ON THE COVE
Sirens from page All
talent with offices in Detroit, Chicago and
Los Angeles.
"I'd like to think I helped the auto show
culture evolve out of T&A to a place of
professional respect:' she says.
This fashionable model for the 1989 Pontiac Grand Prix sees all kinds of people in the auto show audience all day long,
including mothers who use the car's back seat to change diapers.
Designing
Woman
Clothing designer, Shari
Barnett, creates model 'look.'
Robin Schwartz
Special to the Jewish News
ust like a dazzling color or paint job on a
glossy new car can wow the crowds, the
outfits the auto show models wear are
designed for maximum impact. From gowns and
dresses to smart-looking suits, their wardrobes cre-
ate an all-important first impression, grab attention
and make a bold statement about the image of each
automaker.
Designer Shari Barnett, 45, of Bloomfield Township
is the woman behind many of the looks you'll see on
the auto show floor. The wife and mother of three
children, Zachary,15, and twin daughters, Sasha and
Ariana,12, is the wardrobe manager for Bingham
Farms-based Productions Plus. She purchases and
custom designs clothing, jewelry, accessories and
even out-of-the-ordinary costumes, with a keen atten-
tion to detail to fit each car maker's needs.
"The wardrobe is another design aspect of their
display," Barnett explains. "There's so much that goes
Al2
Januarys 2009
,,IN
Taylor Jackson of Birmingham, Shari Barnett of
Bloomfield Township and Stephanie Wohlgamuth of
West Bloomfield
into it. It's so specific. We're looking at brand identity,
the target market, what age group they're shooting
for, what colors, fabrics and textures are primary for
their display."
Changing Times
Over the last century, the auto industry
has undergone many dramatic changes.
Krevsky's book takes readers back through
time with dozens of rare photographs
and automotive ads from 1900-2007.
Many of the images are from the National
Automotive History Collection (NAHC) at
the Detroit Public Library; others are from
private collections and corporate files.
Some have never been displayed before.
"They were really fun to find and go
through;' Krevsky says. "I could have done
10 books because there were just a pletho-
ra of photos."
On one page, suffragist Alice Snitzer
Burke is seen changing the tire on a 1916
Saxon; on another, a dancer is perched like
a hood ornament atop a 1927 Packard; 40
years later, three models in colorful mod
dresses are pictured standing with a 1967
Camaro; a 2005 photo shows a golden
concept car from a Czech automaker out-
shined by two scantily clad models in hot
pants. The book is also filled with behind-
the-scenes stories. Some are humorous;
Barnett manages a team of 20-80 people work-
ing to outfit about 50 models for Detroit's North
American International Auto Show. She says Toyota's
product specialists will stand out this year wearing
custom red jackets. Male models will wear black suits
and red T-shirts. The Lexus team will be sporting a
collection by designer Robert Rodriguez and custom
jewelry made from Lexus tailpipes.
"They need to be professional and stand out,"
Barnett says. "They need to look like the brand. They
need to be approachable and look fantastic at the
same time."
Barnett grew up in West Bloomfield and attended
Parsons, The New School for Design in New York. For
13 years, she designed children's clothing for Troy-
based Kmart before joining Productions Plus four
years ago.
"I've been really fortunate to continue my design
career in Michigan," she says.
Today's rough economy adds an extra layer of
responsibility for the wardrobe manager. Barnett
must work with reduced budgets and also be mind-
ful that the general public may be turned off by high
priced, over-the-top fashions.
"In the past, representatives for one of the luxury
car makers wore head-to-toe Gucci. But, we're think-
ing outside the box this year and coming up with new
ways of doing things," she says. "In a depressed mar-
ket, I'd like to think that we're bringing cheer to some-
body. Whether it's the wardrobe, whether it's the cars,
anything positive that brings the public into an auto
show is something we're proud to be part of."