fabric and plunging necklines, were all the hip bones and clavicles. Sharper than any spike heel in the room.

—Christy DeSmith