Runway Preview: 25th Annual Jeffrey Fashion Cares

DIOR. 25th annual Jeffrey Fashion Cares August, 28, 2017

There will be fireworks at Jeffrey Fashion Cares this season through an explosive runway of designer sequins, sparkle and shine! Givenchy, Balenciaga, Dior, Louboutin, YSL, Dries van Noten and Michael Halpern were just some of the labels I was fortunate to get a peek at this week. It's a thrill (for me) to sit in on the fittings and as the only invited media to do so, it's also an honor. For the most part, I sit quietly and simply observe, having conversation with Jeffrey Kalinsky only between fittings.

It's absolutely mesmerizing watching Jeffrey at work: "Is there another bag? Let's try the sheer stockings. Did we like the hat? We should go with the drama..." He has such a defined vision of glamour and elegance that is as timeless as it is modern.

Accompanying the runway bling, expect to see velvets, plaids, structured blazers and suits. Lots of color and lots of volume too. And let's not forget the gowns! There will be 60 looks gracing the Jeffrey Fashion Cares runway and I can attest that you'll lose count of how many showstoppers are in the show. Good luck choosing faves. Grab your sneak peek with the slideshow above - photos by Tomas Espinoza.

The 25th annual Jeffrey Fashion Cares is Monday, August 28th at Phipps Plaza. *Purchase your tickets below.

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#TBT RUNWAY: JEFFREY FASHION CARES Highlights, Interview & Entire Finale Walk

Jeffrey Kalinsky. Photo by Ben Rose.

There is no Throw Back Thursday #TBT more appropriate today than flashing back to last year's Jeffrey Fashion Cares. We are just days away from the 25th Anniversary of this epic event and it is accurate to say that Jeffrey Fashion Cares is the buzz of the town. In this video, Jeffrey Kalinsky talks fashion (and towards the end) he can't almost contain his excitement over this milestone year! The runway portion of the video concludes with the finale walk in its entirety...

Jeffrey Fashion Cares is pleased to contribute 100% of its net proceeds to the Atlanta AIDS Fund & Susan G. Komen Greater Atlanta.

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Jeffrey Fashion Cares: 25 Years of Fashion & Philanthropy

Jeffrey Fashion Cares. (photos by Ben Rose)

Paris Fashion Week, Milan and New York jet-set their way to Atlanta every year. The last Monday in August has become one of the most anticipated dates of the year because of Jeffrey Fashion Cares. Many view the high-end runway show, live auction and philanthropic event as the kick-off to the Fall fashion season in the city. With designer labels such as Gucci, Celine, Christian Dior, Givenchy, Valentino, Dries van Noten, Saint Laurent Paris, Balenciaga, Christian Louboutin and Manolo Blahnik, Jeffrey Fashion Cares is most definitely the hottest ticket in town.

Jeffrey Kalinsky

The visionary behind Jeffrey Fashion Cares is its founder, fashion icon and philanthropist, Jeffrey Kalinsky. He has two namesake boutiques, one in New York’s meatpacking district and the other in Atlanta at Phipps Plaza. Jeffrey Fashion Cares, which showcases the latest looks of the season, occurs twice a year - in NYC at the US Intrepid as a menswear show and the other runway is in Atlanta and is celebrating twenty-five stylish years. While the NYC event brings out the likes of Vogue's Anna Wintour and celebrities such as Chloe Sevingy and Zachary Quinto, it is the Atlanta event that got everything started. Jeffrey Kalinsky spoke with us about the early years, when Jeffrey Fashion Cares was called “Shoe Cares.” Kalinsky got his start in the shoe business so his charity fundraiser was naturally all about shoes - fabulous shoes, of course. He pointed out that one of the greatest challenges in those early years was figuring out how to create an entertaining and engaging fashion show with shoes. Well, anyone who knows Jeffrey knows he’s always one step ahead - no pun intended - and he figured “it” out. 

I once asked Jeffrey how he keeps the show fresh year after year and he humbly turned it back to his amazing team and their hard work, but modesty aside, it’s Jeffrey Kalinsky’s vision, aesthetic and drive that keep him and his endeavors on the forefront of fashion. “Our job is to travel the world and be shoppers for our shoppers,” says Jeffrey. “We try every single season to buy the most beautiful things in the world,” he added. [And] on that last Monday in August, you can see all those “beautiful things” parade onto a 140ft+ runway. One of my favorite moments of the show, besides all the to-die-for looks, bags and shoes, comes at the finale walk where Jeffrey makes a runway stop to kiss his mother while she hands him a bouquet of roses. 

Jeffrey Fashion Cares CO-CHAIRS: Jeffrey McQuithy, Louise Sams, Lila Hertz & Jeffrey Kalinsky

Jeffrey acknowledges that breast cancer and AIDS have affected so many lives and that by coming to Jeffrey Fashion Cares, you are participating in something good. In its history, Jeffrey Fashion Cares has become the largest combined AIDS and breast cancer benefit in the country. Lila Hertz, who has chaired the event for fifteen of its twenty-five years, shared an optimistic and inspiring message, "We are so proud of the contribution we have made to the breast cancer and AIDS charities over the years. However, our work is not done—there is still much to do for these two diseases.  So, we want everyone to join us to celebrate our silver anniversary and contribute to help us reach our goal of one million dollars. Together we can do it!!” 

