  
Look of the Week
Look of the week: Tonya Abeln
We’re perusing the streets of Louisville in search of our city’s most stylish women. Each week, we'll find one woman who's out and about and stop her for a photo and a quick interview on how she puts her look together. We call it our Look of the Week. We run into some of the women while we’re out working on stories, and others are recommended by their friends.
We always see the ever-stylish Tonya Abeln at events throughout the city. While we usually see her when she’s dressed up, we caught up with her recently at 15 Ounce Premium Denim on jeans and t-shirt kind of day. Even so, her look was full of personality.
Tonya wore a pair of Etienne Aigner boots from Macy’s with DLI 1961 jeans from 15 Ounce. Her shirt was a vintage she found in L.A.
“I saw it and I knew I had to get it for Derby,” she said. The horse and jockey print won her over. She finished the look with a necklace from Blush Boutique and a hat by Run for my Roses.
“I’m kind of a trend chaser,” she says. She likes to shop all over the city and loves a good consignment find.
Her best piece of advice is to know your body. “There’s no reason to reveal your weaknesses,” she says.
Why it works:
We love the way Tonya decided to usher in the Derby season. Her look is full of personality. And her fashion philosophy is one to live by! Know your body, and learn how to work it!  
Run For My Roses - Press Release
Run For My Roses
www.runformyroses.com
(502) 541-1963
Email: Jenn@runformyroses.com
For Immediate Release 9 a.m. EST
March 17, 2011
Run For My Roses Announces 2011 Kentucky Derby & Oaks Hat Collection
Also raising skin cancer awareness with first ever hats providing SPF protection
Louisville — March 17, 2011 — Louisville, Kentucky based milliner Jennifer McCarty today announced that her 2011 Kentucky Derby and Oaks Hat collections are now available. She is also taking a limited number of custom orders from her office located in Jeffersontown.
McCarty’s attention-grabbing hats as well as her other Derby-centric accessories have become quite popular throughout the years; being worn by attendees both in the infield and by those more fashion-conscious horse racing enthusiasts seated in the grandstand.
“Customers come to me because I feel that everyone should be able to afford to look their best on such a celebratory day. There is no doubt about it, the Oaks and the Kentucky Derby are the two biggest days for any milliner in the region. It’s my belief that every girl deserves the opportunity to wear a custom-made hat to match their dress, that’s why I make sure mine are affordable. In these economic times, everyone should be able to have access to memorable accessories for any occasion, especially the Kentucky Derby. It harkens back to the days of glamour and sophistication at the race track.”
SPF Protection Against Harmful UV Rays
“A few years ago I had a customer come to me who was in the midst of chemotherapy treatment. She never imagined that she would be able to attend the Oaks, but we made sure that she had the SPF protection she needed while looking like a princess. Afterwards she told me that she felt like the prettiest woman at the Downs.”
Jennifer McCarty, a melanoma survivor herself, quickly realized that her customer was not alone, so McCarty wanted to make sure that her customers were protected from the sun’s harmful UV rays. Run For My Roses has since begun producing and offering some hats that are not only fashionable, but also provide strong SPF protection to the wearer.
“I know the mantra is ‘Women must suffer for fashion’ but skin cancer is never attractive. I have worked with my customers to develop a product unlike anything else being sold for the Derby & Oaks; hats that not only look good but are good for you.”
For more information on Run For My Roses or to place an order, please visit www.runformyroses.com
Run For My Roses will be offering a limited opportunity to purchase and view hats for sale on these upcoming dates:
Thursday, March24, 5-9pm
Saturday, April 2, 12-4pm
Thursday, April 7, 5-9pm
Saturday, April 16, 12-4pm
Thursday, April 21, 5-9pm
The trunk show will be held at 15 Ounce Premium Denim, located at 3701 Lexington Rd. Louisville, KY
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Lady Gaga comes to Louisville's Yum Center March 12, 2011
Angie Fenton of Louisville's Voice-Tribune wrote a cover story for all fans Gaga. I was asked by a participant and friend, Jennifer Salsman, to make a funky headpiece for her to wear! I gave it my best shot and the outfit came together beautifully and she had quite a blast.
