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What to do Tonight: Fashion is in the pink at The Mall at Robinson
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Sometimes it seems that the extent of Pittsburgh fashion amounts to "Should I wear my Steelers jersey or my Penguins jersey tonight?"
There is SO much more, and it will be gloriously displayed tonight on the runway at The Mall at Robinson as part of Pittsburgh Fashion Week, an event started three years ago by local model Miyoshi Anderson.
"There were fashion shows in Pittsburgh, but it wasn't being done at this level," said Ms. Anderson, who serves as executive director. "I worked in a lot of them as a model. But as the economy turned, there was less and less work.
"The catalyst for this was New York Fashion Week. I looked at it and I thought, 'Wouldn't it be nice to have a fashion week here in Pittsburgh?' That would give more work to models. And then it just branched out from there."
The week of fashion-oriented events already has had an impact.
"When we get the chance to talk to local designers and retailers, they mention the growth they see and the exposure they're getting," Ms. Anderson said. "There are even new businesses that have started, using this platform for exposure. We've seen growth in the industry and the artistry.
"There has always been fashion in our city, even if it's been understated and conservative. In the past decade, however, we've seen more and more of the younger generation definitely taking note of trends and elements they can incorporate into their wardrobe.
"Fashion is an extension of art. You may not always understand it."
That explains some of the shoes women wear nowadays.
Pittsburgh Fashion Week began Monday and continues tonight with the "Fifty Shades of Pink Fashion Show," presenting clothing and accessories from the stores in The Mall at Robinson. KDKA-TV's Kristine Sorensen will be serving as emcee. The event begins at 7 p.m. and admission is $10, with the proceeds benefiting Susan G. Komen for the Cure.
"The cancer disease strikes at all women, of all ages and all cultural backgrounds," Ms. Anderson said. "And we are catering to all women, from young to older."
And not just women.
"Men come, too, and everyone has a great time," said Christina Dickerson, the event's publicist. "It's family friendly, it's a great night out for the girls, it's a great couples night. So many people are coming out for the whole week. It's so diverse.
"It's for everyone who loves fashion. So many people look for the hottest trends of the upcoming season -- what we lovingly refer to as fashionistas -- who enjoy seeing a runway show and the many different concepts of design. We get so many people in fashion and retail and the media. But everyone has fun.
"This is a visual opportunity to highlight the city of Pittsburgh and everything it offers. Miyoshi has done a tremendous job of bringing in the local talent of designers, artists, models and showcasing the many great places of the city."
The venues this week have included the Heinz History Center in the Strip District and Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall and Museum in Oakland and continue this weekend at the Clarion Hotel & Convention Center in Green Tree and the Omni William Penn Center, Downtown.
"And, of course, we also are highlighting these gorgeous models who are so talented," Ms. Dickerson said.
But Fifty Shades of Pink? I checked Wikipedia, and it listed only about 27 shades ranging from ruby, rose and brink to salmon, cerise and fandango. Not to mention the one that's shocking.
"Oh, there are many different shades of pink," Ms. Anderson laughed. "It's a nice concept. We don't want to just focus on powder pink. We're going to incorporate all shades of pink into the fashions. Splashes here and there to draw focus to the night's event."
First Published September 26, 2012 3:38 pm
