Front Row Recap

Here are highlights from the runway at the Front Row fashion event in downtown Bethesda Friday night. Kelly Cutrone ("Kell on Earth", "The City") was a riot... more on her next. Check out her shoes! Shbooties? 

Redwood bartender extraordinaire Nate Mann busy mixing martinis for the thirsty crowd pre-show

 Nate still showing grace under pressure

Kelly Cutrone signing her book, Normal Gets You Nowhere

Kelly Cutrone still smiling. She didn't stop until EVERY fan got their book signed

...including my daughter, Madeleine Watkins

Real Housewives of DC Mary Amons (right)--can you believe she has like five kids???

Photographer Abby Greenawalt setting up

MC Eun Yang 

I love this model. So stunning in separates from Ginger

Gorgeous lace Yoana Baraschi from Ginger 

Model Kate Michael glides in a Joie maxi from Ginger

The men WOWED the crowd

 Love the retro crocheted look from Luna--especially with a ribbon and bow

 If only boys REALLY looked like this in shorts--get them to Daddy & Son!

Fab print dress by J. McLaughlin

Ok, this guy won over the crowd hands down, eye-candy-orange pants and all. See guys? You really can wear color.

Kate Spade separates in pink and multi all topped with a hot pink hat by Christine A. Moore at Sassanova

Love it--would risk hat head for this

I like this look from Wear It Well. It's a little blurry, but the femmed-up military jacket plays well over the print maxi.

A vision in classic lace from Lilly Pulitzer at The Pink Palm

 One of the prettiest floral prints I've seen. Love it! 

DVF print is fresh and edgy. Urban Chic

Another great print-this one from Pink Palm

I want this Waverly Gray wrap skirt from Ginger

So hot--Daddy & Son again. 

One of my faves, Ronen Chen from Wear It Well

Clap, clap, clap

 Tommy McFly of 94.7 FM wraps it up

The Front Row takes center stage starting May 19

Photo by Abby Greenawalt

Bethesda's biggest and best fashion event returns for three days starting May 19. The Front Row is a spectacular series of trunk shows, book readings, tasty bites from local restaurants, celebrity appearances (PR guru and reality TV personality, Kelly Cutrone, who will be signing her book Normal Gets You Nowhere) and a runway fashion show Friday night featuring  Bethesda boutiques. It's all free. So, even if fashion isn't your thing (???) I'm sure your community matters to you. Many of the participating boutiques are mom and pops--the  little shops your neighbors and friends own. Our support keeps them here and wards off the big chains for a while longer. Here's an abbreviated lineup. Oh yeah, there is a full roster of kiddie events too!  I'll be posting more as we get closer, but for more information right now, please visit http://bethesdarow.com/events/listing/the-front-row/ 

Thursday ushers in the event with an exclusive free screening of Bill Cunningham New York, at Bethesda Row’s Landmark Theatre. I saw this film. Yes, it gives us a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the NY Times "On the Street" spread, high fashion and NYC society, but what makes this 84-minute movie unique is the touching portrait of the eccentric and humble soul behind the lens. It's brilliant. RSVP for the (free) screening at bcny@brandlinkdcrsvp.com

The three-day event kicks off with brunch and shopping at J. McLaughlin. Aveda and bluemercury will offer complimentary makeovers from 12-6pm. Enjoy mini spa treatments, brow waxes and chair massages at the Equinox spa from 4-6pm.  Trunk shows include a Joie summer collection at Ginger, Diane von Furstenberg ]show at Urban Chic, and  MZ Wallace at Sassanova.  And that's just the first day. Check out the link for more events, times and freebies: http://bethesdarow.com/events/listing/the-front-row/

Friday Night Lights at the Front Row

We had a great time Friday night at the Front Row fashion show on Bethesda Lane and the cocktail reception at Redwood for special guests designer and author Laura Bennett of Project Runway and Tinsley Mortimer of High Society. I watched Project Runway when Laura was on and couldn't believe she actually had time to raise six kids AND design some of the most elegant clothes on the program. She blew us away Friday night not only with her elegance but her graciousness as well at the cocktail party. Plus she looked amazing in a silver beaded dress and satin pumps. Though we saw lots of great shoes, Tinsley M's Fendi pumps with see-through platform were a highlight. We loved the prom-goers in their gowns and tuxedos milling through the crowd to the restaurants. As the sun went down, the lights on the runway came on, the music thumped and the crowd, which filled Bethesda Lane, had a great time watching the models strut their stuff, modeling summer garb and a fall fashion preview from Bethesda Row boutiques, including City Sports, Wear It Well, Pink Palm, Ginger, Urban Chic, Luna, LouLou, J. McLaughlin, Waygoose, and Lucy.

Laura Bennett, Lindsay Buscher of Urban Chic, designer Lauren Leonard of Leona

Shannon Siriano

Paige Ralston Fromer and Rachel Cothran of Project Beltway

Tinsley Mortimer and Amanda Taylor

Jill Chamberlin Powell of Federal Realty

Jared Rager of Redwood and Gretchen Hitchner of Ginger

The paparazzi

Great view from Upstairs at Bethesda Row

The Runway: