Recap: Dress for Success Fashion Show

Talk about a #throwback post. It seems like ages ago the Dress for Success Untailored Elegance Fashion Show. What a fun night. I joined packed house at Diversity Thrift for a Fashion Show that first paid homage to Chanel, shared stories of female empowerment, and spotlighted the work of local designers.

I had the privilege of sitting front row alongside Catie Kelly of River City Fashion Uprising, Susan Winiecki of Richmond Magazine, stylist Shayla Courtney, and local tastemaker Dominique Graves who came together judge the show.

There were 3 segments to the DFS  show:

Recycled designs, original designs, and styled professional wear which include:

• Recycled Designs: designers created up to 3 runway worth designs from the DFS collection of unworkable clothes
•  Original Designs/Designer Spotlight: Designers showcased up to 3 one of a kind looks that they created themselves (this is where local designers really showed off their talent!)
•  Styled Professional Wear: DFS receives donations from the community that go towards suiting women in the Richmond area. For this portion of the show, designers and stylists created outfits using donations directly from the DFS boutique.

I got to see two of my favorite designers in action: Nikkita Caroll, who helped me turn a fur coat into a vest last year. She is most know for her fitted two-piece outfits (check her out on Intagram). She also created one flowing floral piece for the show. I shared her two-piece below.

Catie is wearing a dress I scored in my early blogger days from Trunk Up Boutique. She went home with it after one of my closet swaps. This truly embodied the theme of the show! I wore cropped pants and a kimono like cardigan I found at Anthropologie, Steve Madden pumps, a fringe necklace from Firefly Lane Boutique, a clutch from Fabrik, and an old take I turned into a drop top with a pair of scissors.

My friends from Alice + the Reverie played throughout the show! It was a treat to watch this dreamy, local band get down.

DFS Executive Director Shantell Malachi  l everyone “Thank You” for changing lives and the behind-the-scenes stars of the show Jon Copeland and Melisa.

The two women above are Dress for Success clients. They came to DFS for help when they needed it most and today, both are successful, grateful, and empowering women working to help others in their daily lives. It was a true tear jerker. If you don’t know what DFS stands for, learn more here. (Photos by I Shine Photography)

Now, ; into the fashion show… The following photos are courtesy of I Shine Photography and River City Fashion Uprising.

Isabel Edmunds killed this effortless cocktail dress. You’ve seen me rock this pattern before here. Isabel’s brand “is” represents an easy, fluid, yet vibrant aesthetic.

This one of Nikkita’s dresses was so hot!

This dress might have been my favorite of all. Jasmyn Michelle’s designs were feminine and feisty. Her colors and applique details had my attention.

Below are some other photos from the show. Some of them evoked the spirit of Chanel herself. Note the presence of all-white outfits…

What were your favorite looks? 

What are your favorite items to wear on an interview?