FGI Night of Stars Shone Brightly in 2012

Cynthia Smoot and DFW Style Daily's Lisa Petty

I recently attended the FGI Dallas’ Fashion and Lifestyle Awards, “Night of Stars” gala.  The event is FGI Dallas’ largest fundraiser of the year and directly supports more than $40,000 in multiple scholarships to local fashion students.

This is always one of my favorite events of the year. When the fashion community gets together, you can be rest assured that good people-watching will ensue. These fashion divas go all out to showcase their personal style and show off the latest trends.

I was thrilled to represent Dallas design at this gala by working with Abi Ferrin who styled me in this fabulous teal gown and with the fabulous Stephanie Anne who lavished me in beautiful jewelry (see photo). My gorgeous pal Lisa Petty, had the same idea, wearing Paulette Martsolf of Allie-Coosh.

Neiman Marcus' Chuck Steelman and Pink Memo's Maxine Trowbridge were back again as this year's event chairs. “Night of Stars is currently the only Fashion & Lifestyle Award gala that recognizes both local businesses and supports education and talent in Dallas,” said Trowbridge. “FGI Dallas prides itself on supporting the next generation of fashion, design and lifestyle brilliance that will keep North Texas at the forefront of the fashion and design industries.”

Victoria Snee with NorthPark Center served as the evening's emcee and kicked off the night by giving ME a shout out from the podium!  "Has everyone checked in tonight?" Victoria began. "Where's Cynthia Smoot... have you tagged everyone on Facebook? Are you Instagramming this," she exclaimed. I raised the thumbs-up sign from my seat at Shay Geyer's table to signify that all was well in the world of social media activity.

Designer Lela Rose to be honored at FGI's "Night of Star's" Gala

Fashion Group International of Dallas (FGI Dallas) announced today top American clothing designer Lela Rose as the recipient of the Career Achievement in Fashion Award. 

The award will be presented to Rose at FGI Dallas’ Fashion and Lifestyle Awards, “Night of Stars” gala on November 16. The gala will be held at the Grand Pavilion of The Trade Mart at Dallas Market Center from 7-10 p.m. This year, the event will feature a runway show starring the Fashion Police, 11 local philanthropic notables, sponsored by premier shopping hub NorthPark Center.

Dallas Market Center is the event space sponsor, and Jan Strimple Productions will produce the fashion show. NorthPark Center’s fashion and public relations director, Victoria Snee, will host the evening as emcee.

“Lela Rose is an inspiration in the fashion industry. Her exquisite taste, incredible attention to detail, flawless aesthetic, and unique point of view make her the perfect recipient for FGI Dallas’ Career Achievement in Fashion Award,” said Maxine Trowbridge, founder and editor of online fashion magazine PinkMemo and gala co-chair.  I am personally a HUGE fan of Lela Rose. Her designs consist of classic tailoring but use modern fabrications which I find extremely flattering.

Lela Rose boutique in Highland Park Village

Rose, a Dallas native, is a well known couture designer whose hand-finished, ready-to-wear creations are sold at more than 75 specialty stores nationwide including Bergdorf Goodman, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Bloomingdales, and at her flagship store at 69 Highland Park Village in Dallas. Her collections are also available internationally in Canada, Europe, Russia, the Middle East, Taiwan, and Japan. In addition to intricately crafted separates, dresses, and jackets, Rose designs wedding gowns as well as bridesmaid dresses in partnership with the Dessy Group.

The event is FGI Dallas’ largest fundraiser of the year and directly supports more than $40,000 in multiple scholarships to local fashion students.  Tickets for the Fashion and Lifestyle Awards “Night of Stars” gala are available online at dallas.fgi.org and directly through their office at 214-634-0204. Tickets range in price from $75 to $3,000.

DFW Style Daily Celebrates Its First Anniversary in Style

Last Tuesday, I attended a "White Hot" party and everywhere I turned there were beautiful people in white attire. It felt like the Hamptons! No, it wasn't hosted by P. Diddy - it was a soiree thrown by my gal pal Lisa Petty to celebrate the first anniversary of her online magazine, DFWStyleDaily.com.

Inside Fedora at One Arts Plaza I chatted it up with jewelry designer, Shona Gilbert, who stood out from the pack with her newly dyed hot pink hair. I sipped cocktails with PR hipster Bri Crum, skin care guru Renee Rouleau, and Maxine Trowbridge from PinkMemo.com.  And of course, DFWStyleDaily Contributors Rhonda Sargent Chambers and Abby Gregory were there working the room as only they can.

If you aren't already an ardent reader of DFW Style Daily, I highly encourage you to add it to your RSS feed, Google Reader, BlogLovin or whatever it is you use to track sites you love.  In Lisa's words, " DFW Style Daily brings you the latest local fashion news, plus the compulsively watchable videos and galleries you know and love. What’s more, we've gathered a team of writers to track what’s really going on in the world of Dallas style. No tricks, no politics — we'll play by no rules other than our own."

