RapidBlog: My Locally Sourced Fashion Life, by Patrick Plank

Patrick Plank has 25 years experience in the fashion arena, first with Jacobson's stores, his own freelance pursuits and, currently, as Leigh's Creative Director and Head of Visual Merchandising.

I'm a fashion guy.

I suppose I always have been. Growing up, I believe I was the only member of my peer group that looked forward to the full day of back-to-school shopping my mother planned every August, and the inevitable fashion show for my dad that same night. Once the outfit was chosen that best exemplified "the look" of the season, the show would begin. Music by Duotone Hi-fidelity, usually a sophisticated Herb Alpert number like "A Sleepin Bee," or "Tijuana Taxi." The finale was always a winter coat or the newest looking "ski jacket," with a belt like Jean Claude Killy wore on Wide World of Sports.

Dad took it all in patiently, yet inquisitively. At the time, I thought he was he was admiring my groovy, red shirt with the smart, Greg Brady mini-neckerchief, paired with my sea blue baby bell corduroys (yes, these were boy's clothes) as I walked the living room runway. Now, I realize he was more likely looking for price tags and wondering what it was going to cost him that school year to keep his son at the top of the best-dressed list at East Oakview Elementary (… I created that list in my head).  

And so it went through middle school, with polyester disco shirts, into high school with Earth Shoes and Members Only jackets (not worn together). During senior year, with the ivy-covered walls of community college waiting that fall, I began to desire bright Lacoste shirts and starchy Polo oxfords and cashmere sweaters. The Preppy era was here and I was in madras plaid heaven. I added key items (now known as boring 'basics') to prep-up my growing wardrobe through college by working in the men's department at Jacobson's. A new Polo shirt was my gift to me every week. The reason? Just because! (Just because I discovered the joys of an employee discount and a house charge!)  

The preppy decadence continued until I was caught blissfully unaware (and sockless) in my Bass Weejuns by an afternoon showing of "American Gigolo" that changed my sense of style and what I wanted to look like, both physically and sartorially forever. A sudden void of sleek Italian sportswear that I felt I needed in order to re-invent my fashion persona was keenly recognized. Bella Mia!

Remaining fashionably "Italiano" in a medium-sized, mid-western city, in a state not known for fashion, but for Fords, was challenging at times. But you learn how and where to find it, supplementing with Chicago road trips and phone calls to fashion friends in far away places. Not having an Armani boutique in your backyard can actually help develop your sense of style. Most fashion lovers are immediate gratification types, so you learn to be resourceful and make it work with what's available in your city, in your neighborhood. As Grand Rapids has grown, our fashion options have grown, albeit quietly, as well, despite the loss of several Michigan-based department and specialty stores.

Grand Rapids is not yet known as a fashion city but there is a growing fashion crowd here that appreciates personal style as opposed to those preferring to feel badly about the perceived lack of fashion choices here, packing into their vehicles and taking their fashion aspirations to Somerset and Michigan Ave. Many times I have overheard, "Oh, I just bought that in Chicago. I didn't think you would have it here!" We have more here than you may think.

In the past few years, the store I work for, LEIGH'S, has pushed forward a constantly changing roster of designers and resources in order to keep the shopping experience local and fresh for our growing city, often debuting collections of accessories and clothing lines at the same time as Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman. Attention Grand Rapids Fashionistas: Calvin Klein Collection, Proenza Schouler, Isaac Mizrahi, Carolina Herrera and many more are locally accessible to you. It's not just at the high end of the rack -- the key is fashion, locally available for all. Get out there and see the many great fashion resources you have access to. You can make it work here.

Don't get me wrong. I would sit Indian style for three hours, riding in the back seat of a Gremlin if it were headed to the nearest Barneys. What fashionisto wouldn't?  But I am proud of where I am coming from, wearing my GR fashion "cred" proudly on my locally-purchased Hugo Boss sleeve.
 
Observing guests and bringing to mind his Grand Rapids experience following the VAI's 2009 Couture for a Cure Event, my friend and Ruffian Collection designer Claude Morais said, in his cooler than cool French accent,  "I have been thinking. You know, the people here are chic. They just don't know it."