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Archive for the ‘Fashion’ Category

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Looking Back at the Past Perfect Event

In Events, Fashion on September 28, 2011 at 1:23 am

Everything has a history. Whether it’s good or bad… understanding the past will help us deal with the present and plan for the future. This can even be said about fashion. With past trends always being revamped and historic creativity being used for inspiration, how could you not look back at the history of fashion in aw? For this year’s Fashion Week Tampa Bay, we kicked off the week by taking two steps back, or two centuries back, with our Past Perfect: A Celebration of Vintage Designs red carpet event at the Art Institute of Tampa.

Last Tuesday (Sept. 20, 2011), we celebrated the history of fashion by admiring vintage designs that dated back all the way to 1890. Thanks to the efforts of Steven Anderson and Andrew Ashton of La Posh Salon, the collectors of these rare garments have allowed us to display them for the first time ever. There were fabulous fashions from Fortune to Halston, and from Chapman to Chanel!

Let’s look back at the night where everyone looked back at 120 years of fashion! If you missed our Past Perfect event or just want to revisit the vintage fashion display, be sure to stop by the Art Institute of Tampa to check it out! The display will be up and running for three more weeks.

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Everyone Loves the Beach & Two Coconuts Swimwear

In Designers, Events, Fashion, Trends, Updates on September 23, 2011 at 9:05 am

Join us as we welcome Renee Scarborough, owner of Two Coconuts, to Tampa Bay Fashion Week 2011!

Two Coconuts brings sophistication and comfort to all your swim wear and resort wear. Renee, a native of St. Pete, understood how uncomfortable and ill-fitting swim suits could be, because of this she began creating her own designs for herself. Soon her friends began asking for swim suits and sun dresses for themselves, bringing to life Two Coconuts Swimwear. For 15 years, Renee has been creating her custom swim wear that can be worn by all woman. Two Coconuts has a wide selection of swim suits, from bikinis, tankinis and one pieces, with tons of prints to choose from!

Renee’s debut at Fashion Week will surely take the audience back to their summer days on the beach with her beautiful designs of swim wear and sun dresses! Can’t wait to see what she brings to the runways tonight – see you there!

~Yolanda

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A.P.M. Images Hits The Runway

In Designers, Events, Fashion, Trends, Updates on September 22, 2011 at 3:33 pm

Tampa Bay Fashion Week is thrilled to welcome back Audrey “Pat” McGhee, CEO of A.P.M. Images, as one of this year’s featured designers. Her urban couture women’s line is designed for those who want to blend boldness with feminine beauty. With over 20 years of experience in the fashion industry, Pat uses her God-given gifts to work with women from their most extraordinary or nominal points in life and everywhere in between.

In addition to creating fabulous ensembles, Ms. McGhee also serves as the Fashion Editor for Power Broker Magazine in addition to volunteering her time to the community working with youth and being involved in service projects.

Pat’s talent is the fashionable inspiration for trendsetters as well as movers and shakers who are looking for unique, classy appeal. With focus on individual body size, and specifically honed in on the difficult to find forgotten sizes (12-24), her designs appeal to the everyday woman. After many previous runway hits at Tampa Bay Fashion Week, we are eagerly anticipating what’s yet to come!

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Get Ready for Some Runway Fun!

In Events, Fashion on September 22, 2011 at 8:19 am

We’ve saved the best for last… the Runway Shows and FWTB Boutiques! After fun events like Past Perfect, Model Behavior Cocktail Reception and Swanky Soiree, what else is there to do than to end fashion week with some shopping and runway fun! And when I say “some runway fun,” I mean nine shows! Can’t be too modest – that’s a lot of fabulosity in one night! Oh my gosh… what am I going to wear!?

The Fashion Week Tampa Bay Runway Shows and Boutiques are Friday, Sept. 23rd at the Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club in Palm Harbor, FL.

