Fashion show provides funds for charity
Dan Auld
Issue date: 11/9/09 Section: Perspectives
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Every year, Local Motion raises funds for a charity that benefits the Pittsburgh area. This year, Riverlife of Pittsburgh was chosen for their efforts to bring the Point State Park fountain back for good through their "Friends of the Fountain" campaign.
Riverlife's mission is to reclaim, restore and promote Pittsburgh's rivers as an environmental, recreational, cultural and economic hub for the people of the region. Projects include a plan for establishing Three Rivers Park and renewal of Point State Park.
Other projects include the Ohio River Basin North, Allegheny Eco-Bank, Mon Warf switchback and the West End Pedestrian Bridge.
Approximately 300 people attended and saw the finest fashions from local shops and boutiques around the Pittsburgh area. Guests were greeted by staff members dressed in chic attire who welcomed them to the reception before the start of the show, which was an event within itself.
Tables upon tables of elegant foods, including pastries, chocolate fountains, meats and cheeses plus a bar for those over 21 was provided. A cash-and-carry sale next door where guests could purchase clothing and accessories from the many designers participating in the show was featured, with all proceeds going to Riverlife.
The show started with a performance by students of the Pittsburgh Ballet Theater School of Dance, sponsored by the Point Society. Their performance included an interesting display of intense, tribal-like dance that started the evening off with a hit.
Gab Bonesso, a local Pittsburgh comedian, was the emcee for the evening. Performing stand-up comedy since 2001 in venues including the New York City Laugh Factory, the World Café in Philadelphia and the New York City Underground Comedy Festival, she definitely put on a great act and kept the audience right there with her.
Local Motion's theme this year was rock n' roll, with the runway featured on stage. But the models were not walking to a classic D.J. styled show. They strutted their stuff to a live band, Cali AC, stationed off to the left side of the runway.
"It was different walking to a live band of that kind of music," Alexis Katsafanas, 17, local model and first female model to walk at Local Motion, told The Voice.
"Normally when I do shows, models walk to a type of music that has some type of distinct beat that you can pick up and bring yourself to match. [This] was a bit of a challenge, but I know I nailed it."
Designs from Sugar Boutique, Tweek Clothing, Via Boutique, Timebomb Spot, The E House Company, Figleaf Boutique, Jupe Boutique, Decade, Pavement and other designers received rounds of applause.
When the show was over, the elegant after party followed with more drinks and desserts from local vendors. Guests had more time to examine the many wardrobes in the show and have a chance to meet and talk with representatives from the stores and boutiques, as well as Cali AC and Bonesso.
"Local Motion and Riverlife both had a fantastic turnout!" Bonesso told the Voice. "All the proceeds are going to Riverlife to fix the fountain at Point State Park. I think it's a great cause. The Pittsburgh skyline cannot be complete without the fountain. It would be like San Fran losing the Golden Gate Bridge."
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