Gryson purse line from Target. Each of the bags in this look is $39.99. (Kirby Johnson)

Catou Couture men's linen jacket ($350), custom-fit dress shirt ($85) and Thai silk tie ($55). (Indianapolis Star file photo)

The Black Five Rens 1933 All Star from the Century Wear line from Converse. (Submitted photo)

Show will demonstrate that Midwest can be innovative

Like most Midwesterners, I did not get to see New York's Fashion Week. Ditto on Paris, Milan, London, and all the other exotic locales in which new concepts are shown. Ah, well.

Fortunately for us, Indianapolitans don't have to go any farther than the Downtown Hilton to see fall/winter fashion.

The Midwest Fashion Show gets under way March 28. Founded in 2006 by designer Berny Martin (who also runs the Catou label), the show highlights the burgeoning talent of the Midwest.

Designers at this year's show include: Catou (Indiana, New York); Triple Sparkle by Coco Yalo (Indiana); Miss Bruno (New York); Joan Vaccianna (New York); Larou (Indiana); Donna J. Pollard Conner (Cleveland); Nikki Blaine (Indiana); Molly Spinach (New York, Cleveland); Chloe (Indiana, Purdue University); Alex Cash (Indiana, Purdue University); Ashley Zygmunt (Indiana, Purdue University); Sophia (Indiana, Purdue University); Ashley (Arts Institute of Indianapolis); Olivia's Cause (Indiana), and more.

Admission is $20, but that's well worth it for the chance to see local and regional designers presenting concepts that are homegrown and corn-fed, but also out of this world.

For information, visit www.MidwestFashionWeek.com

Shopping

High Tops

Converse shoes are worldwide, but their latest advertising campaign is a source of Hoosier pride.

The brand is honoring its 100th anniversary this year by launching a celebratory line that's accompanied by ads featuring Indiana native James Dean, who is wearing the classic shoes amid other Converse-friendly icons such as Hunter S. Thompson, Dwyane Wade, Sid Vicious, M.I.A., Karen O, Common, Joan Jett and Billie Joe Armstrong. (Incidentally, Chuck Taylor, the designer of the company's best-known sneaks, was a Brown County native.) The Converse Century line price range is $45-$200. Grab the sneaks locally at Nordstrom, Athlete's Foot, Foot Locker and Finish Line stores. .

Spring baggery

These sophisticated purses (on shelves April 6 at Target), come in subdued colors (black, white, green and slate blue) and subdued prices ($19.99 to $49.99). Check out the woven-front bags or the zip-top satchels for a fresh spring look.

Fashion-forward felines

My cats weren't happy to see it coming, but I sure was. Dress your little guys up to look like the businesspeople they are with this collar and tie for cats from Target ($.99).

Five on It

Pets might not be plugged in on a laptop, but they certainly pervade the Internet. Here are five pet spots for your fur or feathers fix.

1) At Haagen Dazs' HelptheHoneyBees.com, you can create a honeybee that looks like you, your bandmates, or anyone else in your world. The site also turns the attention to the honeybee crisis, which affects the foods we produce.

2) EnchantedLearning.com's Paint an Animal feature lets you color your favorite wildlife online. Yeah, this is a site for kids. You want to make something of the three hours I spent on it?

3) Awwww! Watch highlights from Puppy Bowl IV, including "Kitty Half-time Show," at AnimalPlanet.com

4) FidoIndy.org, IndyHumane.org and Indy Animal Care & Control (www.indygov.org/eGov/City/DPS/ACCD/home.htm) can all hook you up with a pet who's looking for a real home, not a virtual one.

5) Love me, love my cats. Or dogs. Or prairie dog. Or iguana. Anyway, if you want someone who will accept you and your animal babies, check out DateMyPet.com and find folks who are just as crazy about you as they are about sugar gliders.