Philly’s First Fashion Week

This October, Philly’s 23rd Street Armory may steal the spotlight from Bryant Park as we stake our Fashion Week claim. While Agyness Deyn owns New York City’s runways clad in foreign couture, Philadelphians will be treated to fashion made with Brotherly Love and Sisterly Affection. The first-ever Philadelphia Fashion Week (PFW) will showcase not only nationally recognized contemporary brands (Triple 5 Soul, Brooklyn Royalty), but also local talent brewing in places like Moore College, Philadelphia University and the Art Institute of Philadelphia.

 
 

Most New Yorkers will only touch their city’s Fashion Week through the pages of Vogue and New York Magazine; in Philly, we’re a bit more hands-on. Michael Anderer, head buyer for Philly’s Matthew Izzo boutique (and creative director for PFW) said he “wanted the event to be accessible for everyone–designers and guests." Thanks to the event’s community roots, you don’t need to be Anna Wintour’s assistant’s assistant to have a hand in the event’s success—simply apply to be a volunteer.

 
 

Whether you’re there to lend a French-manicured hand or watch the runway shows from the sidelines (along with the 2,000 others expected to attend), you’ll need the event’s schedule. Each day, doors open at 4pm, with the show holding a consistent order: best of student designers, street wear designers, headlining concert and contemporary couture designers. In the 15 runway shows over three days, you’ll see both winter 2009 and spring 2010 fashions, a Fashion Week first. Rather than limiting designers to spring fashions, directors have extended the traditional runway show to include more season-appropriate designs. After all, who cares about next summer’s bikinis when we’re on the brink of wool sweater season?

 

Tickets are available here. For of-the-moment updates, follow PFW on Twitter or become a Facebook fan.