Hear Philly: Philadelphia's Phashion Phest Celebrates Its 21st Birthday
By Dan Majka
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) --- If you're looking for something fabulous to wear to this fall, you won't have to go very far to find it. Phashion Phest, the Philadelphia area's largest showcase of fashion and beauty, is back again, offering the season's newest and hottest trends.
"The mission of Phashion Phest is to showcase all of the great fashion and beauty retail that we have here in the Philadelphia Market," says Sharon Phillips Waxman, president of SPW Productions and creator of Phashion Phest.
She says touting the theme "Dress Responsibly," the event is celebrating its 21st birthday on Wednesday, September 17 at the Shops at Liberty Place -- and you're invited to the party.
"The event is a lovely open bar, cocktail reception. We have all Skinnygirl cocktails, fabulous hors d'oeuvres from Brulee (Catering), a silent auction with fashion and beauty-related activities," says Waxman. "We showcase student designers from all of the local design schools during the cocktail reception, and then, during the fashion show, we showcase about 20 retailers from around the Delaware Valley, men's and women's, and accessories, as well as salon presentations from six of the top salons in the area, showcasing fall trends, what's new in beauty, in hair and makeup for the fall season."
And while enjoying the food and drinks, Waxman says, guests will be treated to spa and salon treatments.
"All of the salons will be participating in their own little beauty bars," she says, "where guests of the event will be able to have mini makeovers, mini massages, updos with their hair, trying on the newest colors in lipstick for fall."
This is the fourth year for Phashion Phest at the Shops, but much like those things it's intending to show off, the event itself will also be fresh and new.
"This year, we've changed the whole venue in terms of where we're doing the fashion show," Waxman says. "We're transforming the whole food court area into a new, upscale lounge, perfect for our 'Dress Responsibly' (theme), since it's our 21st anniversary, we're giving a nod to the being legal aspect. Everything about the event will look different."
And don't assume it's not your style. Waxman says Phashion Phest offers something for just about anyone.
"Our audience is very diverse," she says. "We have a variety of attendees who come year after year, ranging from college students who are very into fashion to all of the supporters of the stores and salons that participate. Generally, it's just one-stop shopping to see what's available in our market for everybody to update their fall look."
If something showcased on the runway is a must addition to your wardrobe, you can buy it the next day in stores. Think you can't afford it? Think again.
"At Phashion Phest, that's the thing that's really neat, because there is every price point," Waxman says. "There is a lot of variety from classic stores to stores that are more edgy, like a Smak Parlour, as opposed to a more stayed line, like Loft. There's something for everybody. There are cocktail dresses from Saks Fifth Avenue and fur from Zinman. There really is a plethora of fashion looks for fall."
For a complete list of participants, ticket prices and other information about Phashion Phest, visit their website, PhashionPhest.com.
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Hear Philly: Phashion Phest
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