Lowcountry Boil

Photo courtesy: jwkpec.com

With 7000 attendees at sold out events in 2011, Charleston Fashion Week is known as one of the hottest trend-setting multi-media events. The inspiring series of more than 45 runway presentations will take place on March 20-24th in Marion Square under the white tents. Throughout the five day event, emerging designers as well as established talent will strut the latest trends on the runway. Emerging designers presenting include Adrienne Antonson (Asheville, NC), Angela Sum (New York City, NY), Emily C Pollard (Falls Church, VA), Gil Tisdale and Dominique Verona (Johns Island, SC), Hannah Goff (Savannah, GA), Hazel Bae (Pineville, NC), Jessica Patricia Krupa (Toms River, NJ), Jordan Lee Brooks (Rock Hill, SC), Keely Lauren Cansler (Raleigh, NC), Kelly Elizabeth Ruehlman and Amy Cochran Quinn (Raleigh, NC), Ashley Newsome (Savannah, GA), Mikasa La’Charles (Chesapeake, VA), Nancy Faw Crowell (Murrells Inlet, SC), Nina Awasum (Randallstown, MD), Ra Jang (Ridgewood, NY), Samantha Michele Hyman (Brooklyn, NY), Shelley Lucille Smith (Charleston, SC), Tsvetelina Gerasimova McAuliffe (Concord, NC), Vartika Vikram (Charleston, SC), and Bob and Kris Galmarini (Charleston, SC).  The 2012 featured designers are Emily Bargeron, Michael Andrew Wiernick, Sarah Parrott, Luciana Scarabello, Nikki Poulos, Chris Benz, Charlotte Hess, and Faith Thornburg.

Photo courtesy: KarsonPhotography

Each night on site, there will be a Style Lounge that opens an hour before the fashion shows plus during the day, Tanger Outlets present Pop Up Shops with boutiques showcasing their duds, official CFW merchandise, stylists demonstrating hair & make-up design, food trucks, lectures, book signings, and more. If guests want to grab a bite before the shows, there are also Fashion Plate Dinners on Tuesday at High Cotton and Wednesday at O-Ku. In addition to the runway shows, be sure and check out the after parties each night from 10pm-2am…

Tuesday, March 20:
The Cocktail Club & The Macintosh (479 King St.) bring 1920s Boardwalk Empire theme with DJ Forge

Wednesday, March 21:
Fish (442 King St.) featuring DJ SK

Thursday, March 22:
Trio Club (139 Calhoun St.) hosts Dance/Glow after-party with DJ Arthur Brouthers

Friday, March 23:
Music Farm (32 Ann St.) has special musical guests McKenzie Eddy, Damon Dash, Boogie DJ, & Sean O’ Connell

Saturday, March 24:
Charleston After Dark and  26 Industries present RAIN at the South Carolina Aquarium (100 Aquarium Wharf)

Charleston Fashion Week supports Lowcountry AIDS Services and MUSC Children’s Hospital. Sponsors for the 2012 event include: Art Institute of Charleston, Cos Bar, Embassy Suites Hotels, F22 Internet Solutions, Ferguson, Francis Marion Hotel, Gathering Floral +Event Design, Gosnell & Company, inventivENVIRONMENTS, Paul Mitchell The School Charleston, REEDS Jewelers, smartwater, Snyder Event Rentals, Tanger Outlets, TD Bank, Technical Event Company, and The Shops At Charleston Place.

WHEN: March 20-24th

WHERE: Marion Square, Downtown Charleston

TICKETS: Click here.

INFORMATION: Please visit www.charlestonmag.com/fashionweek.