Les Femmes Nouvelle
Few things thrill me as much as seeing young women doing ballsy, great things with their natural talents and ambition. And so I had a doubly thrilling evening last night going to the La Nouvelle Femme show at the Varsity Theater, in Minneapolis near the east bank campus of the University of Minnesota. I was there because I was Alice’s “plus 1″, a complementary invitation extended to each of the models. Alice walked for Ashley and Luci, who are, collectively known as Calpurnia Peach. But the show featured actually 7 fabulous, new femmes.
In addition to Ashley and Luci, there was another designer, Frances Herr, artist Torey Bonar, photographer Hillary Berg, and musicians Margaret Lane (of Hildur Victoria) and Laura Boland (of Bella Koshka). This shows you the kind of audience the show was aimed at: doors opened at 8, the first performance was at 10pm. They started with Bella Koshka, had a runway show of Frances Herr’s collection, then Hildur Victoria, and ended the night with Calpurnia Peach. Hillary’s photography was on one wall; Torey’s art across the venue.
I’d never been in the Varsity Theater, but I’ll definitely be back. It’s sign outside identifies it as an old movie house, and I 
expected an old auditorium. But the lobby is more like your eccentric aunt’s parlor, and the main area is like her oversized living room. They’ve replaced the rows of seats with comfy chairs and small tables along the perimeter. The seating areas are tiered and carpeted so you can sit comfortably on a chair, or on the floor. The center section is multi-use. A dance floor, a stage and standing area, a runway, whatever they wanted to use it for. Tracks of lighting high above were masked with mirror balls and ropes of little white lights. A bar was right inside the main performance area, but far back enough so you can quietly get your drink then find a great place to sit.
It was all very 20something in the house. These weren’t the college students I was used to seeing. These appeared to be more the graduates out with their friends. Dressed up more than the frat party kids down the street. Diverse in their appearance, yet sharing a certain hip similarity at the same time. A few of us over 30 (over 50) were scattered here and there. Probably, like me, a relative or a friend of someone connected to the show. But it was comfortable. The kids I talked to around me (friends of Ashley; just there for fun) were very friendly and asked me to tell them when Alice walked out.
She was so good. Let me just say it. Alice came out first during the Frances Herr collection, so confident and with personality. She led the models for Calpurnia Peach. And, with complete subjectivity, would say she was the best. I”m not talking about looks. Of course, the models were tall, thin and attractive. But Alice seemed to be enjoying herself and wanting the crowd to enjoy the clothes she was wearing. The other girls looked just, bored. And they walked like they were just walking. Not Project Runway model walk, just walking like they were heading to another shop in the mall. While not the most socially redeeming activity, I’m proud that if Alice is going to do a job, she gives it gusto and believes in doing it well.
I may not have liked the music – though both the women clearly had great voices – and the art was hard to see from my vantage point, but I really enjoyed the evening, and the displays of talent by these young women in front and behind the show. From what I understand the show was produced by other women, and there was a real team of community support to make it happen.
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