Charleston Fashion Week 2015 Soon To Heat Up Marion Square
By: Hope Wilkos, Monique Nolan, Writer/Blogger
The countdown begins. In less than 3 weeks time, Charleston Fashion Week will be warming up Marion Square in the heart of town in Charleston, South Carolina.
This year, the lineup promises to be simply amazing and filled to the brim with talent and originality. Charleston Fashion Week marks its ninth year, bringing the gift of fashion, style and pure sophistication to Charleston. It has been categorized as one of the hottest fashion events in North America. Fern Mallis, one of the greatest fashion experts of all time, is a consultant for Charleston Fashion Week and can be seen sitting in the front row for almost every show.
The tents will be erected and the guests will begin to arrive as the fashion event of the year takes place from March 17th through March 21st, 2015. Baker Motor Company, main sponsor of the event, is proud to present not only designers that have earned fame and a strong reputation for the unique collections that they debut, but, this is also ‘the’ fashion week that recognizes rising stars in a few facets of the fashion industry.
In just a span of five days, over 45 runway shows will debut new and stylish collections, and, as in past years, there is much more excitement in store for those that will be attending.
Charleston Fashion Week® brings interactive entertainment, chic after-parties, and press events. Shopping right on site is a popular pastime and this year, the Belk Tent will be geared up to accommodate shoppers with jewelry, handbags and accessories from Trina Turk, Kate Spade, Carolee, Mary Francis, Towne & Reese and Lonna & Lilly. CFW has a focus on celebrating new talent and offers aspiring designers and models exposure and mentorship from fashion industry leaders. The 2015 event will be featuring the Spring Bridal Show, Emerging Designer Competition: East, and Rock the Runway Model Competition™.
Photograph by: George Whylie
Each night of the event has something new and exciting presented under the tents and here is how the schedule is shaping up:
- Tuesday, March 17 2014 CFW Emerging Designer Winners:
Anna Toth and Leah & Rebecca Plante
- Wednesday, March 18 – Charles Harbison
- Thursday, March 19 – Trina Turk
- Friday, March 20 – Todd Snyder
- Saturday Mid-Day, March 21 – (Bridal) Amsale
- Saturday, March 21 (Fashion Finale) – Carlos Campos
In addition to the fashion packed schedule listed above, twenty emerging designers will be competing throughout the week to make it to the finals on Saturday March 21, 2015 and be crowned the Grand Prize Winner, the ultimate reward. Competing for a prize package valued at over $25,000, the Emerging Designer Winner will be judged by a VIP Fashion Panel that includes many of the designers above, plus Fashion VIP’s like Eric Wilson, Fashion News Director at InStyle, and is headlined by Fern Mallis, the Founder of New York Fashion Week host of 92Y Fashion Icons series & SiriusXM Fashion Insiders w/Fern Mallis. In addition, Brett Fahlgren, fashion designer and stylist, who serves as Executive Stylist Publishing for GQ magazine, will be the guest emcee on Friday, March 20th.
Looking back on the past years, the team behind Charleston Fashion Week decided to spruce it up a bit. Some of the changes that attendees can look forward to include:
CFW Success Showcase
Celebrating nine years of emerging designer and model success stories, the CFW Success Showcase Tent presented by Benefitfocus highlights the amazing stories of CFW alums who’ve gone on to bigger things in the fashion world. Come check out the impressive history before you hit the Style Lounge. Expect a museum-style exhibition with a little panache!
CFW Yoga Series
To balance the fun, and work, of Charleston Fashion Week®, there will be a series of yoga classes led by Charleston Power Yoga for CFW models and insiders—with a limited number of spots up for grabs by the public.
Saturday Night Live streaming
For the first time, CFW will live stream the Saturday Night Finale over charlestonfashionweek.com and the CFW app! Not only will remote viewers be able to watch the Emerging Designer finalists and the designers that night, they will be able to vote for the People’s Choice winner along with the 1,000-plus fashionistas under the tents. CFW is truly an international affair!
Bridal Show Although CFW has always devoted a portion of the week to blushing brides, this year will be even more incredible with a more extensive showcase of everything that a bride will need to make that ‘big’ day special from gowns to gifts to flowers and so much more.
Charleston Fashion Week has developed quite a following over the years and has been even more well received each year that it takes place. It isn’t too late to make your reservations and buy your tickets. It is one week that remain most memorable in your fashion photo album. For more information, go to www.charlestonfashionweek.com.
