DFW Style Daily Crowns Best Dressed for 2013

DFW Style Daily's Heather Lettieri
and Cynthia Smoot

Last Thursday, former Best Dressed honorees Yvonne Crum and Benny Black co-chaired the second annual DFW Style Daily Best Dressed 2013 Awards.  The Galleria Dallas pulled out all the stops for this fancy-pants evening by hosting this event inside the ice rink.  How would I manage to slide around in 5" stilettos, I wondered? Not to worry, they covered the rink with carpet. Whew!

This year’s trendsetters showcased fall looks using their own personal flair and fashion diva Jan Strimple dazzled guests with pop-up runway shows highlighted styles from some of the Galleria's vendors like BCBCG MaxAzria, Ann Taylor, Thomas Pink and Falconable.

This year's Best Dressed honorees were:

• Barbara Daseke, Interior Designer 
• Ariel Saldivar, Director of Development, Goss-Michael Foundation, Founder and Designer, Olivia K Jewelry 
• Jaffrene Islam, Student, University of Texas at Dallas 
• Khanh Nguyen, Founder and Designer, Nha Khanh 
• Amanda Reed, Store Manager, TenOverSix Dallas 
• Dawn Mellon, Wardrobe Stylist and Fashion Columnist
• George John, Professional Soccer Player, FC Dallas 
• Charlie Price, Owner and Stylist, Hair by Charlie 
• Niven Morgan, Founder and Fragrance Designer, Niven Morgan 
• Elliot Munoz, Photographer 
• David & Lavarro Jackson-Hurley, Songwriter & Makeup Artist (David) and CEO, Imagine Thee Bespoke Events (Lavarro) 
• Taylor J. Booth, Actor/Model - Booth was scouted on location at Galleria Dallas during their special "Street Style Scouting Mission"

SMITH II takes sports chic to the street with his Fall Collection

Charles Smith II and Cynthia Smoot

On Friday, August 30th, Charles Smith II hosted his first solo runway presentation of SMITH II: 33 Collection at the Blow-Up Gallery in The Shops at Park Lane.

Traditionally, design has moved from the runway down to the masses. In recent years, the trend has reversed, with designers taking inspiration from the streets and translating it up to a couture level. This is clearly the case with SMITH II whose designs reference sports themes and urban street chic.

Smith says this collection was inspired by the draping and layering common to the Roman and Egyptian cultures. 33 Collection incorporates simplicity, minimalism and modernism. He says his artistic aesthetic explores androgyny with pieces common to both men and women.

The show opened with a spectacular modern dance performance by Traiman Houston.  His performance set a dramatic tone for the runway presentation. Amongst the stylish crowd, I spied the legendary Jan Strimple (her stamp of approval is mandatory for success in this town), BLKN designer Jim Duran, Jackson, Benny Black, Jarrod Fresquez, Frank Mauricio, Juan Lerma of The Dragonfly Agency, and DFW Style Daily's Lisa Petty and Heather Lettieri.

Dress for Success: Light the Runway 2012

Dress for Success launched Light the Runway, their first annual Father/Daughter runway show at Tootsies last Thursday.  Good Morning Texas host Amy Vanderoef introduced the show along with Dress for Success' local celebrity Ambassador, Courtney Kerr of Bravo TV's Most Eligible Dallas.

The celebrities that lent their talents on the runway included Gary Jackson & Alexia Figgous, Ricardo & Alissa Ortiz, Mike Degani & Sharon Blumberg, Leonard & Alsion Volk, Benny & Brianna Black, Rick & Rachel Fresquez, Vaughn, Gigi & Jade Miller, Brian & Bryn Neufeld, Freddy, Sofia & McKenzie Vaca, Daniel, Candice, Caydence & Caylee Hernandez, Mike Leatherwood & Jamie Lain Siegel, John Conte & Brianna Beasley, Stephen & Kelly Giles, James, Katy & Sara Ryan, Joe, Sara & Katherine Ho, Dean & Kennedy Ann Niewouny, Elgrie & Klarc, Joy Vida Hurd, Mitch Carr & Rose, Willow Skidmore, and Gene & Abi Ferrin.

Katy Messersmith, Kristen Fagelman and Courtney Kerr

Rick Fresquez, Rich Emberlin, guest, Amy Vanderoef and Alison Volk

Samantha Crum givers her Mama, Bri, some love

My favorite runway participants were the Daddy's with their little girls. 
Pictured here are Daniel Hernandez, FC Dallas Soccer Captain, with his two girls and former Dallas Cowboy, Ryan Neufeld with his daughter, Bryn.

Kristen Fagelman models a maxi dress from Katydid Collection | Rich Emberlin and LeeAnne Locken

Dress for Success beneficiaries, staff and supporters!

Dress for Success Dallas is a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to promote the economic independence of disadvantaged women by providing professional attire, a network of support and the career development tools to help women thrive in work and in life. Dress for Success Dallas provides each woman in their program with one suit when she has a job interview.  When she successfully lands a job, she returns to Dress for Success Dallas for a second suit and up to a week’s worth of business appropriate separates. She also receives an invitation to join the Professional Women’s Group (PWG), our employment retention service. To learn more about this organization, or how to donate, visit their website.

Photos courtesy of Shana Anderson. Click here to see a gallery of photographs from this event.