From the happy pinks and greens of Lilly Pulitzer to the earth-toned evening dresses of Nicole Miller and the furs and sunglasses of Zinman, the runway at last evening's 14th annual Philadelphia Phasion Phest portrayed many unique areas of fashion.
The Phasion Phest, held this year at the Loews Philadelphia Hotel in Center City, displayed upscale fall trends for both men and women from various retailers and salons.
The Phasion Phest was created in 1994 by Sharon Phillips Waxman, who stepped onto the Philadelphia fashion stage as a model at age 13 and who has since become the owner of SPW Productions, one of the primary sponsors of the event.
More than 20 retailers and salons participate in the event each year, including Bloomingdale's, Chanel Cosmetics, Eileen Fisher and Sephora.
In 2003, Phasion Phest added the Fresh Face Model Search to its program.
Ten finalists, selected prior to the event, model some of the event's top designs on the runway, and the winner receives a trip to New York City to interview with a modeling agency scout, visit top agencies and participate in a local photo shoot.
Hairstylist and temporary model for Salon Rouge Jess Shirato said it was great to see the "different personalities that come out in the style" portrayed by the models.
Makeup for all 20 professional models who performed in the hour-long runway show was done by Chanel. The look included a "pale face, red lips and smokey eyes" said Gina Marchi, account executive for the Macy's Chanel in Center City.
The retail and salon displays before the runway show were where the real action was at.
On one side of the room, professional Chanel makeup artists gave free makeovers, while on another side Starbucks creme liquor was handed out to patrons.
One fashion display showed a Parisian-inspired background portraying three live models in "vintage 1960s dresses the boss's mother used to wear," said Salon De Sante stylist Maria Bell.
Many of the models on display were not professionals.
Phoenix Salon and Spa temporary models Virginia Le Vine and Caroline Keating, juniors at the Agnes Irwin School, located just outside Philadelphia, explained that the event was a one-time experience for them, although they both enjoyed participating.
