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Let’s Talk International, Baby!

In Designers, Events, Fashion, Updates on August 18, 2016 at 10:03 am

logo-shareInternational Plaza and Bay Street is a staple in the Tampa Bay community. Conveniently located near Tampa International Airport, International Plaza and Bay Street in the go-to destination for specialty shopping, fantastic fashion, accessories, and more, and we’re thrilled to have them as our Trendsetter Sponsor again this year!

International Plaza and Bay Street knows the importance of keeping up-to-date on the latest trends and introducing new designers and brands to customers and the community. They were home to our trunk show/fashion presentations last year in Tampa Bay Fashion Week‘s pop-up shop, PURE Haus (pop-up retail experience),  which allowed local designers to sell and showcase their clothing while interacting with customers.

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It was an invaluable and unique experience for participating designers and everyone involved. (Thanks to all of you who came out!)

This year, International Plaza and Bay Street is our host venue again, but this time for two days of runway shows! Local designers will be on the runway showing their spring/summer 2017 collections, as well as some of International Plaza’s retailers. Select retailers will also debut their spring 2017 collections!

Along with all of the fashion everywhere at International Plaza, there are also many businesses in the surrounding area, and its restaurants cater to everyone from the working professional to professional socialite. It isn’t uncommon to catch the stylistically-inclined dining and catching up on the latest.

Going to International Plaza and Bay Street is always a fun experience! Grab a cone at Häagen-Daazs while you stroll around. Take your kids (or nieces, nephews, little brothers/sisters, etc.) to the play area for children. Eat at the food court or one of their dine-in restaurants. International Plaza has partnered with Tampa Bay Times so you can read the newspaper while you’re on the go. And last but not least…shop!

Whatever you do, just make sure to have fun! We can’t wait to see you there in September!

~Jessica

 

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Stylish Socks: Always in Season

In Fashion, Trends, Updates on August 11, 2016 at 1:38 am

If you’re in sunny Florida like us, your freshly pedicured toes are still making an appearance in sandals, open-toe shoes, and flip flops right now. Just around the corner is the fall season though, and while you can keep your pedi on point, your feet will need some coverage. Enter: socks.

Socks have been a necessity in one’s closet since the beginning of mankind. Depending on which part of the world you live, socks were used to absorb sweat or to insulate the foot and decrease frostbites. They were a mostly hidden commodity, but…Not. Any. More.

Socks have been trending for a while now and we are loving the attention they’re getting! Why? Because anyone from the working professional to a young child can stylistically wear socks that are appropriate for the everyday hustle and bustle (or running around the playground).

Ankle and calf-length socks are great for formal settings.

Worn correctly, they can bring high fashion to the workplace.

Ankle and calf-length socks pair well with casual wear also, bringing an urban, eccentric feel to even the most mundane of outfits.

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Image by FashionHe

Over-the-knee (which includes thigh-high) socks are some of our favorites because they are the most versatile. They keep you warm in the winter months and look darn good while doing so. They can be paired with almost every look.

Mini dresses or skirts and OTK’s? Lovely, classy and ready to go.

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Image to Nancy Qian

Oversized sweaters and OTK’s? Comfortable, stylish and season-friendly.

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Image by Dawn Cassizzi

Shorts and OTK’s. Pajamas and OTK’s. Athletic wear and OTK’s. We can go on and on, we love them and their versatility.

If you like the scrunchy sock look, you can get OTK’s and adjust them to your satisfaction.

Being fans of creativity and originality, we at Fashion Week Tampa Bay are digging this trend and want to know whether you do, too! Comment and let us know what you think.

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Three Tips to Find a Job in Fashion

In Fashion, Updates on August 5, 2016 at 1:27 am
Image courtesy of UnSplash

Image courtesy of UnSplash

Working in fashion is a dream of many. It seems glamourous, sparkly, creative and innovative, which it truly is. But it’s much more than that. Hard work, indepth industry knowledge and experiences are crucial to succeed. Here are three tips to find and get a job in fashion:

Demonstrate your experiences and know-how
Every career path starts somewhere. Fashion designers visit a fashion school to learn all about fabrics and design, buyers often study business or enroll for a course related to fashion management. However, having attended an educational institution isn’t a guarantee for glory and a successful professional life. Most companies require hands-on experiences through internships, volunteering, etc. Therefore, gaining
experiences and highlighting them in your job application is king!