Going Gaga
Jennifer Salsman, Joyce Jennings, Erick Moore, Dementia, Chris Hartman, Catherine Jones and JD Dotson inside Lynn's Paradise Cafe.
Jennifer Salsman shines from head to toe in her feathery get up!
A great Gaga weekend
A great Gaga weekend
We went Gaga - at least thousands of us sure did when the world's biggest pop star performed at the KFC Yum! Center last weekend.
The concert was phenomenal, but the most thrilling part of the whole evening, at least for me, was watching people from all walks of life descend upon the downtown area in all manner of attire and just have a big ol' time. My preparations started at the home of Jon Freels and JD Dotson, who helped me "go Gaga" with gold glitter body cream and a faux tattoo. I then returned to my own residence to get into my full outfit, which included a fabulous fascinator by Jennifer McCarty of Run for My Roses. Soon, my pals Jacob Isaac and Gerome Stephens, along with a host of others, picked me up at my Irish Hill home in a 15-passenger van, which we proceeded to valet at Proof. The staff there was fabulous and fun, as always. But where else in the River City would you and your friends - who aren't wearing much in the way of conventional clothing - go when you're not wearing much more than a gold lame bikini and a black tutu and heading to a Lady Gaga concert? 21c Museum Hotel was the only place to be. At least to start off the night.
From there, we went to the Yum! Center and spent the next hour people watching and being watched by people. You couldn't help but also be touched by the tens of individuals who seemed truly touched by the collective display of unity through uniqueness. This wasn't just an evening that offered an easy excuse to dress up any way - and I mean any way - you pleased. It was so much more.
That reality hit home even more so at the post-concert bash, The AfterPARTY at the Kentucky International Convention Center, benefiting the Fairness Campaign. The event, organized by Joyce King Jennings, was hosted by Louisville native and LOGO reality star Derek Saathoff of The A-List: New York. It was the perfect kickoff to the Fairness Campaign's 20th anniversary celebration.
What was perhaps most meaningful was that earlier in the week Chris Hartman, director of the Fairness Campaign, had educated me about the laws of Kentucky. Until speaking with him, I had no idea only three cities - Louisville, Lexington and Covington - in the Bluegrass State have passed ordinances that protect people from being discriminated against based on sexual orientation and gender identity. I was incredulous. Only three cities? "Yes, Chris said, somberly. But then he smiled. "Aren't we lucky to be living in Louisville? I'm really proud of us. And to think Lady Gaga is performing in a city that also touts itself for being weird? What a great weekend.
Angie Fenton had to have her own fascinator! And, she ROCKED IT OUT!
Going Gaga: I went Gaga too, first with a (faux) tattoo by artist JD Dotson, followed by several coats of gold glitter body cream, plenty of gold lame, a black tutu, a 1920s faux fur coat, a fascinator from Run For My Roses owner Jennifer McCarty and a kickin pair of high-heeled black ‘n’ gold boots from Caufield’s that I danced in until I literally could no longer move. My metallic friend and concert seatmate, Jacob Isaac, went all silver to my golden hue.
I made Caitlin a custom UofL hat, complete with Cardinal on the front and "Go Cards" in rhinestones, visible from the back.
From Metromix.com:
U of L fans on the Plaza
February 19, 2011
Credit:Tim Girton
Collin Levine shows his "L" while Caitlin Thompson shows her locally made decorative hat.
What ARE Facinators? I'm going to be making some this year. Here's an article to get you up to speed on this embellishment brought to us from our friends in the UK. If the Princess to be, Kate Middleton, is wearing them, you know they're in style! http://ukate.net/?p=16
Here is a video that was shot at the 2007 Spring Fashion Show held at Lucky Strike - 4th Street Live |
