On Saturday July 16th, Pittsburgh’s Southside neighborhood seemed to transform itself into a tropical oasis at Diesel Club Lounge. Fashion gazers from all over came to Diesel to see a fashion show put on by local clothing store Reflect.
Owned and operated by Kristy Picard and Jenn Lementowski since November of 2010, the Robinson Township store offers an extensive collection of men’s and women’s clothing that boasts a California chic vibe. Kristy, 23, a graduate of La Roche College and Jenn, 25, a graduate of Duquesne University, both met and became close friends after working at Michael Kors at Ross Park Mall. After working there for a year, they decided that they wanted to open their own store together. “We wanted to open a store that offered clothing not easily accessible in Pittsburgh, particularly a store featuring young West Coast designers, ninety percent of which our store is made up of,” Kristy said. “We travel to fashion trade shows in Las Vegas and select clothes for our store that other local boutiques and clothing stores in the area do not have or have a very limited amount of. That is what makes our store unique,” added Jenn.
The fashion show Kristy and Jenn produced, aptly titled “An L.A. Affair” showcased their store’s summer collections. This was not the first fashion show put on by these store owners, but it was their first all-ages gathering. The theme of the show was a mix of L.A. nightlife with the laid back feeling of a party on the beach. The stage, adorned with Hawaiian décor and synchronized with some of the current top forty club tunes, spun by DJ Tweak, exuded this concept. As the show began, the models, including Maniac’s own resident blogger Ashley Boynes-Shuck, strutted down the runway in some of the season’s hottest trends and summer staples. The women’s attire ranged from exotic and animal printed swimsuits to jersey-knit and jewel encrusted cocktail dresses paired with strappy sandals and nude patent leather pumps. The men’s attire ranged from jeans and California inspired t-shirts to blazers and gingham print dress shirts. The show ended with a performance by rap artist Choze, who got even the models dancing up on stage! All in all, this show, a three-month process in the making, had everyone feeling like they were “California Dreamin’.”
One of the many great things about this local show was that Kristy and Jenn also made sure to support a wonderful cause near and dear to their hearts. A portion of the show’s proceeds as well as donations were given to the Bracco Children’s Fund. This fund was set up for the children of their friend and founder of Pittsburgh Fashion Magazine, Nicholas T. Bracco III, who passed away unexpectedly at his home on July 2, 2011. “He is survived by his wife Julie and their five children, ranging in age from fourteen to three and this was just a way to give back to his family by giving to this college fund set up for his young children,” said Kristy. Giving back ultimately made the night that much more special.
After this show, the future for Reflect looks brighter than the California sunshine. “Our next big venture is looking into expanding our store,” said Jenn. “Fort Lauderdale Florida is up on our list,” added Kristy. Just like their growing store, both Jenn and Kristy can agree on one thing, that the Pittsburgh fashion scene has come a long way. “It is evolving in such a way here in Pittsburgh that people are finally experimenting with clothing trends and taking fashion more seriously, which is great to see,” said Kristy.
For more information about Reflect please visit there store:
1920 Settlers Ridge Center Drive, Pittsburgh PA 15205
Ph-412-787-2749
www.reflectapparel.com
E-mail: info@reflectapparel.com
Follow them on Facebook and twitter @reflectapparel
~~~ by Matthew Hacke
Photos by: Kimberly Flit
