6.04.2010

Fashion Show Friday

One of my favorite things to do on the weekend is go to fashion shows. Sometimes they're great, and sometimes they're not so great. While Seattle is not renowned for having excellent fashion (ie. grunge in the 90's), we're slowly coming back. We've produced designers like Chris Benz, Luly Yang, and last season's Project Runway winner Sethaaron Henderson. If every decent designer didn't move to New York, I think we'd have a lot more. That's why I love student fashion shows. I see the potential, and I just cross my fingers that they'll stay! We need more designers like Francisco Hernandez who remain in Seattle because they see the opportunity for growth. Seattle has a future in the fashion world so long as we support these emerging designers.

If you want to support the industry, there are two fashion shows going on tonight. Oddly enough, I think they're at the same venue. There's the IADT 3rd Annual Project Red Dress Event and the 3rd Annual Forbidden Fashion Show.

Project Red Dress

Established by Monir Zandghoreishi, local designer and International Academy of Design & Technology fashion design program chair, Project Red Dress is a fashion competition for local up-and-coming design students that benefits the American Heart Association. This year’s event will feature national celebrity judges, including Project Runway’s Nick Verreos. I love him...

The competition: Participating fashion design students will have the opportunity to feature one-of-a-kind red gowns to raise awareness of heart disease. Nancy’s Sewing Basket will provide each contestant with $200 worth of fabric. The students will be given 16 hours of sewing time to create their vision in red at IADT-Seattle. The winning red dress will be featured in the window of award-winning designer, Miss Luly Yang's Couture in downtown Seattle. The winner will also receive an internship with Luly, a $3000 scholarship to IADT-Seattle, and be featured in Seattle Met Magazine!

The cocktail reception begins at 6:30 p.m., with the fashion show starting at 7:30 p.m. The show will be held in the Spanish Ballroom at the Fairmont Olympic Hotel. The event will feature a raffle, with prizes including a Hawaiian getaway. Tickets can be purchased here. Tickets are $35 for students, $50 for general admission and $75 for premier runway seating and a luxury swag bag.

Forbidden Fashion Show

The most anticipated Fashion Show of the year for cougars in the Northwest. Men in underwear. Love it! Oh wait... there's women in underwear too. This show features this season's hottest men's and women's swimwear, lingerie and men's underwear. Taking place at the timeless Fairmont Olympic Hotel in Downtown Seattle, check out designers like CINTLI by Beto Yarce, Under U4 Men, ADICORA, DB Deseo Jewelry, Retail Therapy, and my personal favorite -- Francisco's line, Built For Man. I'm not a big fan of performances at fashion shows, but there will be special performances by the Seattle Men's Chorus and Seattle's Premiere Tango Dancers. If you want a little more Nick Verreos, he will be attending this show as well.

I'm really confused about the two shows being in the same room at the same venue... but this show will also be in the Spanish Ballroom at the Fairmont Olympic Hotel in Seattle. The cocktail reception will start at 8:30pm, almost right after the IADT show ends. The fashion show will begin at 9:30pm. Ticket prices start at $35 for general admission and cap off at $100 for celebrity circle seating. You can purchase tickets here.

Heart disease and half-naked bodies. Sounds like an excellent evening for fashion in Seattle.

No comments: