FASHION FOR A CAUSE DURING NEW YORK FASHION WEEK
By: Hope Wilkos, Writer/Blogger Photographer: George Whylie Videographer: Maxine Nolan
Neither sleet nor snow could halt “The Reality of FASHION, The Reality of AIDS” runway show that took place as New York Fashion Week kicked into high gear. The show was destined to go on on Saturday, February 9, 2013, one day after the dreaded blizzard struck the Northeast.
It was an evening of magical memories as reality stars and celebrities graced the runway in lavish designs from the featured designer of the evening, Dominique Auxilly. As an enthusiastic audience cheered the models on, each was as beguiling as the last. Perhaps the most beautiful part of the evening was the fact that each of these celebrity models volunteered from the bottom of their heart for a very worthwhile cause.
With a disease that has infected the lives of an estimated 300,000 people in the United States, HIV/AIDS is not something to be taken lightly. This fundraising event was created to raise immediate awareness surrounding these staggering numbers. To make the message even more powerful, models walked in between the gowned stars with T-shirts that simply had one word of impact, “UNAWARE” emblazoned on the front and center and the number 300,000 (people affected) on the back.
“I am so thankful to all of my stars who walked the runway for us as well as our packed audience. They not only did it out of the kindness of their hearts but also truly braved the snowstorm to come out,” states Beautiful Planning Marketing & PR CEO, Monique Tatum who presented the show along with EFFY Jewelry. Monique is no stranger to events such as this one as she has played a significant role in The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Fashion Event.
The evening began as former America’s Next Top Model Star & MTV Host, Kim Stolz, welcomed the guests and then it led right into the fashion extravaganza of the century.
Dominique Auxilly gave us couture for the woman who leaves inhibition behind and loves a touch of glamour. Strapless flowing gowns, lace, ruffles and silk make the woman feel special on and off the runway.
The hits of the show were Deena Cortese of ‘The Jersey Shore’, Janice Dickinson of ‘America’s Next Top Model’, Lil Kim of ‘Dancing With the Stars‘, Alex McCord of ‘The Real Housewives of New York‘, Michelle Money of ‘The Bachelor’, Leslie Birkland of ‘Big Rich Texas’ and many more surprises. It was no ordinary show and each of the models lit up the runway with their big smiles and strut in their step.
It took a concentrated effort on the part of all to make this event an overwhelming success. The generous sponsors included:
EFFY Jewelry, AIRWORKS Compressors Corp, Lamik Beauty, Lozo’s Virgin Hair, MVC Productions Management, Sign Expo, Amoy Couture Hair, Time Frozen Photography, The JW Essex Marriot Hotel, Dre Productions, Hatch Creative Studio, Cherwin and Cherwin Auctioneers, Pulsd, St. Moritz Security Services, Draude Inc., and Arter Clothing.
Each piece seen in the runway show was auctioned off to the public and within one month, a hefty portion of the proceeds are being donated to the 2013 AIDS Charity of Choice, ‘Broadway Cares’.
* Broadway Cares is one of the largest HIV/AIDS funders of AIDS
services in the U.S.
* Broadway Cares funds more than 450 AIDS and family service
organizations across the country.
* Your support will help Broadway Cares make available life-saving
medications and healthcare, hot and nutritious meals, a safe place to
sleep, emergency financial assistance and so much more for hundreds
of thousands across the country.
* In New York, Broadway Cares funds more than 60 AIDS
and family service organizations, and an additional 420 around the
country, from rural Mississippi to downtown Detroit.
The evening can be summed up perfectly in Monique’s own words, “With each reality star walking the runway, and every person that attends RFRA 2013, we move a little closer to dreams of a cure…..becoming a reality.”
Hopefully this will become an annual tradition at New York Fashion Week.
PHOTO CREDITS: Getty Images, Keith Claytor/TimeFrozen
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