Seersucker & Stilettos

With two months to go until the red carpet gets rolled out once again, Charleston Fashion Week has announced this year’s celebrity judges and designers, featuring a mix of new faces and old favorites. The five-night celebration will take place March 20-24 with over 45 runway shows, a Spring Bridal show, an Emerging Designer Competition, and the Rock the Runway Model Competition.

This year’s judging panel sees the return of Elle magazine’s Anne Slowey and Fern Mallis, founder of the Mercedes Benz Fashion Week in New York City. Celebrity Charlestonians Molly O’Connell of America’s Next Top Model fame and Vanessa Lachey, former TRL host and Miss Teen USA, also join the ranks.

The event places more of a focus on emerging designers than ever before, with shows from five up-and-comers Tuesday through Thursday nights. You'll have to wait for them though — the first portion of each night is still devoted to local and chain stores. And yes, unfortunately Tommy Bahama is back this year.

Things kick off Tuesday night with shows from newcomer Poe Studios and the preppy patterns of Palm Avenue, followed by returning featured designer Emily Bargeron (CFW ’09) of Mamie Ruth Designs. Wednesday’s show features Tommy Bahama and edgy, new kid on the block JLINSNIDER, one of last year’s emerging designers. Also a former emerging designer, Michael Wiernicki (CFW ’11) returns as a featured designer this year with Mystery School, his new line of ready-to-wear clothes. Moving on to Thursday, the sister stores of Copper Penny and Copper Penny Shooz are paired with V2V for a night of boutique fashions. The schedule hints at a special guest Thursday night.

As the celebration heads into the weekend, Friday starts with a show from Gwynn’s of Mt. Pleasant followed by the Rock the Runway Model Competition as the models take over the catwalk. Emerging designer and CFDA scholarship winner Chris Benz finishes the night. The designer’s clothes are regularly found on the racks of King Street’s Hampden Clothing, which sadly will not be participating in this year’s Fashion Week.

Saturday morning, the Spring Bridal show features White, Modern Trousseau, LulaKate, and Maddison Row and Bella Bridesmaid. Returning judge and Project Runway alum Mychael Knight (CFW ’09) joins local designer Rachel Gordon as the night’s two featured designers. The climax of the week, Sunday features a face-off from the four emerging designer finalists followed by shows from featured designers Charlotte Hess, last year’s EDC winner, and bridal designer Faith Thornburg.

With a daily pop-up shop, entertainment, shopping, specialty cocktails, and pre-parties and DJs in the Style Lounge, this year’s Fashion Week promises five nights of talent under the tents at Marion Square. Find more information and buy tickets at charlestonfashionweek.com.

Charleston Fashion Week organizers recently announced the aspiring designers that will compete in the 2012 Emerging Designer Competition: East in March. A panel including designers Mychael Knight, K. Cooper Ray, and CFW alum Lindsey Carter selected the 20 semifinalists. The emerging designers will debut their fall collections, which will be judged by a panel that will ultimately select the Grand Prize Winner.

The line-up includes designers from eight states, and only three from Charleston: Shelley Smith, Vartika Vikram, and Gil Tisdale and Dominique Verona. Smith's experimental line Shelley Lucille is inspired by armor, Vikram's line will include swim- and resort-wear, Tisdale and Verona use "avant-garde approaches grounded in practical, flattering cuts."

Local fans may also recognize Asheville's Adrienne Antonson, who was an active part of Charleston's art scene until she moved in 2009. Her label STATE includes contemporary clothing designed from a sculptor's perspective.

The other semifinalists, hailing from Brooklyn to Savannah, include Angela Sum, Emily C. Pollard, Hannah Goff, Hazel Bae, Jessica Patricia Krupa, Joanna Parris Lee, Jordan Lee Brooks, Keely Lauren Cansler, Kelly Elizabeth Ruehlman & Amy Cochran, Leigh Ashley Newsome, Mikasa La'Charles Horton-Walden, Nancy Faw Crowell, Nina Awasum, Ra yeon Jang, Samantha Hyman, and Tsvetelina Gerasimova McAuliffe.

Go here for more details about each of the designers.

Art Institute fashion student Monique Araujo is a finalist in the national Cool vs. Cruel Fashion Design Competition. Sponsored by the Humane Society of the United States and the Art Institutes, the competition challenges young designers to reinterpret runway creations by fur-loving designers like Fendi, Alexander McQueen, and Gucci. 

Araujo's design is inspired by a baby blue Alexander McQueen piece with fur trimmings. “For my recreation of this garment, I decided to mix the texture of different eco-textiles such as raw cotton and bamboo jersey with an ombre blue hue,” Araujo explained in a recent release.

Chosen from more than 200 entries, Araujo was awarded a cash prize for making it to the top 18. The judging panel includes Nigel Barker, Elizabeth Olsen, Leanne Hilgart, Marc Bouwer, and many other fashion insiders. The grand prize winner will get an expenses-paid week-long internship in New York with one of the judges. Find out more at coolvscruel.org.

We love Billy Reid's occasional get-togethers, but the King Street space can only hold so many people. For their upcoming fall fashion show on Fri. Sept. 23, Michael Mitchell Gallery is playing host up the street at 438 King St. The spacious, light-filled gallery seems like the perfect place to set up a makeshift runway. Friday's free event will include Billy's specialty bourbon drinks, food from Jim 'n' Nick's, and music from the S.C. Broadcasters, plus highlights from the designer's fall collection for men and women. Doors open at 6 p.m., and the show is at 7:30.

King Street boutique Rapport is hosting a three-day event showcasing Armani's ready-to-wear line, Armani Collezioni. The fall line will be available as well as a preview of the spring collection. Stop by during regular store hours Thurs. Sept. 22 through Sat. Sept. 25 to check it out. Rapport is the only place in town where you can find the collection, so if high-end, tailored day and evening wear is your thing, be sure to stop by. Prices range from about $300 into the thousands. A representative from Giorgio Armani will be available to assist customers. Call (843) 727-0088 for more details.