Model Christina Mendez will be the special guest at the Curvy Revolution Spring Fling fashion show Saturday at Flat 151, but she'll be doing more than serving as the host. Mendez, who wears size 12-14, will also be demonstrating that plus-size models can be successful.
"Ms. Mendez defies all rules in the fashion industry. She's the epitome of the curvy revolution," says Keke Dillard, founder of the Curvy Revolution, the body-acceptance movement that was launched in 2008. "She has graced the pages of magazines where plus-size women weren't supposed to belong, like Glamour, Latina, Essence and many more. She's one of the few plus-size models who did not allow size discrimination to hold her back and fostered an amazing career."
The show will include fashions from BarePLUS by Bare Necessities, the Barbavian Collection, the Criselle Collection, Forever 21 Plus, Frederick's of Hollywood and more. Black Women Rock guitarist Deekah Wyatt will perform.
"We hope to inspire women to embrace their bodies and learn beauty comes in all shapes and sizes," Dillard says. There will be "beautiful, relatable women with high-energy, fashion-forward clothing and fun with a great production."
7 p.m. Saturday, Flat 151, 151 W. Congress, Detroit. 313-963-1400. $15 at neptix.com. The fashion show starts at 8 p.m.
Think Pink at Bleu: Eric Valdez, owner and designer of T-shirt company Spanish Fly Detroit, will hold a model search at Bleu's annual Think Pink party.
All interested men and women who complete the model information form on Spanish Fly's website will receive two free tickets to the Think Pink event. The auditions will be held from 10 to 11 p.m.
Inspired by murals in southwest Detroit, Valdez formed the year-old, Detroit-centric T-shirt company as a creative outlet, he said. Spanish Fly models will participate in spring and fall photo shoots to showcase the summer and holiday collections.
DJs Godfather and Maz will provide music at Saturday's event. There will be a $3 martini menu until midnight and $4 Kozi vodka shots all night.
Spanish Fly pinup girls will be on hand. Pink attire is not mandatory but appreciated.
10 p.m. Saturday, Bleu Detroit, 1540 Woodward, Detroit. 313-974-7799. $10.
A Victorian Steampunk Affair: District VII Detroit will be home for another Victorian Steampunk Affair on Saturday. Guests at these events usually wear clothes from the Victorian era mixed with accessories like metallic masks and goggles that are borrowed from science fiction and technology. (Think Johnny Depp in "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.") Past events have included Victorian Opulence and Travelers on the Fabric of Time.
Saturday's party, titled Twisted Toys and Mad Scientists, will include burlesque, live music, aerial acts and works by various artists. A robot-making station will allow guests to make their own robots out of cans, foam and paint. There will also be a robot piñata filled with candy and toys.
The event will be hosted by Michael Wiggins of the Phoenix Café in Hazel Park.
8 p.m. Saturday, District VII Gallery, 2690 Wight, Detroit. 313-444-2690. $12 in advance at www.brownpapertickets.com. $15, $25 VIP.
Article source: http://www.freep.com/article/20120405/COL40/204050339/Christina-Mendez-to-host-Curvy-Revolution-s-plus-size-fashion-show
