FASHION FOCUS CHICAGO 2012 – OCTOBER 15-21 - Chicago Concerts, Festivals, Events and Music Scene

Four Headlining Fashion Shows to Showcase Chicago Designers
In Millennium Park and the Chicago Cultural Center

Fashion Focus Chicago 2012 returns for its eighth year October 15-21 for a week-long celebration of Chicago’s thriving fashion industry while showcasing some of its top designers. Highlights include an opening night runway show in the Chicago Cultural Center and three headlining runway shows in Millennium Park. Fashion Focus will also feature a variety of free and affordable fashion events, industry happenings, shopping and designer events at various locations around the city.

The City’s fashion initiative supports and promotes independent fashion boutiques and fashion designers living and working in Chicago. The theme this year for Fashion Focus Chicago is You saw it on the runway, now buy it! In addition to showcasing the talented fashion industry, patrons are encouraged to purchase what they like directly through designers websites and at independent boutiques not only during the event, but year round.

Dress Code at the Chicago Cultural Center
Opening night, Monday, October 15, Fashion Focus Chicago will highlight Chicago’s fashion design schools at Dress Code in the Chicago Cultural Center beginning at 7:00 p.m. This premiere runway show will spotlight the rising fashion stars from Columbia College Chicago, the Illinois Institute of Art-Chicago, International Academy of Design and Technology-Chicago and The School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Students will showcase their collections on the runway in the Yates Gallery. Catch the debut of these creative student designers with award-winning styles representing their best work and originality. The show is free and a reservation is required.

Millennium Park Headlining Runway Shows
Fashion Focus 2012 will feature three headlining runway shows in Millennium Park showcasing some of Chicago’s top local talent. These highly anticipated shows begin each evening at 7:30 p.m. and have a general admission price of $35 and $95 for VIP, which includes a pre-party at 6:00 p.m. and preferred seating. For more information on how to reserve your spot by purchasing tickets visit www.fashionfocuschicago.org.

On Wednesday, October 17, The Macy’s Chicago Fashion Incubator Runway Show will kick off the headlining shows in Millennium Park. The Chicago Fashion Incubator at Macy's on State Street is a not-for-profit organization that supports new and emerging Chicago-based designers allowing them to showcase their talent on the stage of Fashion Focus. The six current designers in residence: RFD by Rachel Frank, Sarah Church, Elizabeth Smith Fashions, Lagi Nadeau, Christina Karin, Blank Nation Apparel along with participating alumni Anna Hovet, Modahnik, c/fan, Cettina, miriam Cecilia, Zamrie, Gidi and Crystal B. Designs will feature their spring 2013 collections and highlight the talent in Chicago's fashion community at this highly anticipated runway show.

The runway shows continue on Thursday, October 18 with “Fashion Takes Flight” Presented by Mario Tricoci Hair Salons & Day Spas and vitaminwater®. The show will feature collections from local designers including Imaginary People, J. Cheikh, Shelby Steiner and Azza, and serve as the conclusion to the Fifth Annual Mario, Make Me a Model competition, a program that provides local model hopefuls with the training and platform they need to start their career. The winner of Mario, Make Me a Model will be revealed at the end of the show, after the competition’s five finalists have completed their last challenge walking the runway among professional models.

StyleChicago.com will present the 4th season of The Art of Fashion 2012 as part of Fashion Focus Chicago in Millennium Park on Friday, October 19. This runway show will preview contemporary to couture Spring 2013 collections of accomplished Chicago designers and fashion lines of the following designers: Barbara Bates, Borris Powell, Eva Pazola, Michael Alan Stein, Michelle Tan, Nade Baer, Ruchika Singh, Shalini Sharma, Shernett Swaby and Lara Miller.

Fashion Focus Chicago 2012 is presented by the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events. For a full schedule of events visit www.fashionfocuschicago.org or call (312) 744-3316. You can also join the conversation on Facebook and receive updates on Twitter: @FashionFocus.

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