This is especially important for those who are looking for a career change within the industry or across industries. A successful event manager might also be able to organize catwalk shows. In order to convince your potential employer about exactly that, another thing is especially important:

Be informed about the industry
Whatever career path in the fashion industry you are following. Make sure to know what’s going on. Reading the latest fashion news to be informed about recent developments is crucial. This should be more than knowing who was sitting front row and what the Kardashians wore. FashionUnited combines crucial industry information on just one platform, which is pretty handy. If you opt for ultimate convenience, a newsletter will deliver the essential knowledge directly to your email account.

Check out niche job boards & maintain your network
Various websites list various job offers. Unfortunately many of those websites are general career pages with positions in different fields outside the fashion world. To simplify your job search and to minimize frustration, look for platforms that focus on careers in fashion. You will be able to find more vacancies that are relevant for your search.

Another important source for job opportunities is your personal network. Make sure to connect with former colleagues, students and companies on business platforms such as Linkedin. Job opportunities might cross your way!

This post is a guest contribution from Tampa Bay Fashion Week 2016 media partner:

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FashionUnited is the international platform for fashion professionals. Globally active, the website reaches more than 1.5 million industry professionals per month. The philosophy of FashionUnited is to make the

industry “ more fun and efficient” by combining essential industry information on just one platform.

Street Style Tampa Bay

In Events, Fashion, Trends on July 30, 2016 at 4:32 pm

As you know, we like fashion. We like clothes. And we like checking out what people are wearing!

Have you ever walked around and noticed how great someone’s outfit is? How nicely they are dressed? Or how they have a unique and confident sense of style? Sure you have, and you are not alone!

Right here on Tampa Bay’s streets, we see everyday people who inspire us daily.

Meet Avery, one. She is an aspiring fashion designer with hopes of get into the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York. Of course we encouraged her to attend our upcoming week of events in September and find like-minded people (like you!) to connect with. Side note: If any of you readers know anyone like Avery, who is into fashion but may be unaware of organizations like Fashion Week Tampa Bay, don’t be afraid to share that info!

Now back to Avery, here’s where she said she got her outfit from:

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Jeans and glasses from Kohl’s, bralette from Aerie, shoe’s thrifted, cardigan was a hand-me-down from her aunt, and her Kanken backpack was bought from Amazon. Really eclectic mix. We hope to see her at this year’s fashion show!

Over at International Plaza, we saw many working professionals who stopped there for a quick lunch and a little shopping. We met a lovely woman named Piper, a CHANEL brand ambassador. Her chill, bohemian look was perfect for the humidity that day. Complete with her adorable yorkie, we had to snap a photo for you all.

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Visiting from Atlanta, she stopped and chopped it up with us a bit. She couldn’t recall where her pieces she was wearing hailed from, but they were bought at local Atlanta boutiques.

Planning Fashion Week Tampa Bay has been keeping us busy, but we’re always excited to sneak in a couple moments every now and then to go into the city and interact with all of you.

If you see us out and about, equipped with our trusty Nikon D3200, please say hello!

Oh and check out our website for updates on our upcoming show!

Until next time, ciao!

~Jessica

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Lovely Swimsuits for Every Occasion

In Designers, Events, Fashion, Trends on July 22, 2016 at 2:06 pm

Hello, fashion lovers!

The summer heat is upon us and we hope that you’re getting to spend some time at the pool, beach, or lake parties, or any event or activity involving water that will help keep you cool!

Which brings us to swimsuits! And we want to help you pick the best swimsuit for any and every occasion.

One of the most important things to look for when choosing a bathing suit is selecting one that compliments our shape. Since we all come in different shapes and sizes, that makes finding swimwear a little difficult sometimes.

We’ve selected two suits that will look good on ALL of us.

High waist bikinis look good on most bodies, no matter the size or shape. For those of us who are sporting a pooch or want to hide our tummies, this suit is perfect.

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Image by Rafia T

It also brings attention to women’s natural curves and has an added air of femininity not found in other styles.

Since high waist bikinis are two pieces, you can mix and match separates as much as you like, which gives way to personal expression.

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Image by AdinaVoicu

Then there’s the favorite one piece option. There are so many different types of one pieces, you can pick one based on your style and taste. Want to be a little sexy and show skin? Wear a monokini. Want to make sure your stomach is covered but look a little coy? Wear a suit that has one shoulder or that is ribbed.

