DC Fashion Week: Designer Showcase & A Night of Couture

What a weekend. Exhibit A sent me to DC Fashion Week to cover the event for it’s final two nights: Saturday’s Designer Showcase in Capitol Hill, and Sunday’s Couture Show at the French Embassy.

Guests of the Designer Showcase rocked it, taking the trendy “uniform” to its own level altogether. Blending neon and leather, sky-high platforms and booties, pops of color, and animal print, like my suit.

Saturday’s show outlaid quite a range, from nightwear to beachy maxi dresses to sharp ensembles of leather and chains. Up-and-coming local designers had their moment to shine, and guests arrived sporting a fabulous array of vogue and classic styles alike.

Roots by Bella delivered a dark and sexy runway collection, with masquerade masks making a splash throughout - and reminding us of Mardi Gras looming in the near future. MIE Sewing showed us that kids can crush it on the runway, too, and leggy models sailed down the runway all night, beautifully carrying the latest creations of the designers that dressed them.

But what made quite the bang and appropriately sealed off the week was the Couture show. Glamour in every form captivated us throughout the evening, fittingly held at the elegant French Embassy, which sits regally atop a hill (as my high-heeled feet won’t soon forget.)

And, naturally, all of us gawked and drooled over the final look of the evening, which wrapped up an already fabulous line of ball gowns and evening wear: a smashing ball gown worthy of royalty, complete with an overlay of delicate gold lace and an incredibly striking mask, an almost frightening Transformers-gone-Dia-de-los-Muertos look.

What a privilege to witness the creative movements happening in my city, seizing their chance to not only unite in their love of the craft, but also to relish their hard work and vision in the spotlight for a night. Several countries were represented, the models comprised a multiracial group, and so were those in attendance. It was a magical, lively, and visionary weekend, one we hope will repeat at DCFW’s next round in September 2019.

To read my full coverage of both events, visit Exhibit A.