Friday Night ALL ACCESS Fashion Show

Once again, Tysons Galleria was the stage for the ALL ACCESS fashion event, a three-day extravaganza of panel discussions, trunk shows, beauty events and a Friday night runway show followed by a cocktail reception. The event benefits Make-A-Wish, and Mary Frances Wain, vice president of philanthropy for the Make-A-Wish Foundation of the Mid-Atlantic introduced the show and introduced the young woman whose wish was granted --  a fabulous trip to Paris. Evening gowns were the stars of this show in every style from Hollywood glamour to 80s redux. Bold colors--especially purple--took center stage, while the sheer number of glittering frocks in every color proved that all that glitters doesn't have to be  gold....

All Access: Fashion--The Paul Sinclaire Runway Show Redux

Who'd a thunk it?? Wow! A big fashion show like this in a mall--and free? Friday night's All Access: Fashion show of Paul Sinclaire's womenswear line for Saks Fifth Avenue brought out mall patrons, local stars and national celebrities to Tysons Galleria. Patricia Field, award-winning costume designer and stylist for Sex in the City and The Devil Wears Prada, made her entrance, greeting the front row guests (which included Real DC Housewives castmembers), and then took the stage to introduce the show. Though her speech was incredibly short, she was long on star power with her long red hair, cropped bangs, great legs and flanked by style guys with fab studded shoes. The fashion show was a little more reigned in than Ms. Field's entourage, with lots of ruffles and bows, trim A-line skirts, high waists and and bateau necks. The looks had a slightly French and definite ladylike theme. Trousers were neatly cuffed and cropped.  Mr. Sinclaire, who has consulted for fashion houses like Dior, sat modestly among the crowd, which stretched up all three levels of the mall.  After the show, things loosened up considerably as VIP attendees were treated to a cocktail party,  complete with waiters, bars, a silent auction, swag--and lots of photos.

The After Party

Paul Sinclaire

Real DC Housewives castmembers

Glamazon Diaries Makeda Maggau Sackey and Ebong Eka

Kelly Collis (left)  and Laura Chavez (center)

Don't. Miss. This. ALL ACCESS: FASHION!

Last year we had a blast with Project Runway's Tim Gunn, the affable host of the inaugural All Access:  Fashion event at Tysons Galleria. This year, Sept. 30-Oct. 2, the celebrity host of the runway show Friday night will be Paul Sinclaire, the man who among many other things has consulted with Valentino, Trussardi, Dolce & Gabbana and Dior. He most recently collaborated with Saks Fifth Avenue to create an exclusive fall/winter line of womenswear. Guests may also note another famous face in the crowd: Patricia Field, who styled the looks that made Sex and the City's Carrie Bradshaw, Carrie Bradshaw.  And that's just Friday. The 3-day fashion mega-event opens with "The New Rules of Engagement: Luxury 2.0," a lively panel discussion by high-profile industry insiders including Ned Martel of the Post Style section and Aaron Battista, retail VP for 7 For All Mankind. Saturday is a full day of individual runway fashion shows by Betsey Johnson, Nicole Miller, 7 For All Mankind, Anne Fontaine, Karen Millen and B/A/S/L/E/R plus 50 in-store events. While runway seating is invite-only, everything is free and open to the public. The event benefits SOS Children's Villages, an international organization that helps orphaned and abandoned children around the world.

Tim Gunn

Tim Gunn comments on the looks at last year's All Access: Fashion show

Stacy London tells why she chose DC to launch Style for Hire

For all those who didn't get to see, hear or meet Stacy London from TLC's "What Not to Wear," during her recent DC launch of Style for Hire, here she is. I especially liked the way she relates to all women, wanting to help them to express their own style without squelching it.
Video is courtesy of the technological wizardry of Kelly Collis, founder of CityShopGirl.com.

Basler debuts at Tysons Galleria

Here are some more shots from Saturday's fashion show at ALL ACCESS: Fashion! The first Basler store in the US opened in Tysons Galleria; CEO Armin Fichtel says Basler offers sophisticated, accomplished women high-quality, well-fitting European clothing at sensible price points. Here are a few highlights from Saturday's Basler show:

Moderator Jennifer Barger of FW

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Maurisa Turner Potts and Christine Brooks-Cropper of GWFCC

ALL ACCESS: Fashion!

The three-day Tysons Galleria fashion event had its grande finale Saturday with a lineup of fashion shows from the best of the luxe mall's retail shops. Betsey Johnson, 7 for all Mankind and Basler made it work in a fun day that also featured special tents and events including blow-outs and cocktails. The highlight of course was the fashion show featuring looks by Juicy, Kensie, Kate Spade and more hosted at 1 by Mr. Fashion Fabulosity himself, Tim Gunn. He began with a shout out to "Mother's" friends and launched into a running commentary to the show, full of quips and fine advice. He suggested women need a "basic blazer" and a good dress, and said he doesn't really follow trends. "Proportion, fit and silhouette" are what make an outfit work; he also showed how to create different looks from one dress with accessories. He answered questions from the audience with sincere aplomb, and wowed the crowd when he said that he likes to take fashion risks himself--like with a pocket square--that aren't always successful.  "Tim! Take that off! You look like an ass!" As the crowd roared, he went on. "The pocket square is like this little demon in my pocket, 'you look like an ass, you look like an ass.'" We've all felt that way. The culmination was the line outside Chanel to get a photo taken with Gunn and receive a little box of Tim-themed holiday cards. He's as nice one-on-one as he is when working the crowd. I could've spent hours with him. Get more Tim Gunn now on the new Dr. Oz show in addition to Project Runway.

One dress, two looks

LBD Parade

A Kate Spade LBD we loved

Luxury: Reinventing the Dream

Ned Martel, Julie Gajcak, Rohit Bhargava of Ogilvy 360 Digital Influence

The ALL ACCESS:Fashion panel discussion, the Thursday night headliner of a three-day fashion event at Tysons Galleria, was a thought-provoking glimpse into the fashion world as presented by experts both local and international. Moderated by Post Style editor Ned Martel, the panel, including The Ritz Carlton's Julie Gajcak and Basler CEO Armin Fichtel, discussed the state of luxury brands in a time of economic havoc. Martel posed interesting and apt questions about the economy, luxury brands, philanthropy and marketing; his background as an editor for Men's Vogue was evident. Fichtel said he chose to open his first US boutique amid a recession (and at Tysons) because he's confident the German-based Basler has the quality, fit (sizes range up to 20) and price points to succeed. His biggest seller: the cashmere jacket. The next Basler opens in Michigan; when will we seen one in Chevy Chase? The night wouldn't have been the same without my friend, artist Anna Rose Soevik, who did the portraits of Bono, Gunn and Frederique Van der Wal that will be signed and sold for charity. Sitting next to me was new friend Ryan Charchian, the 15-year-old marketing director of Military's Style Guide for Teens (I wish he was around when I was a military brat stationed in a fashion no-man's-land) and Gunn's guest on Saturday. Look out slackers...generation Z is coming at you fast!

Lori Pawley of General Growth Properties and Armin Fichtel


Ryan Charchian


Tim Gunn as portrayed by Anna Rose Soevik


Event coordinator Aba Bonney Kwawu