Whether you are a modest individual or a person who likes daring, flirtatious styles, there is something that was made with you in mind.

Both high-waisted bikinis and one-piece swimsuits are designed to be equally modest and alluring so they can be comfortable worn at family events, water parks or huge summer bashes. The possibilities are truly endless and we hope you enjoy and explore them to the fullest before this summer is over.

Until next time ~ ciao!

~Jessica

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Street Style in Tampa Bay

In Events, Fashion, Trends on July 15, 2016 at 2:51 am

In this week’s blog post we are taking it back to the streets! We saw and met some beautiful women this week effortlessly slaying in this Florida heat and we have just got to introduce them to you!

Jessica, a member of University of South Florida faculty, caught up with Fashion Week Tampa Bay just outside of the USF libraryJessica 1

Her skirt came courtesy of, online retailer, Venus.com and her lovely nude colored flats are from DSW. She was are unsure where her top came from due to how long she has had it, but she thinks it may be courtesy of Kohl’s.

 

Looking lovely and regal in what she described as an “old outfit”, she proves those ‘old’ pieces of clothing in your closet can become your classic, go-to pieces.

Next meet USF student Liza. When we saw her camouflage jacket and gladiator sandals, we had to stop and chat it up! There is something so alluring when a look is so complete… so we asked her where she got it.

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The shorts were a random buy but if anyone wants to buy a pair like them, there are tons of summer sales going on online, it just takes some searching. Liza’s shirt is from Forever 21 and the jacket was thrifted from the Anarchist Closet. Her sandals are from TJ Maxx and so is her adorable floral backpack.

It is always so much fun going out and interacting with the ladies of Tampa Bay. Be on the lookout because the next person who may end up on here may be you! 🙂

Much love and kisses from the Tampa Bay Fashion Week team, ciao!

Working Out In Style

In Events, Fashion, Trends, Updates on July 6, 2016 at 8:24 am

If you are health conscious like some of us, you (sometimes) love to work out!

Looking good makes you feel good. When you feel good while working out, you are more likely to be motivated to push yourself and accomplish fitness goals.

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Image by Amanda Mills, USCDCP

Exercise is also known to boost your confidence and overall self-esteem. So why not give yourself an extra boost, by working out in style? Nothing beats wearing an outfit that looks better every time you sweat in it. If you aren’t sure how to do that, don’t worry, we have some tips for you below.

The first article of clothing you’ll need is a pair of leggings!

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Image by The Onezie Crew

They are very comfortable and can be worn for almost every physical activity. The very first pair of leggings you buy should be black. Sweat stains will be nonexistent and black is everyone’s color.

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Image by 1114467

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DON’T wear makeup when working out. I know it seems like a given but some makeup products are marketed as sweat-proof, giving women a false sense of protection. Sweat mixed with makeup of any kind leads to clogged pores and acne.

So be the best you, the fresh-face you, when you are ready to go out and sweat!

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Tops with built-in sports bras are perfect for creating the ultimate support. Make sure the shirt fits snug to your body to avoid any extra fabric slowing you down.

If you are a runner, cyclist, do yoga or like to lift weights the old fashioned way, yoga shorts are for you.

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Image by skeeze

Built-in sports bras are fitted to your body and allow for maximum body movement. For cool nights or gyms that blast the air conditioning, get a windbreaker. Look for “wick away” pieces because they pull moisture away from the body so it can evaporate easier.

For our bold readers, may we recommend a throwback to the 80s: leotards and unitards!

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Image by Gromovataya

We absolutely love them! You can mix and match them with yoga shorts, leggings, baggy sweats or just wear them as they are. With these, the possibilities are truly endless.

Putting your hair up in a high knot, messy bun, a pony tail, or a couple of corn rows will have you looking super girly and cute as you get your glow on.

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Image by Ranveig

Images by Maegan Tintari, Evula , ShekinahShazaam, Ranveig

All aforementioned styles are super easy to achieve and give you a casual look that can be worn in and out the gym. For those of us who like to get up and go, visors are your best friend.

Once you have the basics, the world is your oyster. Buy some of the aforementioned pieces in different colors, mix and match and make sure to have fun (and share your pics with us on Facebook and Instagram)!

Until next time, ciao!

