The Denver Arts Museum’s latest exhibit not only redefines what it means to look like a DIVA, it shines a spotlight on local divas as Denver Fashion Week readies for the fall runway.
Just as artists have evolved throughout the decades in both their personal style, stage presence and philanthropic causes, Denver’s own fashion identity has evolved too.
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As the iconic garments and styles of divas like Cher, Taylor Swift, Judy Garland and Carmen Miranda stop in Denver, it spotlight how the city’s own style has evolved throughout the decades.
The exhibit focuses on the evolution of the ‘diva’ throughout history, from early opera divas of the 19th century like Maria Callas and Victorian drama queens to the showgirls and dancers that paved the way for modern-day artists.
While cities like Paris, New York and London are usually what most associate with high fashion, good taste and influence, Denver has its own unique thumbprint on the fashion world.
Denver Fashion Week is Nov. 7-14.
Western fashion fusion in Denver
Western fashion got its footing in the Mile High City, said fashion diva Steve Weil, president & chief creative officer at Rockmount Ranch Wear, which has been operating in Denver since 1946.
“Western is one of the few original American fashions,” Weil said. “A lot of other fashion originates in Europe. Yes, this originated here and largely in Denver, OK? And so that is fashion history right there.”
Rockmount has been dressing both Denver locals and divas on the big screen for decades.
What began as original Western snap-button shirts has transformed into high-quality, fashionable, everyday garments meant for more than just cowboys and workmen.
Rockmount sells more than just Ranchwear but a variety of clothing, from simple cotton T-shirts and classic Western staples to garments with masterful embroidery and embellishment.
“The interesting thing about Western is that it can be flamboyant for screen and stage, or it can be down-to-earth for Saturday morning drinking your coffee,” Weil said.
Rockmount’s identity as the Ranch Wear brand expands well beyond the Mile High City, having dressed divas like Elvis Presley — who sported a Rockmount shirt in the 1956 film “Love Me Tender” — to stars like Bob Dylan, Meg Ryan and others.
Unintentionally dressing stars for the big screen is no small project, which is part of what makes Rockmount a unique brand based out of Denver. Rather than sending big-name studios brand kits and items for costume placement, the Ranch Wear brand focuses on designing clothes that can be comfortably worn every day.
“Not everybody can wear the glitzy flamboyant,” Weil said. “Western is you don’t have to wear it all. You can wear parts of it. You might wear boots or you might wear a shirt, a belt and boots. It’s entirely up to the individual to do what makes them happy.”
Weil emphasized the importance of ranch and Western wear as everyday clothing beyond the glitz, glamour, rhinestones, patterns and frill, saying that the best parts of the style is wearing parts of it to embody your own personal street style — whether that is accessorizing with a simple hat, belt or pair of boots or committing to the full fit.
Denver’s evolving fashion diva identity
Being a diva is about more than just the dresses, the glitter and the glamour. The exhibit’s main focal point beyond the fashion is a redefinition of what makes a diva a ‘diva.’ One thing the divas all share in common is their commitment to philanthropy.
Combining the two worlds of fashion and philanthropy is a passion of Deb Henriksen, Denver designer and founder of Equillibrium clothing.
The Denver-based local streetwear brand is known for its original and ethically sourced designs, which it creates using raw, dead stock, overstock and upcycled materials, with a strict ethos on fiber selection, so that pieces can be worn again and again without replacement.
Beyond upcycling, the brand also gives back by donating 10% of all direct purchases to causes that promote sustainability and environmental initiatives, primarily to Mission Wolf, a sanctuary that houses more than 40 animals and helps promote better understanding of the species.
Henriksen creates small batches of garments with designs that are inspired by different waves of her many lifestyles, from working in retail at Betsy Johnson boutiques to her background in environmental health and influence from skateboard culture and brands like Volcom.
“It meant a lot. If you saw that stone across the room, you knew you had a lifestyle in common because only boarders knew about it,” Henriksen said. “It was not mainstream. It was a way to reveal who you were through your apparel, through a brand.”
Communicating your ethics and identity through what you wear is an idea that carries through both the DIVA exhibit and Equillibrium clothing. Beyond just communicating your ethics and identity, clothing has always been a way for artists and everyday people to express their truest selves, which Henriksen said is also key to uplifting important philanthropic causes.
“To me, confidence and visibility are necessary to have impact with anything. You need confidence to deliver and visibility to have outreach. The larger the outreach, the more influence you will have from increased exposure,” Henriksen said. “Skies the limit with high visibility and targeted audience reach — if used responsibly and humbly, we could change the world!”
Changing the world is at the center of the DIVA exhibit. From early opera divas like Maria Callas, who used her star power to uplift the voices of younger opera singers by creating educational opportunities, to modern divas like Taylor Swift, who gave back extra bonuses to workers on her Eras Tour who spent many long days away from their families to ensure the tour’s success.
Redefining Denver’s definition of a diva
Having a sense of personal style is more than just about choosing something that is trending, says Denver fashion designer of couture label Sykeaire, Skye Barker Maa, but rather combining elements of what you like with what you are comfortable wearing out on the streets.
While avant-garde and couture garments aren’t something you would typically see on the streets of Denver or off the runway, Barker Maa says you can absolutely incorporate elements of what’s trending into your everyday wear, emphasizing that fashionable clothes should be accessible to everyone.
“I don’t want to just make beautiful clothes and have them sit on the rack until one special person wears them,” said Barker Maa. “I’d like to make beautiful, more custom-type garments that are accessible to everyone.”
Of course, Barker Maa acknowledges that the average consumer isn’t going to get into their car wearing something bulbous and overly sculpted, like Tina Turner’s Flame Dress, but rather hopes people will find a way to incorporate lines, silhouettes, colors and patterns from the divas they see on screen into their everyday wear.
One way of filling that gap for Barker Maa was creating a line of couture children’s clothing at a price point that families could afford, bringing stylish bomber jackets and structured lines into everyday pieces.
“We work, we play, we are sexy, we have all of our different phases, and we should have the clothing that matches all of those moods that’s wearable, affordable and allows us to maneuver our dynamic personalities,” said Barker Maa.
From designers on the world stage like Bob Mackie and others featured in the Denver Arts Museum DIVA exhibit, to local designers like Weil, Henriksen and Barker Maa, the thing that unites the divas is their unwavering commitment to creating something fresh and new, pulling from the divas of their past for inspiration, all while finding a way to inspire divas in their own small communities.
