What a great party!

7 p.m.

I’m stashed away in my corner, the perfect spot for watching the VIPs as they arrive for the pre-show party sponsored by Justice and Nationwide.

I cannot believe the transformation this space has undergone—from raw garage to hip club, all in a few days. (Check out the pre-show album on our Facebook page to see the  week-long progression.)

Ok, so, I confess I am fighting the urge to run up to people and ask “who” they are wearing, and I am having some serious fashion envy. The DJs later this evening (our new friends from NYC) are Miami-chic in matching (of course) pink suites. Later they will have the perfect accessories—ipads, which they will be mixing with during the apres-runway dance party.

The VIP Pre-Show party

I’m seeing every trend imaginable. Cocktail dresses, floor length, pants with sharp fitted jackets, halters, strapless, bow ties, and full-on suites. Lots of sparkle, red, and layered short cocktail dresses. Shoes are ranging from strappy flats to four-inch stilettos. Seeing awesome jewelry, modern silver pieces and more traditional pearls. I love it.

Third looks by the designers are on mannequins throughout the party space. It’s fun to watch people stroll through and pause, taking in each one and discussing it like they were at the Louvre.

8:00 ish—Ms. Andrea Cambern up on stage trying to get this rowdy crowd’s attention with a little O-H-I-O. She’s thanking our title sponsor Limited Brands and supporting sponsor the Davis Foundation … and saying very nice things about CCAD …  and introducing our own lovable president, one Mr. Denny Griffith—and he just announced he’s going off script. But as usual even when he wings it he gets it done.

Denny just made a great point—funds raised by this event go to the CCAD general scholarship fund. Let me elaborate: Scholarships can be the deciding factor on whether a student can come to CCAD. I hate to pull out an old cliché, but this really is a party with a purpose. (Donations can still be made online).

Now our VP Ms. Stephanie Hightower is taking the stage. She is thanking all of our amazing sponsors and our host committee, including the chairs Danielle & George Skestos, who were the driving force behind turning this event from a brunch to a full-on nighttime PARTAY.

Now for the moment where I find out which lucky VIP I will be jealous of for the rest of the night … they are about to announce the raffle winner for the diamond earrings designed by Stephen Webster—Congrats to Dionna Baker! (No, really, I mean it).

Guests are starting to move to the tent—the show is going to start soon. I love the energy in a room right before a show starts, and with this audience that energy is electric!

(Photos are also available on our Facebook page (and don’t worry we’ll add more next week.)

Victoria's Secret Fashion Show

On the evening of May 13, during CCAD’s Senior Fashion Show Event, CCAD will auction off two tickets to the celebrity-studded and very exclusive Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show and After Party.

“We are extremely fortunate to get these tickets,” said Stephanie Hightower, CCAD’s vice president of Institutional Advancement. “It’s like the Oscar’s or the Grammy’s—the public can’t just buy tickets to this event. We are offering an exclusive opportunity to attend one of the most anticipated events of the year.”

Thanks to a generous donation by CCAD Fashion Show sponsor Limited Brands, the college was able to acquire the tickets for auction to raise funds for CCAD scholarships.

The lucky bidder will receive prime seating at the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, which means they will be surrounded by A-list celebrities while they watch some of today’s top supermodels strut down the runway along with chart-topping musical acts. Following the show the winning ticket holders will be invited to the exclusive, official after-show party.

Katy Perry and Akon performed at last year’s show; past Angels have included Heidi Klum, Adriana Lima, Alessandra Ambrosio, Doutzen Kroes and Miranda Kerr. In previous years the Grammy Award winning Black Eyed Peas, Usher, Seal, Justin Timberlake, The Spice Girls, Chris Botti, Ricky Martin, Sting, will.i.am, Mary J. Blige and Destiny’s Child performed at this extraordinary runway event. Guests at the Victoria’s Secret Fashion show will be seated among a star-studded audience, which has previously included celebrities such as Jay Z, Elton John, Elizabeth Taylor, Joaquin Phoenix, Mark Wahlberg, Terrance Howard, Josh Lucas, Alex Rodriguez, Martha Stewart, Eva Longoria, Ryan Seacrest, Hayden Panettiere, Gabrielle Union, Amanda Bynes, Jeremy Piven, Neil Patrick Harris, Molly Sims, Denzel Washington, P. Diddy, Derek Jeter, Lenny Kravitz, and Sting.

(Check out Victoria’s Secret’s website for video, runway photos, and red carpet photos)

Bidding for the tickets will start at $25,000 with all proceeds going to CCAD’s general scholarship fund (100 percent of the bid is tax deductible).

Only guests of the May 13 CCAD Senior Fashion Show will be able to bid (you must be present to bid), so if you haven’t gotten your tickets, purchase them online today.

The 2011Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show is Wednesday, Nov. 9. The location and musical acts have yet to be announced as of this posting.

The winning bidder will receive updated event information from Limited Brands as it is announced, and tickets will be mailed two weeks prior to the show. Please note that the Victoria’s Secret Fashion show is subject to cancellation, and should this occur the winning bid on this item will be fully refunded upon the winning bidder’s request.

(click on thumbnail to see full image.)

CCAD's Senior Fashion Show is May 13, 2011

CCAD’s annual Senior Fashion Show fundraiser has become THE event to attend in May. This year’s Master’s of Design event will shift from a high-class brunch followed by a runway show to a high-octane runway show capped by two parties. The event is growing and so are the number of community members and companies that want to be a part of it. With tickets going on sale in less than two weeks, CCAD has announced the roster of sponsors and host committee members who are supporting this year’s fundraiser.

“Our runway show is a high-energy and chic experience,” said Stephanie Hightower, CCAD’s vice president for institutional advancement. “But more importantly this is a benefit to raise funds for scholarships, and the support of these sponsors allows us to not only create an exceptional event, but to leverage the college’s educational opportunities for the next generation of creative leaders.”

Limited Brands is leading the pack as title sponsor.

Additional sponsors include: Après-Runway Dance Party Sponsor: alive!; Runway Sponsor: EXPRESS; VIP Pre-Party Sponsor: Nationwide; ICON Award Sponsor: Justice; Catalogue Sponsor: Abercrombie & Fitch; Couture Sponsors: Huntington Bank, Macy’s, and R.G. Barry/Dearfoams; Media Sponsors: Capital Style, CD101 at 102.5, Radio One, Fashion Wire Press; In-kind Sponsors: AKADA Hair Salon, Cameron Mitchell Catering, The Diamond Cellar, Donatos Pizza, FRESH French Floral Boutique, Heidelberg Distributing Company, Lasting Impressions Event Rentals, Live Technologies Inc., Mukha Custom Cosmetics, Ologie, Pepsi-Cola Bottling of Columbus, Scott Cunningham, Tork.

Find these sponsors and the host committee listed at www.ccad.edu/fashion.

Tickets go on sale with special early-purchase pricing on Feb. 1 at www.ccad.edu/fashion.