Frock Out Denver

The new season of Project Runway is under way, and now the Denver Library has Frock Out Denver, a contest giving 12 local designers three months to create five looks to be shown off in a runway show this Thursday, 12/6, at 8 p.m. Tickets are free, although donations are encouraged. VIP tix are also available, to help the library raise money. Details here. Each designer has a look on display now at the main library downtown. Or you can see them online and vote for your favorite.

Designer Melissa May is one of the youngest in the competition. She took some time to talk with us:

How did you get involved with the competition?
I honestly do not remember how I found out about the competition but I saw a note about it online and thought I would give it a shot. I had just graduated from college and was looking for every opportunity to get my name out in Denver. I knew that being so young (21) I might not get in, but I knew that I had something special to offer and felt pretty confident that I had a chance.

We were assigned five different outfits to make. We had to make one for each season from specified materials and then one that could be anything we felt really showed our style. Four of the five outfits are not due until the show, but the Winter dress made from silk was due at the end of October so they could put up the gallery exhibit (at the downtown library). Our budget for our Winter and Fall outfits (silk and wool) was $200 supplied by Denver Fabrics and our Spring and Summer outfits (linen and cotton) was $150 and $100. Our choice outfit could be made from any material for any amount.

How would you describe your design style?
I create day and party dresses that are a mixture of girly and rock 'n' roll. I like to keep the silhouettes simple but focus on creating special details that make the outfit really stand out.

As far as the dress on display at the downtown library, who do you see wearing it?
I wanted to make a dress that was beautiful with some edgy touches that could be easily worn by a younger woman (18-26) to a holiday party. I kept it short because I feel that that is a more realistic look and that it also stands out in a crowd.

How can people buy designs from you?
Right now I am selling my pieces in local stores, such as The Fabric Lab and Fancy Tiger. I also have dresses on my myspace page that are available for purchase. In the next few months however I am remodeling my company to include a professional website and seasonal lines available for wholesale or custom orders.

Would you ever consider doing something like Project Runway? What do you think about that show?
I actually tried out for the season on right now. They told me that they saw potential but to come back when I had a little more professional experience. I think it is a very entertaining show and that it can do great things for the designer's careers, but I do not take it too seriously since it is, after all, a show. In the end it is about ratings.

Anything else you'd like to add?
I'm really looking forward to getting to compete against some of the best designers in Colorado. To them I say bring it on!