Patricia Michaels Party and Project PM Waterlily

I am writing to you live from Santa Fe where the annual SWAIA Indian Market is kicking off. The days are sunny, mixed in with some dashes of thunder and quick downfalls of much-needed rain in this gorgeous high desert region and the creative energy of Indian Market is filling the atmosphere as we inch closer to the weekend.

I'm meeting with Amber-Dawn Bear Robe who is working with Patricia Michaels and her team to host a fun fashion fundraiser in just 2 days.

Patricia, who placed second in last seasons Project Runway competition, is dead set on getting her designs back to New York for fashion week in September. She showed her work there for the first time in 2009 with a collective of other designers under an initiative by the Unreserved Alliance.

Santa Fe Indian Market 2013 Fashion, Style, and Art Events

It's August. It's one of my favorite months of the year. Summer is in full swing, the sun is high, the days are long, and I'm blasting that Don Henley track an awful lot.

Another reason why I adore August is the fact that the largest gathering of Native American artists occurs during this magical month.

The annual Santa Fe Indian Market, organized by the Southwestern Association for Indian Arts, brings thousands of artists together for one fabulous and inspiring weekend.

Idyllwild Fashion Show | Native Couture in California

I am pleased to announce that I have been working with the great folks at Idyllwild Arts Academy on producing a high end fashion show that will serve as the finale event for their Native American Arts Festival Week.

The week-long festival held in Idyllwild, California, is designed to enhance and add depth to the academy's hands-on arts workshops, and includes performances, a lecture series, art exhibits, and informal discussions with artists, tribal elders and scholars.

BB Facebook | Best of May

I post a lot of fashion news on the Beyond Buckskin Facebook Fan Page. It's a great way to share info quickly without having to write an entire post on it.

Every month I compile these tidbits into a 'Best of' post where I highlight some of the coolest images, the most interesting articles, and the biggest misappropriators that were posted to BB's Facebook page. Click below to check out the Best of May.

BB Facebook | Best of April

I post a lot of fashion news on the Beyond Buckskin Facebook Fan Page. It's a great way to share info quickly without having to write an entire post on it.

Every month I take the time to compile these tidbits into a 'Best of' post where I highlight some of the coolest images, the most interesting articles, the biggest misappropriators, and the neatest videos that were posted to BB's Facebook page.

So here you go, fashionistas, the Best of April:

Video | Project Runway Exit Interview with Patricia Michaels

Project Runway Season 11 Runner-Up, Patricia Michaels speaks about her experience on the show! Great words!

Video | Project Runway's Patricia Michaels Retrospective

We are gearing up for Project Runway's finale episode, to air tomorrow night. In preparation, click here to watch a retrospective video montage of Patricia Michaels' designs:

Video | Patricia Michaels on KASA TV

Project Runway's Patricia Michaels

Nikki talks to "Project Runway" Season 11 Finalist Patricia Michaels, who also happens to be a native of Taos. Patricia shares stories of her life changing experience on the show and shows off some of her winning designs with a fashion show exclusive to New Mexico Style.

BB Facebook | Best of March

I post a lot of fashion news on the Beyond Buckskin Facebook Fan Page. It's a great way to share info quickly without having to prep and write an entire post on it.

Every month (or so!) I take the time to compile these tidbits into a 'Best of' post for each month where I highlight some of the coolest images, the most interesting articles, the biggest misappropriators, and the neatest videos that were posted to BB's Facebook page. So here you go, fashionistas, the Best of March:

1. There was this great review by Kate Crowley of the Beyond Buckskin Boutique x Presence 4.0 fashion event that was held in Phoenix (above left).

Project Runway: Getting to the Finale

In part one of the season finale for Project Runway's eleventh season, the four remaining designers get $10,000 to produce a 12-piece fall collection to be considered for New York Fashion Week. This is a huge moment for all four of the finalists, including Native American fashion designer Patricia Michaels.

The final four head home, work on their collections, and get special hometown critiques from Tim Gunn.

Project Runway: Patricia in Paris

Since learning that Native American fashion designer Patricia Michaels was to be featured on Project Runway's eleventh season, I have been following her successes and challenges on the show, and recapping the episodes here.