BOUTIQUE SHOPPING AND MINGLING at 6pm
Doors open at 6pm for the FWTB boutiques. Our unique shopping experience allows guests to mingle and shop the boutique vendors before the designer runway show. It’s a great way to get exclusive items at great prices while meeting and mingling with fashion friends! The boutique vendors are the following:

Art Institute of Tampa

Audi

Brookwood Florida

Hats R Back

High Hopes in High Heels

International Academy of Design & Technology

Ivanka Ska

Lord’s Jester

Shoes For Cure

Stella & Dot

Tampa Bay Parenting Magazine

tbt*

VERTICAL Tampa Bay

Yelp

DESIGNER RUNWAY SHOWS at 7pm
The fashion designers will be showcasing their Spring/Summer 2012 collections in Fashion Week Tampa Bay 2011. The runway shows will begin after the boutique shopping experience at 7pm. Below is the designer line-up:

Audrey “Pat” McGhee

Dali Hernandez

Dolly Donshey

Essence Flowers

Kimberly Hendrix

Rhonda Shear

Terri Funaro

Triniece Cagua

Two Coconuts Swimwear

TICKETS:
The VIP Friday Fashion Passes are sold out!

Friday General Admission
Includes general admission seat to runway show on Friday, Sept. 23rd.
Price Tag: $40/person ($65/person day of show, pending availability)

Get your tickets here while they still last!

Will you be attending the FWTB 2011 Runway Shows and Boutiques? Any idea as to what you’ll be wearing? Tell us by writing a comment below!

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Big Money Talent For Less: Deoca Pac Designs

In Events, Fashion, Updates on September 22, 2011 at 4:42 am

Looking to brand your product? Need print and web design? For all of your branding and marketing needs, Fashion Week Tampa Bay sponsor, Deoca Pac Designs can help.

Returning as a sponsor for the fourth year in a row, Deoca Pac is a Tampa-based design firm that is available to meet all of the creative needs of a new or ever growing business. Deoca Pac Designs understands that the best can be created while still being reasonable in price. As DeocaPac Design says, “Big Money Talent for Less.”

Everything Deoca Pac creates is a unique piece made especially for each business. Their designs are the perfect accessory to any business! Just as a true designer would never use a pattern, Deoca Pac designers stay away from cookie cutter templates, creating original pieces for all of their customers. At Deoca they simply use genuine creativity. Whether a business is looking for the perfect logo, letter head, brochures, Facebook page, web banners, or a fabulous business events and on-site marketing, Deoca Pac Designs is there to meet any business design needs!

~Yolanda

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Essence Flowers Brings Couture to TBFW 2011

In Designers, Fashion on September 22, 2011 at 4:35 am

Essence Flowers will be joining us again this year and we can’t wait to see her designs tonight! She’s no stranger to the runway or to Fashion Week Tampa Bay as we welcome her for the fourth year in a row, but just in case she’s a stranger to you (where have you been?)…Before we enjoy another wonderful Essence Flowers runway show, let’s get to know her a little more! Read below to learn some fun facts about fashion designer, Essence Flowers.

Meet Essence

Since Essence graduated from Tampa’s International Academy of Design and Technology, she has had a successful career in fashion. Her work ethic and design talent have led her to creating magnificent pieces of art. Essence wears many hats including:

Consultant in Tampa

Buyer in St. Petersburg

Pre-Fashion Week participant in New York City

Force behind an up-and-coming label in Atlanta

Swimwear and uniform designer for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers cheerleaders for their 2010 and 2011 seasons

Signature Style

Her designs are elicit art and visual controversy with a hint of sex appeal. Best known for her gorgeous couture dresses and glamorous swimwear. Essence Flowers designs are nothing short of remarkable!

Favorite Piece

I love all of the couture dresses below, but my favorite is the royal purple dress in the middle!

Three words to describe her designs…

Remarkable, elegant and artistic

What can we expect this year from Essence?

For Tampa Bay Fashion Week 2011, Essence will take attendees on a journey back to her couture roots for her set, IMPERFECTIONS. You can totally expect high fashion couture that is breathtaking and artistic!

Looking Back

Let’s look back at her previous collections showcased at Fashion Week Tampa Bay!

We invite you to experience the couture movement that is Essence Flowers on Friday, Sept 23 at Innisbrook Resort and Spa. Be sure to get your tickets while they last! Get tickets here.

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Swanky Soiree on the Fashion Week Calendar

In Designers, Events, Fashion, Trends, Updates on September 21, 2011 at 1:24 pm


Swanky Soiree 2011 is an official event of Fashion Week Tampa Bay, and their name truly does say it all – it will be another Swanky Soiree!

