Costa Mesa, CA, February 22 – OC Fashion Week®, the global platform for fashion trade and commerce, presented by Maserati of Newport Beach, is celebrating a new season of talent, design and style March 13-16, 2016.
Day 1 Sunday, March 13 from 6 to 9 p.m. Beginning March 13, Maserati of Newport Beach welcomes you to Opening Day where guests will enjoy the glamour and luxury of high fashion alongside the artwork of internationally renowned sculptor, Richard MacDonald at Dawson Cole Fine Art Gallery & Sculpture Garden. The cocktail gala begins at sunset with special tributes to the charities JDRF and Orangewood Children’s Foundation with masterfully crafted culinary couture by Crème de la Crème and Nolet’s Spirits. The World of Fashion Photography competition begins. Opening Charity tribute by Greer Wylder of Greer’s OC. Hair is presented by Toni and Guy Hairdressing Academy and Make-up by Manna Kadar Cosmetics, Accessory styling presented by Betinnis in Brea.
This season, the 2nd Annual Pandemonium: World of Fashion Photography Awards returns with an all-new venue set against an epic skyline and colossal ocean views. Photographers competing in this season’s competition will have the privilege of stunning backdrops at Dawson Cole Fine Art. They will have the chance to submit their work in a variety of categories, as well as photograph with live models during the week of auditions. Winners will be announced on the last day of fashion week with Mike Scocozza of “America’s Next Top Model” and celebrity stylist Ali Levine.
OC Fashion Week® is dedicated to creating a unique platform in which emerging talent can showcase their collections to a variety of influential buyers and Orange County consumers. Recognized as a leading fashion capital metropolis, Orange County is continually growing as a purchasing powerhouse of retail.
“It’s advantageous to designers that our local residents purchase fashion at the bulk of a corporate retail buyer,” says Kathy Marino, president of OC Fashion Week®. “We have made it our initiative to include OC’s most coveted retail consumers in the process, as spending here has surpassed some of the largest fashion capitals, according to statistical studies represented by the U.S Census on consumer expenditures. The nation has finally recognized Orange County’s value to the fashion retail industry in the U.S. as an incubator for fashion businesses to launch and prevail and as a lure for fashion tourism as well.”
“We also recognize what Orange County’s value to the fashion retail industry in the U.S. means for the West Coast luxury market as a whole. Many of Orange County’s international global buyers attend fashion weeks in New York, Paris, London and Milan. In addition to our indisputable shopping power, our surrounding fashion shopping destinations have done so well weathering economic recessions that fashion tourism has also been equally achieved as travelers from around the globe come for the shopping, the luxury coastlines and the California weather,” states Marino.
With a year of exciting change, OC Fashion Week® is proud to introduce Fashion Forum, a designer buyer cocktail reception curated by the OC Fashion Council. New talent will have the opportunity to discuss their collections and share their look books with key industry retail purveyors. Fashion Forum will be moderated by Manna Kadar, CEO of Manna Kadar Cosmetics, following the kickoff to The World of Fashion Photography Competition.
“I feel it’s imperative for our trade industry to embrace the networking aspect of an industry only event, dedicated to the business of fashion,” says Manna Kadar, CEO of Manna Kadar Cosmetics. “Having a forum of synchronized face time for designers and buyers allows for face-to-face meetings that are coveted in this industry. These are bespoke opportunities that would not present themselves otherwise, and we think that this approach allows for each participant to make the most of their time at OC Fashion Week®.”
Day TwoMarch 14 from 6 to 9 p.m. Maserati of Newport Beach welcomes you to The Coliseum Pool & Grill at The Resort at Pelican Hill, the gorgeous five-star resort in view of the Pacific Ocean. Experience the incredible collections of emerging OC fashion designers for luxurious resort-wear and accessories. The FASHION FORUM showcase will be followed by a unique buyer-designer cocktail reception with sumptuous hors d’oeuvres while featuring live networking event for designer collections of emerging talent and key industry purveyors to Shop the Runway. The World of Fashion Photography competition continues. Hair is presented by Toni and Guy Hairdressing Academy and Make-up by Manna Kadar Cosmetics, Accessory styling presented by Betinnis in Brea. FASHION FORUM Showcase: Shop the Designers Buy Now, Love Forever Shab Sadeghi, Jonathan Jimenez, Victoria by Elizabeth, Claire Farwell and an incredible line up of so much more.
Day ThreeTuesday, March 15 from 6 to 9 p.m. Maserati of Newport Beach provides you with front row access to couture collections from an eclectic and distinguished array of designers. The World of Fashion Photography competition continues. The event will be held in La Capella at The Resort at Pelican Hill, an intimate space with large ocean view for an incredible seaside, five-star luxury resort runway experience. Hair is presented by Toni and Guy Hairdressing Academy and Make-up by Manna Kadar Cosmetics, Accessory styling presented by Betinnis in Brea.
Featured designers include:
- Charmaine Joie Couture Collections
- Dawn Sunflower Couture
- Claire Farwell London
- MW by Mimoza Windisch
- BeSpoke Style Menswear Tailor-Made
Day FourWednesday, March 16 from 6 to 9 p.m. Guests will be regaled by the finale event Fashioned for the Future presented by the Art Institute of California, Orange County. A student design competition will be judged by top industry insiders and hosted by Mike Scocozza and Naima Mora of “America’s Next Top Model.”
This season’s Fashioned for the Future student designers include: Mandy McClean; Kiet Pham; Stefani Alvarado; Vanessa Lozada; Katherine Huynh; Alisha Needham; Ali Verdugo; Jacob Romero; Gladys Torres; Michelle Beaune; Mercedeh Maralan; Ashlee Vasquez; Marva Alyoush; Melynda Valera; and Dario McIntosh
The winner will be given the opportunity to showcase a full runway collection this fall. Lucky attendees will also enjoy performances by an incredible runway presentation from Naima Mora, the evening’s Spotlight Designer, debuting her incredible new collection and also new talent Cambria Martinsen. Hair is presented by Toni and Guy Hairdressing Academy and Make-up by Manna Kadar Cosmetics, Accessory styling presented by Betinnis in Brea, cocktails presented by SpaGirl Cocktails and Tequila by Casa Mexico Tequila, presented by Mario Lopez.
Attendees will also enjoy an incredible runway presentation from Naima Mora, the evening’s Spotlight Designer, debuting her incredible new collection. Hair will be presented by Toni and Guy Hairdressing Academy, make-up by Manna Kadar Cosmetics, accessory styling presented by Betinnis in Brea, cocktails presented by SpaGirl Cocktails and Tequila by Casa Mexico Tequila, presented by Mario Lopez.
OC Fashion Week® hosted the Face of Fashion competition presented by Apex Laguna Niguel. Winners will be announced at the wrap party at the Art Institute of California, in Laguna Beach, CA.
Orange County’s premier fashion television show, “Fashionista Now Boarding,” will cover the week’s events. The half-hour show features style and beauty experts, uncovering the latest trends, designer spotlights, and travel excursions to more than 16 million households watching every Thursday night at 6:00 p.m. on Channel 63.
Every season, OC Fashion Week® supports local charities in the Orange County community. This year, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) and Orangewood Children’s Foundation will be the recipients and receive a portion of ticket sales to benefit their extraordinary causes.
Front Row Fastpass Tickets presented by Maserati of Newport Beach are $150, and offers reserve seating and daily entrance into OC Fashion Week upon advanced reservation. To learn more visit ocfashionweek.com. General Admission is $85 for OC Fashion Week Day 1-3 and for Day 4 – $25.00 for General Admission and $15.00 for students with ID.