by June Ann D'Angelo

Last night fashion week in St. Louis kicked off it's series of 3 main fashion presentations with the Emerging Designer Award runway show. I literally saw looks from each designer that I wanted to work into my wardrobe. After the show I met up with some of my favorite STL fashion voices in the city (Laura Heying, Weird Cult(ure); Robby Baker; Katy Noonan, Living Collective) to rehash and it seems my favorites, NOVIS and Houghton, got everyone else a little wet with excitement as well. Although the print choice by NOVIS was rather polarizing, I found the use of them quite breathtaking. But nothing could touch the silhouettes and cohesion of Houghton that earned Katharine Polk a huge $25,000 cash prize!!!

Here's a little video of all the action below and to see individual looks in more detail, please checkout ALIVE Magazine's coverage by clicking HERE.

Furthering the passion to spotlight a new generation of innovative fashion designers, the mission of the Caleres Emerging Designer Award presented by Saint Louis Fashion Fund is to offer a platform for aspiring designers to gain the attention of national press and buyers, and to offer the grand prize of a cash grant to one designer.