For the fifth year, fashion goes to the dogs

 

Pink neon-ish blossoms, bones and the occasional water bowl.  It was the most fabulous event to hit the National Building Museum in memory.  On Saturday evening, over 1500 of DC’s party animals, many, in the literal sense, gathered for the 5^th Anniversary edition of Fashion for Paws to benefit the Washington Humane Society. 

For the past four years, the event has been held at the Italian Embassy, but due to its unparalleled growth, it was moved this year to the larger venue at 4th and F.  Décor and design was created by Syzygy Event Productions, VIP tables served a three-course meal 

by sponsor Design Cuisine. VIP seats enjoyed food provided by Teatro Goldoni and Cities restaurants, and general admission tickets in the main section were served heavy hors d’oeuvres compliments of Lebanese Taverna.

With a show emceed by Pamela’s Punch’s Pamela Sorensen and Entertainment Television, Regis and Kelly and the TV Guide Channel’s Lawrence Zarian, who flew in from LA specially for this event, models from DC society to celebrities hit the runway, many with their pets, sporting fashions from Tyson’s Galleria’s retailers including  Saks Fifth Avenue, Betsey Johnson, 7 for All Mankind, Karen Millen, Anne Fontaine, Nicole Miller, Basler, Stuart Weitzman, and Aram.   Seyhan Duru, rocked the runway with his musical selections and Nuri Yurt of Toka Salon & Spa, along with his team of internationally renowned hairstylists, designed hair while Dior provided makeup.

It wasn’t just the human models that got to sport the finest fashions.  Barkley Square Gourmet Dog Bakery & Boutique and WagTime created the “canine couture.”  Aba Kwawu of The Aba Agency  directed the fashions and the show –no small feat, consideringthere were 65 models and over 10 retailers

 represented this year.  Local artist Don Patron created a signature collection of portraits of shelter animals for the event.

Fashion for Paws’ top sponsor, vitaminwater zero™,also unveiled a five piece vitaminwater zero™ inspired couture collection created by the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising (FIDM) and FIDM’s graduate, Clay Sadler.  Live models from THE Artist Agency, featured these amazing and colorful designs on and off the runway.

Brainchild of executive director, Tara de Nicolas, 

Fashion for Paws (F4P) benefiting the Washington Humane Society began in 2007 with the first spring Runway Show. In the fall of 2009 building off of the brand already created through the annual spring Runway Show, Fashion for Paws launched into a year round program, raising funds all year through an array of themed fringe events, product merchandising, corporate sponsorships, individual gifts, and social marketing/new media, in addition to the annual Runway Show based in Washington, DC.

In just its first 4 years, the annual Fashion for Paws Spring Runway Show has been a smashing success, selling more than 1000 tickets each year, raising more than $1 million dollars for WHS so far and generating a mass amount of media coverage.  Although the total dollar amount is not yet available, this year’s event alone will raise over $500,000, making it the most successful F4P runway show to date..