For the 12th episode, the contestants get a treat: a one-day whirlwind trip to Europe. They each get sent off to various fashion capitols of Europe for inspiration, and while there they must purchase the textiles they will use in this episode's competition.

Project Runway: Paris Bound Despite Struggles

Episode 11 of Season 11 of Project Runway kicked off Thursday with another unique challenge. It ended with tears, a twist, and a selection of the final designers who would head off to Europe for the next episode.

Finally, the designers get to show off their own aesthetic as they go solo, but teamwork is still involved when they must rely on 'sewing assistants' to help them create looks worthy to be worn by actress and guest judge Jordana Brewster in the May issue of Marie Claire Magazine.

The final five designers meet with judge Nina Garcia, who lists off 10 things that this look MUST include (ie. no gowns, no pants, must be editorial, must have bold color and shape, yadda yadda Nina voice).

Project Runway: Roses and Art

Native American fashion designer Patricia Michaels continues to move forward on Project Runway, the Lifetime reality show focused on spotlighting the fun and difficult world of fashion design.

The challenge for the 9th episode was the Lord & Taylor challenge. The contestants must design for Lord & Taylor while keeping in mind the concept of the iconic Lord & Taylor style. The winner will have their design reproduced and sold in stores and online through Lord & Taylor, and the loser will be sent home.

Patricia was paired with Stanley, which caused a lot of friction and turmoil. Here are some highlights from the episode:

Project Runway: Joan Rivers, Duck Tape, and Strippers

It's time for another Project Runway recap! I've got 3 episodes to quickly recap - so scroll down to read more!

Episode 6 came and went and I was uninspired. I mean, I was totally pumped for the episode since it focused on my fav age group - the older set (hey! I live in North Dakota!). The designers were tasked with designing fashionable, age-appropriate looks for senior citizens. We're all going to gracefully get older, and I'd like to think that there's going to be some rad fashionable attire just waiting for me when I get there. Don't you guys agree?

Project Runway: Michaels on the Fringe

Alright! Another week, and another episode down. The teams are tasked to get into 'smaller' teams and pair up for the next challenge. Beyond Buckskin's favorite designer, Patricia Michaels (Taos Pueblo), chooses to work with the young Layana. For this week's challenge, the pairs must design a performance look and red carpet look for country superstar, Grammy Award-winning singer Miranda Lambert who also guest judges.

Powwow Chic on Project Runway

The 11th season of Project Runway is kicking into full gear with the latest episode that featured the popular "Unconventional Challenge." Contestants are required to use unusual materials to create fashionable garments. For this season, designers had to use materials from both a flower shop and from a hardware store. Dubbed 'Hard and Soft,' the collection from each team had to be cohesive, yet stand out (a winner must be picked, and a loser must go home).

Project Runway: Balls are a Snooze, but Klum has a Surprise

Project Runway Episode 2 kicked off last week, and the designers were tasked to produce uniforms for some ping pong restaurant club owned by Susan Surandan. The uniforms had to be functional yet fashion forward. The designer I'm rooting for, Patricia Michaels, linked up with Kate Pancoke, who was excited to work with Michaels since she was in the top 3 last week. The episode gets going, and quickly gets boring.

Patricia Michaels - Project Runway Top Contender

Last Thursday, Season 11 of Project Runway officially kicked off with a diverse cast of new designers, and one is our very own Miss Patricia Michaels (Taos Pueblo).

Michaels is the show's first Native American designer, and people are very excited about this simple fact. Her ethnicity is touted in show reviews and announcements - and rightfully so, because we as Native people are vastly underrepresented in both the fashion industry and in mainstream media.

We Represent Our Ancestors

Taos fashion designer Patricia Michaels demonstrates how maintaining connections to community is important to maintaining sense of self. This is an interesting theme that shows up time and again in Native American fashion design.

She explained:
"Indian women have always done this. Ceremony is a sacred place, a place of respect. The women all get dressed together in one big room, helping each other.

PM Waterlily Shot

This beautiful shot was captured by Michael P. D'Arco at the Hard Rock Casino and Hotel in Albuquerque, NM, in September 2010.

The model is Janene Falsone-Milks, and she wears a dress designed by Patricia Michaels (Taos Pueblo). Click on the photo to see a larger version.

(Image © Michael P. D'Arco)