(left) Renee Rouleau and Maxine Trowbridge  (right) Richard and Ashley Burghardt
(back) Sean Charles, Abby Gregory, Ric Mulligan (bottom) Lisa Petty, Priya Bhola Rathos, Rhonda Sargent Chambers and Heather Lettieri

I love seeing Lisa at events and reading her take on it the next day. My post will all about who was there, the vibe and what everyone was wearing. Lisa is the one who will notate a thoughtful analysis of the show, the designer's background and inspiration and why you need to care. I don't give a whit about inspiration. I just like pretty... This girl is the ying to my yang.  I adore her so much and was thrilled to be there to celebrate her success.

To see more photos from this event, visit DFW Style Daily on Facebook. Oh, and be sure to "LIKE" her page while you are there.

FGI Announces Co-Chairs for Upcoming Gala

Fashion Group International of Dallas announced today that Maxine Trowbridge and Chuck Steelman will serve as co-chairs for The Fashion & Lifestyle Awards ‘Night of Stars’ Gala. The gala will be held November 16 from 7 to 10 p.m. in the Trade Pavilion at Dallas Market Center.  This is one of my favorite events of the year because it is totally dedicated to uplifting and honoring the achievements of the local fashion community.

“Night of Stars is currently the only Fashion & Lifestyle Award gala that recognizes both local businesses and supports education and talent in Dallas,” said Trowbridge. “FGI Dallas prides itself on supporting the next generation of fashion, design and lifestyle brilliance that will keep North Texas at the forefront of the fashion and design industries.”

Trowbrideg and Steelman

This year’s Fashion & Lifestyle Awards gala is especially momentous with the inaugural Shelly Musselman Design Award being awarded to a local fashion student. Brian Bolke, owner of Forty Five Ten and the former business partner of fashion influencer Shelly Musselman, and her daughter, Meredith Musselman have selected the $10,000 award winner from over 700 students that participated in this year’s Career Day. Bolke will mentor the winner in the creation of a capsule collection, sponsored by Forty Five Ten that will be presented at the Night of Stars.

“Dallas has always been a vibrant contributor to global fashion; producing amazing designers and breakthrough trends,” said Steelman. “Through fostering the ongoing education of fashion students we hope to enable this to continue.”

The Fashion & Lifestyle Awards ‘Night of Stars’ Gala is the largest fundraiser of the year for FGI of Dallas and directly funds and supports Career Day. Held annually in April, Career Day provides over $40,000 in multiple scholarships to local fashion students.  A party to announce all Fashion and Lifestyle Award Honorees will be held Oct. 3 at the Hilton Anatole Gossip Bar from 6 to 8 p.m. For more information about FGI’s Night of Stars please visit http://dallas.fgi.org.


About Fashion Group International:
Fashion Group International, founded in 1930, is a global, non-profit organization of dynamic professionals in all areas of the fashion and design-related industries of apparel, accessories, beauty and home. FGI’s mission is to be the pre-eminent authority on the business of fashion and design and to help members become more effective in their professional lives. For more information please visit http://www.fgi.org/.

Candidates for the Shelly Musselman Fashion Design Award Announced by FGI

Cassandra Bumpous with Brian Bolke

Five fashion students participating in Fashion Group International (FGI) of Dallas’ 2012 Career Day have been selected as candidates for the new $10,000 Shelly Musselman Fashion Design Award which also includes mentorship by Brian Bolke, co-founder of Forty Five Ten, one of Dallas’ most well known designer boutiques, announced Jenny Siede, president, FGI Dallas. 

The award is named in honor of Bolke’s co-founder, Shelly Musselman, a Dallas and international fashion icon, who passed away in early 2011. Selected by Bolke during the annual FGI Dallas Career Day, which attracted more than 1,000 students and faculty from over 40 colleges and universities across 12 states, the nominees were announced during Career Day’s runway fashion show featuring Career Day scholarship winners.

Candidates for the Shelly Musselman Fashion Design Award are: Mfon Ogbonna, Houston Community College; Cassandra Bumpous, University of North Texas; Kim Pham, University of North Texas; Bao Tran, University of North Texas; and Katrina Raz, University of Texas at Austin. In addition to having the honor of being considered for this significant fashion award, these five talented fashion students competed for scholarship awards given by Fashion Group International of Dallas, the Dallas Market Center, Louisiana Alligator Advisory Council, Neiman Marcus, The Texas Cotton Ginners Association, and DAVACO.

Bao Tran with Brian Bolke

Katrina Raz received a first place scholarship award in the Bridal category, while Mfon Ogbonna received a first place scholarship for Dallas Market Center’s “Little Red Dress” competition. Bao Tran won two Career Day scholarship awards – first place in Career Wear, and first place in Cocktail/Eveningwear. Kim Pham received a second place award in the Fashion Illustration category, while Cassandra Bumpous received a first place Natural Fibers Award in the Cotton Garment category.

One of these students will be named the winner of the Shelly Musselman Fashion Design Award at the Oct. 3 press party for the Fashion and Lifestyle Awards “Night of Stars” gala. Co-chaired by Maxine Trowbridge and Chuck Steelman, the “Night of Stars” event is slated for Friday, Nov. 16 at The Grand Pavilion of The Dallas Trade Mart.

Dallas Career Day, hosted by Fashion Group International of Dallas, was created to provide philanthropic educational outreach for college and university students seeking careers in the fashion and lifestyle industries.