Amazing restaurants, chefs and vendors are all part of this year’s event as well as fashion designer, Alla-K and fine artist, Don Kobasky. And while you are having a dream night at the soiree, you will be happy knowing that proceeds are going to help Brookwood Florida, a licensed therapeutic group home for adolescent girls.

There simply is nothing we like better than an evening filled with fine fashion, fine art, fine dining and fine friends – and knowing that proceeds of that evening are going to benefit a very worthwhile and much deserving organization like Brookwood Florida.

Follow this event up by attending the after party at Push Ultra Lounge, and then, of course, Fashion Week Tampa Bay’s runway show (9/23)  – a perfect start to another perfect weekend in Florida paradise.

See you there!

~Paula

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Meet The Designer Behind J. Cagua

In Designers, Events, Fashion, Trends, Updates on September 21, 2011 at 4:28 am

Living in the Tampa Bay area, or anywhere in Florida for that matter, the “seasons” often mesh into one – or two – many scorching months of summer weather and a brief cold period. Of course I’m not one to complain about long summers and soirees by the pool, but any fashionable gal knows finding the perfect bathing suit can be exhausting. Thanks to Tampa Bay Fashion Week designer, Trineice Cagua, the search has been made easier. Her swimwear line, J. Cagua, comes in an assortment of styles from one piece suits to string bikinis. Trineice’s sexy, yet tasteful designs are triggered by her own love for poolside fetes and summertime in Florida.

Trineice graduated in 2004 from the International Academy of Design & Technology with a degree in fashion design and marketing, along with a dream to create her own swimwear line. A dream that soon became reality and a success, with dedication and the assistance of her two longtime best friends. She was first invited to Tampa Bay Fashion Week in 2009 to showcase her line and has returned every year since. The mother of two believes in encouraging and mentoring young girls and amidst designing also finds time to support the Girlz to Women cause and other programs.

J. Cagua swimwear is not only durable, but is made tailored to the individual specifications of Trineice’s clientele – ie: comfortable and totally on trend. Her goal is to make women feel confident and fashionable while wearing her designs.

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Such a Mahh-velous Designer: Rhonda Shear

In Designers, Events, Fashion, Trends on September 20, 2011 at 6:06 pm

When I learned that Rhonda Shear was going to be returning to Fashion Week Tampa Bay runways this year, I just had to visit her website and check out the latest designs.  Like most of us, I am very familiar with what Rhonda shows on HSN, and I do love those products. But I had no idea the extent of her line until I saw her site this week. And I am so glad I checked it out.

Of course, undergarments can be functional (and need to be), but the best scenario is when they are functional, comfortable and beautiful – and that describes Rhonda’s line perfectly.  “Help me, Rhonda” is exactly her calling, and with her beautiful designs, she has done just that for all ages and sizes of women.

I know I like to feel beautiful starting with what I wear under my clothes, and the way to look and feel your best is when you know that everything stays put with no unsightly lines, no unwanted bumps, no tugging and pulling.  Fashion at its best from the inside out!

So I say thank you, Rhonda, for making me and my fashion world a prettier, more comfortable place. Check out Rhonda on the runways this Friday, Sept. 23 at Innisbrook Golf & Spa Resort for Tampa Bay Fashion Week! See you there!

~Paula

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Dali Hernandez: Anything But Basic

In Designers, Events, Fashion, Trends, Updates on September 20, 2011 at 9:21 am

Dali Hernandez is an amazing designer with bold, beautiful fashions and can’t wait to see her designs this Friday on the runways at Fashion Week. I eagerly checked out the House of Dali portfolio and boutique on her site several times – mostly because I found I needed to visit and revisit to fully capture the essence of the designs. She has everything from a ruffled top (a must see to fully appreciate) to party dresses and ball gowns.

Even though we have all seen ruffles, party dresses, ball gowns in basic black – these are like nothing you’ve seen before and are anything but basic. Check them out for yourself on her site, and you will see why you have to attend this year’s Fashion Week Tampa Bay to see Dali Hernandez and her designs on the runway. You will be glad you did.

Here’s to another beautiful night of fashions,

~Paula