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How To Keep (And Look) Cool In The Sun

In Fashion, Trends, Updates on June 20, 2016 at 8:02 am

If you’re in Florida right now, we’re going to guess that the sun has been beating you into a hot, sweaty pulp! And you probably find yourself searching aimlessly for that breeze when you step outside of your home!

Well, look no further. We can’t create wind, but Fashion Week Tampa Bay can help you stay breezy, work that frizz, and look as relaxed as the Florida palm trees.

First things first, remove all tight articles of clothing from your closet, drawers and mind for the foreseeable hot future.

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Image by PDPics

Tank tops and shorts included! Though they seem like go-to articles of clothing, they will only make you hotter and sweat like a gruesome day in the gym.

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Image by Janul, Creative Common License

Wear LOOSE clothing. The less fabric touching your skin, the cooler you will feel. If you can help it, wear cotton.

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Image by Unsplash

Take full advantage of crop tops, bralettes and sport bras. If showing skin is not your thing, wear high waist shorts or a loose skirt.

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Image by Lucy Burrows

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Image by bohemianbikini

Skirts and maxi dresses give your skin breathing room. Pairing crop tops or bralettes with skirts or donning a maxi dress can give you a simple, very modern look.

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Rompers or short overalls can also help keep you cool. The trick is making sure the fabrics are lightweight like cotton or linen. Denim can absorb heat but a nice pair of overalls paired with a bralette or crop top will have you looking chic and Tampa Bay Fashion Week approved.

All women know what the sun can do to our tresses but in the name of Beyonce, we are going to take lemons and make lemonade. Wear hats, scarves or bandanas and style that frizz! Everyday looks can be made with baseball caps, just throw it on.

Images by Urszulam25 (Scarf 2, Scarf 3)

Creatively use scarves or bandanas to hold your hair off your neck. Use them as elastics to put your hair in a ponytail. Put your hair in a bun and wrap a scarf or bandana around your head or the bun. The hair accessories will give your outfit a little flair and let you show off your personality.

These tips will help you stay airy, breezy and easy. Try them and let us know if they worked for you.

Ciao!

~FWTB Stylista Jessica

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Tampa Bay Fashion Week 2015

In Designers, Events, Fashion, Trends, Updates on September 20, 2015 at 4:38 pm

FullSizeRender (10)Tampa Bay Fashion Week just wrapped up our 8th annual event (Sept. 16-19, 2015)! This year came with a new designer-centric format – instead of a runway show, we held trunk shows as well as fashion presentations. Our designer trunk shows were held at what we called PURE Haus (PURE = Pop Up Retail Experience).

PURE Haus was held at International Plaza and Bay Street and allowed people to meet with the designers and shop their collections. Our pop-up shop was open the duration of the mall hours (10am-9pm), and at designated times during our week, fashion lovers and the public enjoyed a presentation of the designers collections on display.

On Wednesday, Sept. 16 and Thursday, Sept. 17, the following fashion designers showed:

Accessuri by Rachana Suri: A focus on eco-organic fashion with a purpose of giving women a choice to purchase earth-sustaining products. Rachana also uses her clothing line to bring awareness to the issue of human trafficking and how to stop the epidemic. Rachana shares her mission on ABC Action News here.

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Accessuri by Rachana Suri

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Allison Elizabeth Design by Allison Bailey: This is Allison Bailey’s first time showing in Tampa Bay Fashion Week, and she showed her latest swimwear collection at this year’s event, highlighting high-waisted styles, lace and more and boldly highlighting women’s confidence!

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Allison Elizabeth Designs by Allison Bailey

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CAITE by Karyn Seo: After 30 years in the industry Karyn believed that by launching her own company she would be able to be the best mother when her daughter was born while maintaining a strong and healthy career in the fashion industry. Karyn showcased a contemporary clothing collection with unique embroidery designed for all women.

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Caite by Karyn Seo

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Jessica Martinez: A recent graduate from Sanford Brown IADT School of Design, Jessica brought her one-of-a-kind designs, all made by hand. She is excited about her future in the fashion industry and we’re excited to see where the future takes her!

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Jessica Martinez

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Rhonda Shear Couture: Always a showstopper, Rhonda featured her couture dress collection this year, as well as her lounge wear and intimate apparel. The goal for her designs are to embrace the female body and all of it’s curves while remaining comfortable!

