The show is about to start.

8:50

OK, we made it, we’re here, and boy is it PACKED.

The house lights are down, and there’s a fabulous pre-show video (produced by Ologie) playing. And, the lights come back as WBNS-10TV’s Kristyn Hartman takes the stage with Michael and Arlene Weiss who are representing our runway sponsor, EXPRESS. They will cut the big red ribbon to kick off the show.

One of these days I’m going to need to ask someone: where exactly does one buy giant scissors?

Up first is six looks from Rachel Chertoff. The gorgeous knit pieces in this collection were painstakingly hand crocheted. I love how she subtly shapes her clothes to frame, and accentuate different areas of the figure.

Next are designs by Leah Sloane Kennedy followed by Jazzmin Evans. While both are showcasing classic red dresses their approaches are distinctly different.

Side note: the make-up and hair by Mukha Custom Cosmetics and Jolie Laide is the finishing touch that gives our show that professional, fashion-week feel.

custom designed fabric

Antoiné Slater’s looks follow. Her African prints are bold and work well with the strong, structured lines in her designs—her patterned pants and jacket are fierce!

Sarah Frederick also brings us some beautifully constructed pants, but her looks are softer. Her color pallet brings in more creams and blues. There’s a lot of detail work in Sarah’s collection—and she was tapped to create a custom piece for Ms. Kristy Eckert from Capital Style (who looks stunning in the Frederick original).

Our next two designers, Karla Norquist and Jess Betz bring a tropical, beachy vibe to the runway.

Point of interest. This year I’m seeing more pants, shorts, jackets, and men’s looks than past years. Anyone who has watched Project Runway can appreciate that well-fitted pants, shorts, and sleeves are quite difficult to achieve. This crop of designers really challenged themselves and it shows. Ngockhanh Ngo is a perfect example. His Americana-inspired menswear collection is meticulously constructed, fits perfectly, and shows an impressive attention to detail.

Danielle Nicole Jones also bring meticulously constructed garments to the runway, and they are paired with strong vibrant prints that she designed and produced. The ankle-length gown, in particular is a delicious surprise.

Katlin Hatfield’s armor-inspired look is highly structured as Kate Elaine Pohrt’s. Kate has carefully pieced together unique, metallic fabrics to create women and men’s wear that is art-deco-inspired, yet futuristic.

Structure plays a role in Jennica Gray’s look, but the end result feels soft and flows—in part because of the seamless way she has pieced together contrasting colors.

The collection

Nicole Chhuom brings a more neutral palette to the runway, which provides continuity to her two otherwise divergent looks.

Another designer who did mostly menswear and who designed his own patterned fabrics, Dax Thomas Kauser, brings us an edgy, modern, cohesive collection. Each look is beautiful and distinct and yet there is still a sense of unity between his pieces.

Olivia Brezinski’s look combines sleek leather with soft feathers, giving it a goth-princess feel.

In contrast, Phoebe Isaac’s looks are celestial with their soothing blue tones. The long-sleeved, floor-length dress, is particularly stunning as the model turns and we see the cut-out back.

Old world meets new world with Tina Hughes’ collection. There is definitely a European feel to her collection, and yet there are pieces that have a distinctly vintage American flavor.

Kassie Haji brings us a nice range of garments in her five-piece collection, but what really stands out is her menswear look. The suit is sleek, modern, and original.

Stunning

From Katharine E. Hire’ sassy patterned jacket with the triangular cut out in the back to her stunning, purple, a-symmetrical dress; this collection is a crowd pleaser. Point of interest: she bought her fabrics in Africa while on a medical mission trip.

Olivia Mitchell’s architecture-inspired collection is a futuristic wonder coming down the runway and is a perfect segue to Krista Guanlao Sison’s looks. I’ve been looking forward to seeing one piece of hers in particular. Her collection was inspired by a Spanish cathedral, and the last look in the show is truly wearable art—like a moving sculpture.

Twenty-one designers, 66 looks, and now we get to the part of the show that always makes me tear up. Each designer comes out to be recognized. The riotous applause of the crowd and the love they are showing to these young designers is palpable. And as each designer finishes their loop on the runway they are met by their fearless leader, Fashion Design Chair Suzanne Cotton, who gives them flowers. The designers now return the gesture and present Ms. Cotton with her own bouquet—seriously, tears here.

As the audience begins to settle down Kristyn Hartman takes the stage once more, and presents Katharine Hire with the Easton Fashion award, sponsored by Easton Town Center. With that there is only one thing left to do…DANCE!

See you in a bit.

You can dance if you want to.

Sometime between 9:45 and Fun O’Clock

How do you cap off the adrenaline rush of a good show? Dance, baby dance.

The music is hot and the videos and lights have transformed our garage, turned cocktail lounge into a Euro-style dance club for the Après Runway Dance Party sponsored by Captial Style Magazine and Justice.

Everyone from the show is invited (including designers and models—who deserve some fun after all the hard work they have done!).

So here’s my question to you: Are we done here? Have you had enough blogging from me? Can I go play now?—because seriously this looks fun.  If I just stop here, you won’t tell will you?

