REALITY HITS THE RUNWAY AT NEW YORK FASHION WEEK
By: Hope Wilkos, Writer/Blogger Photographer: George Whylie Videographer: Maxine NolanNew York City is counting down to Fashion Week and what better way to spread the word and build awareness to “Reality of FASHION, The Reality of AIDS 2013”. One of the most anticipated fashion shows of the year is set to take place on Saturday, February 9, 2013 with festivities beginning at 7:30 p.m. at The Altman Building at 135 West 18th Street in New York City. This will be the first annual reality star runway show with one mission at the heart of the matter, to raise funds and increase awareness and work to end the devastating epidemic known as AIDS within the United States.
The statistics are staggering as an estimated 300,000 people in our nation today are unaware that they are infected with HIV/AIDS. Fashion is one passion that brings people from all walks of life together and this is an ingenious way to combine fashion and philanthropy. The evening promises to be as special as it gets.
New York City will be contributing one of their finest rising designers to this exciting event. Her name is Dominique Auxilly. Her creativity is unique as she uses her love for old Hollywood, her obsession with architectural structures and her Jamaican roots to inspire all of the pieces that she puts forth. Dominique is no stranger to Fashion Week. Her first collection received rave reviews at New York Fashion Week in 2009. Her clothing has left us starstruck and celebrities can’t get enough of Auxilly’s fashions. Nicki Minaj, Adrienne Bailon, Coco-T, Tamar Braxton all have been spotted wearing the designer’s fashions.
Following the runway show, some of the designer pieces will be auctioned off online with a large portion of the proceeds being donated to the 2013 AIDS Charity of Choice.
The official stylist for this philanthropic event will be none other than Julianne Costigan, a superstar brought to us from Canada’s fashion industry elite. She began her career modeling for The Ford Agency and took that to a higher level as she interned with Pink Tartan and Romona Keveza. She has worked to make many fashion weeks successful and is a collaborator with high-end magazines and top photographers. Her work has made the covers of Sportsnet and No Cigar magazines.
Putting together an event this monumental takes much hard work and dedication and Monique Tatum fits the bill. This young ambitious go-getter is the drive behind the creation of “The Reality of FASHION The Reality of AIDS”.
Her New York based PR Firm is called Beautiful Planning Marketing & PR and is one of the proud sponsors of the event. Monique’s caring personality has led her to have major roles in mega-events devoted to philanthropy. For this particular fashion event, Monique puts it so eloquently, “With each reality star walking the runway, and every person that attends RFRA 2013, we move alittle closer to dreams of a cure…..becoming a reality”.
If not for the generosity of stylish sponsors, the show would not be entirely possible. A big thanks go out to companies such as Hatch Creative Studio, The JW Marriott Essex House New York, Sign Expo, Amoy Couture Hair, Cherwin and Cherwin Auctioneers and these are just some of the great names doing their part.
What we are so looking forward to is the fabulous fashion show itself on February 9, 2013, when stars will light up on the runway in Dominique Auxilly fashions. Here are just some of the models that will be participating in the show in Dominique’s original creations:
1. Deena Cortese- The Jersey Shore
2. Janice Dickinson – Americas Next Top Model
3. Ramona Rizzo –Mob Wives
4. Drita D’Avanzo- Mob Wives
5. Malaysia Pargo – Basketball Wives L.A.
6. Lil Kim –Dancing With the Stars
7. Courtney Robertson – The Bachelor
8. Tracy DiMarco- Jerseylicious
9. Draya Michelle- Basketballwives L.A.
10. Carissa Rosario- ABCs “The Big Time”
11. Elizabeth Vashisht – Tough Love New Orleans
12. Leslie Birkland- Big Rich Texas
13. Alexa Prisco- Glam Fairy
14. Alex McCord- The Real Housewives of New York
15. Brittany Brower – Americas Next Top Model
16. Nikki Rae Walker –Big Rich Texas
17. Briella Calafiore – Glam Fairy
18. Jessica Romano – Glam Fairy
19. Tiffany ”New York” Pollard –I Love New York
20. Michelle Money – The Bachelor
21. Ramona Singer – The Real Housewives of New York
22. Keenyah Hill – Americas Next Top Model
23. Sheree Whitfield- The Real Housewives of Atlanta
To learn more, purchase tickets, donate, become a sponsor, go to: www.realityontherunway.com and we will see you there for a celebrity filled philanthropic fashion extravaganza with “The Reality of FASHION The Reality of AIDS”.
PHOTO CREDITS: RealityontheRunway website
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