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I just got an update from local designer Amanda Christine, who’s keeping herself very busy.

[Amanda Christine Designs Spring 2010 / Image by Rod Hasse]

What’s new, Amanda? It’s been a while since we’ve seen you!

I’ve been super busy! I left for Denver and then I was back for 2 days and left for LA for 7 days for a trade show. Since I’ve been back, I have been working on managing production for a huge order from Shoppe Local in Minneapolis, plus some other orders, too.

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With MNfashion Week kicking off early this weekend, it’s no surprise there happen to be a ton of stylish events happening in St. Paul this week. After all, Minneapolis isn’t the only Twin City with a happening fashion scene.

Thursday: An Evening at Eastcliff

Looks from Amanda Christine's Fall 2009 collection / Image by Nic Marshall / Styling by Eclecticoiffeur

The Friends of St. Paul’s Goldstein Museum of Design are behind this official MNfashion Week event at the beautiful home and gardens of the President of the University of Minnesota. Two local fashion designers, Amanda Christine and Allison Quinnell (both of which were featured in Voltage 2009), will share a selection of their Fall 2009 collections as guests sip wine and take in a rare opportunity to take in the surroundings at Eastcliff. Since space is limited, be sure to RSVP for entry to gmd@umn.edu. (6-8 p.m. Free. 176 N. Mississippi River Blvd., St. Paul. 612-627-6800.)

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Wood-Corset by Renalie Bailey

Every year, more and more talented fashion designers seem to be coming from the College of St. Catherine’s apparel design program. Last year’s annual senior line show debuted lines by Maritza Ramirez (whose current spring collection was a highlight of last month’s Voltage: Fashion Amplified), Renate Adjei and Jenny Carle – all of whom are now carried by taste-making boutique Cliché. In 2007, St. Kate’s introduced us to Emily Weich (another Voltage ’09 designer), and the year before Amanda Christine, who is arguably the most successful local designer to hit the scene in the past few years.

Ribbon Dress by Renalie Bailey

This Saturday at St. Kate’s annual senior fashion show Katwalk, we’ll be introduced to a few more up-and-comers, and based on past history, it’s probably not the last we’ll see of them. Seniors Renalie Bailey, Britta Feurerhelm, Ashley Busch and Amanda Chaffin and junior Emilee Kuznar are said to be the ones to watch, according to some of St. Kate’s alumni.

Of her collection, Ashley Busch says, “It was inspired by my mother’s first communion dress and vintage athletic couture.” Amanda Chaffin, who has interned with Amanda Christine, says her collection is “inspired by the Moab desert in Utah.”

If there’s senior to keep your eyes on, it’s artwear designer Renalie Bailey. She seems to have the most inspired perspective of the designers, working with unusual materials to create new silhouettes. For her senior collection, she worked with a wood-worker in California to create wooden corsets, which she’ll be showing with metal skirts. (She’ll also be showing some of her art-inspired work at next Friday’s GO LIVE III event at 526 Salon Spa Gallery in St. Paul. Stay tuned to this blog for more on it next week.)

Runway beats will be provided by DJ Real Talk Radio (aka Ken Hannigan of Minneapolis t-shirt design company Anthem Heart) with choreography by prolific event producer Richard Moody. (7:30 p.m. Sat. $5-8. Rauenhorst Hall at College of St. Catherine, 2004 Randolph Av., St. Paul. 651-690-6669. Click HERE for the Facebook invite.