NO? Fantastic. You’re a lovely audience.

If you haven’t already, be sure to go explore this year’s fashion show blog, not just for all of the photos from this one night, but for the story of how this all came together.

Until next year … xoxo

Back stage chaos.

7 p.m.

It is the calm before the storm.

Well, if you don’t include the backstage area where the storm has already struck in the form of whirling dervish hair dressers, make-up artists, models, and frantic senior designers who are about to see their garments shoot down the runway.

The registration tables are armed and ready for the 800 + guests who will soon come to join us to celebrate another year of amazing art and design—and of course a spectacular runway show.

Thanks to Limitedbrands Foundation, who once again stepped up to be the event’s title sponsor, we truly can celebrate knowing we have raised significant dollars to support the scholarships that help make the dream of a college education a reality.

The VIP pre-show party, sponsored by Nationwide, is set up and ready. The caterers are standing by to share delightful tidbits of nosh that look almost too good to eat. (Almost. There really should be a special bloggers snack plate, don’t ya think?) The bartenders are stocked and ready to pour.

The bartenders are well stocked.

Of course, those bartenders will be extra busy later when all of our guests head back towards our mixologist after the runway show to enjoy a drink and some dancing thanks to our Après Runway Sponsors Capital Style Magazine and Justice. But before the post-show party, there will be one hella-good show as one-of-a-kind fashion struts down the runway, which comes to us thanks to EXPRESS; and, at some point in the proceedings, Easton Town Center will honor one of the fashion students with the inaugural Easton Fashion Award.

But, for now, things are calm. Surrounding the runway are neat rows of seats, each topped with a lookbook, sponsored by Abercrombie & Fitch, and gift provided by Mukha Custom Cosmetics. Soon those seats will be filled by VIP ticket holders.

Sponsors, of course, are crucial to a fundraising event and I really do need to take a moment and be sure we thank every generous business and individual who has helped us build this experience.

Our Couture sponsors are Diamond Cellar, Huntington Bank, Lane Bryant, THE LIMITED, Macy’s, NORDSTROM, Polaris Fashion Place, Porter Wright Morris & Arthur LLP, and R.G. Barry/Dearfoams.

Our printing sponsor is Baesman and the General Admission Pre-Party sponsor is Union Café.

This year’s host committee co-chairs are Karen & Michael Fiorile and Ellen & Ed Yen

And our 2012 host committee is: Dana & Mitch Acock, Jakki & Jerry Allen, Jamie & Steve Allen, Trudy & Earl Bartley, Pam & Jack Beeler, Teresa & Brian Biernat, Kimberly A. Blackwell, W. Daniel Cordray, Mary & Colby Crall, Loann W. Crane, Bev Darwin, Phaedra & Michael Edwards, DeeDee & Herb Glimcher, Alexis Jacobs, Patty & Jerry Jurgensen, Charlotte & Jack Kessler, Monica & Doug Kridler, Stephanie & Adam Lewin, Peg Mativi & Donald Dick, Tim Maurer & Sanito Mendoza, Veda Nami, Jamie & Bill Reinbolt, Jody & Jeff Scheiman, Thekla Shackelford, Danielle & George Skestos, Jacqueline & Chris Snell, Arlene & Michael Weiss, and Lyn Williams.

Thank you!

Every aspect of our event is touched by community generosity via in-kind donations for everything from the catering via Cameron Mitchell Catering and the adult beverages from Heidelberg Distributing Company, Mumm Napa, and Middle West Spirits, who designed the event’s signature cocktail ARTini.

Backstage where the pre-show chaos reigns, Mukha Custom Cosmetics is once again making sure our models look fierce on the runway—and they are getting hair support from Studio Fovero.

There are behind the scenes elements (lights, video, sound) that usually go unnoticed other than the feeling the crowd gets when they witness a wonderfully staged event—much of the credit for that goes to Live! Technologies—although the thumping beats that get us from party to runway to party again come via our illustrious DJ Rainer. Oh, and speaking of the post-show party, VJ props go to Rainer and  S77.

And the exquisite lookbook that I mentioned before, well Ologie was a key player in mentoring its production along with the invite and branding for the show.

Flowers, chairs, tables and other event accessories come to us thanks to Lasting Impressions and FLOURISH bespoke floral & event styling.

Yum.

An event isn’t an EVENT, unless we sell tickets. That’s where our our media sponsors Capital Style Magazine and CD101 come in. They have spent the better part of the year helping us get the word out and sell tickets. Did you see our students in the May issue of Capital Style? If not, pick up a copy.

Oh, and despite rumors to the contrary, models need to eat—at least our student models do. Thanks to Donatos and Pepsi Cola Bottling of Columbus for keeping our students fed and hydrated during some long rehearsal hours. Also, walking in those heels…not as easy as it looks. Thanks to Foot Petals, inc for providing shoe inserts.

Big thanks and hearty applause to everyone who helped make this night happen.

Guests are arriving and I hear champagne popping, I wonder if I can sneak a canapé?