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DC Fashion Week Returns

Designers from as far away as Colombia and Ukraine showed at this year's event. Photographs by Rachel Cothran.

Fashion enthusiasts spanning all ages and nationalities packed the main hall of the French Embassy Sunday evening to cheer on the work of designers in the closing show of DC’s third annual Fashion Week. The event was created to promote the development of fashion-design professions and to mark the nation’s capital as a center for international fashion.

Executive director Ean Williams brought in designers from Africa, Italy, Atlanta, Colombia, and the Ukraine, among others. Only Williams’s own Corjor Couture and Renee France Designs represented Washington designers in the final show.

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Models took to the runway in outrageous hats, vintage-inspired gowns, intricate menswear jackets, pajamas, furs, and bras.

Amore’s line of hats—representing Nigeria—kicked off the evening with large black feathers decorating a white topper and a 1920s-inspired crocheted cap holding together the designer’s blinged-out and Mad Hatter tea-party-inspired line. Among other choices: an oversize, novelty Southern Bell-style hat and a wedding veil.

Williams’s Corjor line started out with a black gown reminiscent of vintage Ralph Lauren. Elaborate chiffon neckpieces and menswear—from basic three-piece suits to sheer-topped maroon pajamas—followed. Williams stuck to heavy purples and greens, ending with a green gown whose billowy train almost tripped up the model.

Other standouts were a bright-yellow dress with a pleated chest by Liberia’s House of Leevean and menswear by Ray Vincente of Trenton, New Jersey—specifically, a striking white jacket with front detailing at the closure. Renee France also produced a solid menswear line, including a bold motorcycle getup and a highly structured casual jacket with cuffed sleeves.

Glamfurs came from Atlanta to bring leather and fur into the mix, while Favala of Lynn, Massachusetts, showed graffiti-tagged cotton outfits with candy-striper hats and summer dresses in lavender and white. Five Ukrainian designers ended the show.

Sound problems kept the audience from hearing the designers’ names and some designs fell flat—Yobit Tibebu of Ethiopia showed too many bright-yellow looks while Divaista, based in Charlottesville, took an Asian theme too literally.

Has Washington created its own version of Project Runway? As that show’s host Tim Gunn would say: “Carry on, designers.”

What did you think of the looks or models at DC Fashion Week? Let us know in the comments section.

Were you at DC Fashion Week? What did you think of the runway shows and designers? Let us know in the comments.

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Comments

I think the Washingtonian needs a new fashion reporter. Since Ms. Jasmine can only report half truth.

Posted by: Jennifer | Mar 18, 2008 07:18:11 AM

Show was great, As a designer myself, I found Yodit Tibebu collection to be elegant, and rich in design. Besides Yellow is in for spring

Posted by: David | Mar 17, 2008 08:28:15 PM

Ukrainian designers use couple professional models. One of them was Miss Ukraine. All ukrainian group was the best and mens collection was good.

Posted by: Garry | Mar 15, 2008 03:38:54 PM

great show. most expecially house of leevean designs.

Posted by: e.colleh | Mar 10, 2008 06:15:36 PM

Some designers were great. The organization was horrible, as usual.

Posted by: jp | Mar 10, 2008 01:36:47 PM

This was my first time attending the DC Fashion Week International Couture Show and it was great. I think the Ukranians and the Mens Collections were nice but made the show too long and repetitious. I think the new designers were the most interesting and they were lost in the shuffle and received little attention.

Posted by: Otis | Mar 07, 2008 10:40:14 PM

I thought the show was great...a little organization issues, but thats to be expected on such a new event. I think Andrew Nowell Men’s line was amazing, he’s a local designer and got no mention here??? Stella Bonds rocked as well...great clothes for the men...it’s ABOUT TIME!!

Posted by: CM | Mar 06, 2008 06:47:47 AM

You’re kidding with the photos, right? I mean, I know she’s a contributor, but come on - half the photos are blurry... and not in an arty way...

Posted by: S | Mar 05, 2008 11:28:24 AM

thanks Gq for the compliment!

Posted by: brandii | Mar 05, 2008 08:51:25 AM

I think the show was great, but the photos are not showing the clothing very well.

Posted by: Liz | Mar 04, 2008 07:15:17 PM

I was a model in the show and I think the show was great for only 3 years. The garments were beautiful. Audio was off but overall the show was really good!

Posted by: brandii | Mar 04, 2008 06:04:39 PM

The models were all amazing.One in particular shown much promise and made a great impression.Last photo Eggplant evening gown.

Posted by: Gq | Mar 04, 2008 04:57:32 PM

....BY THE WAY YOU POSTED 3 OF DIVAISTA’S PICES SO IT COULDN’T HAVE BEEN THAT BAD ;)

Posted by: FASHIONISTA AT HEART | Mar 04, 2008 12:53:11 PM

I thought DIVAISTA showed a cohesive line-- Literal yes but really what woman is going to wear all 15 looks in one season. I think that the looks where for any woman in any stage of her life DIVAISTA showed a collection that could be interchanged to create a TRULYwearable wardrobe....

Posted by: FASHIONISTA AT HEART | Mar 04, 2008 12:52:04 PM

Very nice event! Love it !

Posted by: www.blackherald.com | Mar 04, 2008 12:03:04 PM

I thought the whole thing fell flat. I was certainly not impressed.

Posted by: Sara | Mar 04, 2008 10:20:50 AM

Great show, good designers, I loved the designer from Colombia, (Stellabonds), and from New Jersey. The Ukraine presentation was also diferent. There were some problems with the audio and we couldnt hear some of the names and other comments.

Posted by: Salvador | Mar 04, 2008 08:45:07 AM

Thanks for the correction! The name should now be fixed.

Posted by: Alejandro (Washingtonian) | Mar 04, 2008 07:18:15 AM

Great show! By the way, the name of the menswear designer you mentioned is Ray Vincente, not Ray Vicente. The ’n’ is missing.

Posted by: Great show | Mar 03, 2008 04:36:59 PM

DC Fashion Week Returns

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