Countdown To Nashville Fashion Week
It's an exciting time to be in Nashville right now. Local fashionistas - including yours truly - are gearing up for Nashville Fashion Week. I've spent the last few days taking inventory of my closet to try to decide what I'm going to wear. Even my better half is determined to look good (as if anything else was possible). But I talked to more than a few people this weekend that consider themselves to be fashionable that had no idea Nashville even hosted a Fashion Week.
Seriously? I guess it's time to get all of you caught up with what Nashville Fashion Week entails.
The festivities run from April 1-5, and proceeds from tickets sales help fund the Nashville Fashion Forward Fund. Part of the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee, the Fashion Forward Fund recognizes an up-and-coming Nashville Fashion Industry Professional and provides them with an opportunity to advance their career.
For the first time ever, this year's award winner is a stylist and fashion blogger. Elise Joseph, stylist and author of local design blog Pennyweight, just hosted her first Pop-Up Event. She hopes to eventually open a brick and mortar store.
Image courtesy of Nashville Fashion Week
The theme for this year's Fashion Week is "Fashion As Art". Here is a brief rundown of the schedule so far:
April 1 - Opening Night at The Rosewall: City Showcase Eight designers hailing from all over the US will present their collections on the runway at The Rosewall. The after party will be held at The Private Club at Virago. Look for details about the individual designers in upcoming posts.
April 2 - Runway Show at Ruby: Emerging Designers Featuring Fall 2014 collections from emerging designers at Ruby. The after party will be at Music City Tippler. Look for details about the individual designers in upcoming posts.
Image courtesy of Nashville Fashion Week
April 3 - Fashion Forward Gala Featuring Special Guest Speaker Fern Mallis at OZ A ‘Fashion Forward Gala’ with cocktails and dinner at OZ featuring special guest speaker Fern Mallis', former Senior Vice President of IMG Fashion and Executive Director of the Council of Fashion Designers of America and creator of New York Fashion Week. Mallis has also been a guest judge on America's Top Model, She's Got the Look, Project Runway and The Fashion Show.
April 4 - Runway Shows at 5th Avenue of the Arts Cocktail hour hosted by three 5th Avenue of the Arts galleries who will each showcase artistic works inspired by fashion. Following the cocktail hour, the event will move outside for headlining runway shows on 5th Avenue. The after party will be at The Rosewall. Look for details about the individual designers in upcoming posts.
April 5 - Industry Panels at Emma
The New Content Commandments of Fashion and Technology : 10-11:30 a.m.
Sustaining the Fashion Industry in Nashville: 11:30 a.m. with boxed lunch provided by Frothy Monkey.
Social Enterprise and Sustainable Fashion Brands : 1:00-2:15 p.m.
It's What You Don't Know: A Conversation With the CFDA's Johanna Stout: 2:30 p.m.
April 5 - Closing Night Runway Event at Marathon Music Works Closing night runway shows and official closing party in celebration of the week hosted at Marathon Music Works. Look for details about the individual designers in upcoming posts.
Here are a few other NFW related links you should check out if you want to stay in the loop.
The Nashville Fashion Week Website has the latest information about this year's festivities as well as details about previous years events and designers.
Nashville Fashion Events is the place to go for up-to-date information on events, trunk shows, pop-ups, model tryouts, and just about anything else that promotes Music City's growing fashion scene.
Search hashtag #whynfw or #nashfashweek on Twitter, Instagram, and Vine and #stylemynashville on NFE's Facebook feed to see the latest NFW related pics.
Of course, you should keep an eye on Spashionista.com as well. I will be posting more on some of the designers and my own NFW plans very soon.
I hope Nashville Fashion Week can handle the Spashionista.
Before you go I really need you to do me a big favor. My friend Emily Ladau, author of Words I Wheel By, just got her driver's license and is now in desperate need of a wheelchair accessible vehicle. Unfortunately, they can cost upwards of $70,000, but you can help her win one and all it takes is 3 minutes of your time. Please go to Emily's link on the National Mobility Awareness Month website and vote for her; every day from now until May.
Please help give Emily the kind of independence most people take for granted.
Linky love this week with Seeker at Tres Chic Style Bits DC in Style for Monday Bloom and Momtrends for Monday Mingle.