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Rhonda Shear Couture

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On Friday, Sept. 18 and Saturday, Sept. 19, we had:

Magenta by Wendy Ohlendorf: From Portland, OR, Wendy brought her modern and romantic one-of-a-kind dresses to our stage. Wendy’s love of creativity and travel are very apparent in her designs, as each piece represented a work of art.

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Magenta by Wendy Ohlendorf

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Magenta by Wendy Ohlendorf

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Cerulean Blu by Desiree Noisette: Desiree brought us her colorful resort wear collection based out of St. Petersburg, FL, with soft fabrics and artistic designs. The variety of lengths, styles and colors, make Cerulean Blu’s collection easy transitional pieces to wear any time of the day.

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Cerulean Blu by Desiree Noisette

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Cerulean Blu by Desiree Noisette

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Cerulean Blu by Desiree Noisette

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Be-Bops Custom Swimwear by Priscilla Kidder: Priscilla is committed to providing custom swimwear that helps women feel more confident in what they wear. Her goal is to help all women feel beautiful and comfortable while wearing swimwear that flatters in her vintage style, quality collection.

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Be-Bops Custom Swimwear by Priscilla Kidder

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Oscar de la Portilla Escandon: Traveling all the way from Cuba, Oscar brought garments that are all hand-painted and vibrant in color. He mixed art, stones and metals into his unique and inspiring Spring 2016 collection.

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Oscar de la Portilla Escandon

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Elizabeth Racker Designs: Ready-to-wear apparel that is fashion-forward, Elizabeth brings high-quality garments that are perfect for any occasion. Always staying up on the latest fashion trends, Elizabeth makes sure that what you will be wearing is eye catching and unique!

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Elizabeth Carson Racker Designs

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Elizabeth Carson Racker Designs

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Elizabeth Carson Racker Designs

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In addition to all of the spectacular designers we had showing this year, we also enjoyed a special Student Designer Showcase from Sanford Brown IADT School of Design. The students designers included: Francesca Buot, Jessenia Ocasio and Lakesha Johnson.

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Sanford Brown IADT School of Design: Francesca Buot, Jessenia Ocasio and Lakesha Johnson

This year’s beneficiary Dress For Success, and we held a purse drive the duration of the PURE Haus event. Thank you to those who donated purses! Dress For Success helps women thrive in their work and life. The mission of Dress for Success Tampa Bay is to promote the economic independence of disadvantaged women by providing professional attire, a network of support, and the career development tools to help women to thrive in work and in life.

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We appreciate all of you who came out to support Tampa Bay Fashion Week! If you have pictures you would like to share, we invite you to use #TBFW #FWTB #TBFASHIONWEEK!

Follow us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. Learn how you can get involved by visiting our website and subscribe to our emails!

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~FWTB Stylista Rechael

Bey Day Event 2015

In Designers, Events, Fashion, Trends on September 4, 2015 at 2:33 pm

IMG_2029On Thursday, Sept. 3, 2015 Tampa Bay threw Beyonce a birthday bash with party planning from our friends at The Ritz Ybor! This was the first annual Bey Day event, and the Tampa Bay crowd celebrated Beyonce by showing off their fierce style, and enjoying tribute entertainment and dancing the night away to the best music from the Queen B(ey)! There was also something extra special about this event, as a portion of the proceeds went to Chime for Change which Beyonce. This campaign will help promote education and health to girls and women all over the world.

Tampa Bay Fashion Week was a featured sponsor and we were excited to be a part of this celebratory night! The FWTB team and 2015 featured designers, including: Elizabeth Carson Racker and Marie Crane of Rhonda Shear Enterprises were there to judge the “Freakum Dress” contest. Contestants arrived showing their best Sasha Fierce style! The winner of this contest won a bottle of Jay-Z’s Ace of Spades and also a $100 cash prize. Our winner was not only fabulous but she brought her best Sasha Fierce style – congratulations to Danielle!

Here are some fierce and fabulous photos from the Bey Day event!

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{The winner of the “Freakum Dress” contest!}

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{L-R: Fashion lovers, designer Elizabeth Carson Racker and Marie Crane of Rhonda Shear ~ Tampa Bay Fashion Week 2015 featured designers who were also Bey Day judges for the night!}

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It was a fun night celebrating the birthday of Beyonce!