Jeffrey Fashion Cares benefits Susan G. Komen Greater Atlanta, the Atlanta AIDS Fund (AAF), and the Medical University of South Carolina. For more information and tickets, visit jeffreyfashioncares.com

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Frances de Lourdes -- Ladies in Tees

Frances de Lourdes, a new brand of luxury tees and tanks in ultra soft, lightweight Italian cashmere and silks. The collection, designed and produced in New York City by 36-year-old Alejandra Echeverria, was born out of a desire for a refined classic tee. Echeverria, who notes that the name “Frances de Lourdes” is a reference to her mother and father’s middle names, respectively, was inspired to create an elevated version of her favorite vintage staples - the perfect tee.  

A long time lover, wearer, and collector of tees, Echeverria set out to create a collection of timeless tees that she herself wanted and felt were missing from the market. Calling upon a decade’s worth of experience designing for various New York fashion brands and her education at both Skidmore College and Parsons The New School of Design, New York native Echeverria spent over a year meticulously developing the debut collection of Frances de Lourdes. The collection, which is tightly edited in both color and silhouette, consists of eight (8) timeless luxury tees and tanks made from fine Italian cashmere and silks.

The collection started with the Johnny Tee, which was based on an oversized vintage men’s tee that had shrunken over time to hit the perfect spot on the hip. Often when women wear a men’s tee it can end up looking sloppy, but the shrunken length of the Johnny tee provides the relaxed fit women seek without it feeling overwhelming. With a relaxed, easy fit, round neckline and short sleeves, the Johnny tee is classic and perfectly effortless - a natural addition to the regular rotation in every woman’s closet. The brand’s favorite ultra soft, light weight cashmere and silk Italian jersey (80% cashmere, 20% silk) is the final touch that instantly elevates the silhouette of the Johnny Tee.

Building off the Johnny Tee, Echeverria has created two additional styles with reference to the vintage men’s tee fit. The Frankie Tee - a deep v-neck alternative to the Johnny Tee - is the offering for those who may want the same relaxed feel seen in the Johnny Tee, but with a more revealing neckline. 

The final interpretation of the Johnny Tee is seen in the solitary long-sleeved style within the debut Frances de Lourdes collection, the Marlon Tee. With it’s signature relaxed fit, a round neck and long sleeves, this Italian cashmere and silk-jersey number (retailing at $340.00, the highest price point of the collection) is undoubtedly a staple essential for both summer evenings and winter layering. 

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Preen by Thornton Bregazzi Pre-Fall 2017

“Well, we’ve always just done things organically,” said Bregazzi. “We keep going by following up on things we’re interested in.”

Preen by Thornton Bregazzi Pre-Fall 2017 - see collection.

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Rain Dove Featured In Sisley's FW17 Campaign #oneofakind

#oneofakind is the hashtag of choice for Sisley’s new FW17 Campaign, conceived by star photographer Bettina Rheims: Sisley once again challenges gender stereotypes with grace, style and sensibility.

The headliners of the campaign, dressed in iconic Sisley outfits, pose in front of wooden boxes that bring to mind those used for transporting great works of art: among them are transgender models Stav Strashko and Casil McArthur, American Rain Dove (who in her career has posed in both male and female clothes), as well as Fernanda Beuker, Sohyun Jung, Adela Stenberg and Freddie Ashcroft, one-of-a-kind charmers with androgynous looks.

The issue of gender equality is difficult to “capture”, as evidenced by the set design, as well as the clichés of what is masculine and what is feminine. "To open new paths, people’s reactions and emotions, including anger and fear, must be triggered,” says French photographer Bettina Rheims and Sisley chose to deal with society’s prejudices by showing individuals for what they truly are, giving them an even stronger voice. This is an important step for the brand, known for its rebellious identity as well as for its unconventional points of view: a new chapter in an original, unique and modern story."

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Tim Gunn Surprises Crowd with Major Project Runway Announcement

Tim Gunn Surprises Over 6,000 Avon Beauty Bosses at the company's annual RepFest in Nashville. TN to Announce Avon as the Official Beauty Sponsor for Project Runway Season 16

Photos: Rob Loud

Tim Gunn Project Runway

Tim Gunn Project Runway

Avon

Project Runway + AVON

beauty

Project Runway + AVON

This past Sunday, Project Runway host and mentor, Tim Gunn, surprised an audience of 6,000 Avon Beauty Bosses (independent sales Reps) in Nashville at their annual RepFest Convention to announce a key partnership for the upcoming season.

Avon will serve as the official beauty sponsor for Lifetime’s critically-acclaimed and Emmy nominated design competition series for season 16. Gunn was on hand to share details about the partnership, including how Avon will be releasing behind-the-scenes content on the brand’s social channels to help viewers create "runway to reality" looks at home. With a team led by makeup artist Hector Simancas, Avon will be creating the makeup look on models helping to bring the contestants' visions to life. 

“Avon is legendary in the beauty world,” said Gunn during his remarks. “It is a brand that embodies the values of freedom, inspiration and empowerment, which are core to Project Runway’s mission of inspiring up-and-coming fashion entrepreneurs. We can’t wait to debut Avon beauty on our catwalk, with simply stunning and wildly creative applications that perfect each designer look. Get ready to tune-in to another exciting season, and learn how to replicate each runway-inspired look with Avon!”

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