Event Recap: FGI Dallas Rising Stars Glimmer at Galleria Dallas

by Leah Frazier on Mar 5, 2015 in Events

 

Last Thursday, February 26, the rink at Galleria Dallas whirred with a beautiful crowd energized for Fashion Group International of Dallas’ Rising Star Awards. The annual event, while inspiring, brought together the Who’s Who in Dallas fashion, coupled with established designers, design student hopefuls, and bloggers galore — all to mix and mingle and celebrate those honorees who rose above the ordinary in the name of Dallas fashion. Read on for the scoop.

 

 

Amidst anticipation, the event began promptly at 6 p.m. – ushering Dallas’ best dressed to the lower level ice rink where a full-size runway awaited, flanked by an open bar and a miniature bite set-up to get the conversation going. DJ Jennifer Miller was spied in the DJ booth coasting the tunes and grooving, as the stylish crowd buzzed in eagerness for the night’s event.

 

 

 

A selfie here, some small chat there, and much ado about networking was much of the action leading up to the first set of runway shows produced and effortlessly executed by Jan Strimple and Planet Productions. Showcasing fashions by Aftershock London, BCBG, BCBGeneration, Belk, Karen Millen, Macy’s and Nordstrom, onlookers and attendees alike caught the itch to purchase pieces straight off the runway.

 

 

Spotted traversing the scene was Dallas’ new ‘it’ bag designer Allison Mitchell, fashion and design industry maven Marion Marshall, Tendai Tawonezvi of NeoBantu, Oh So Cynthia’s Cynthia Smoot, Fashion Group International of Dallas Regional Director Chuck Steelman (pictured above), Actress LeeAnne Locken, Christian Craven of Christian Alexander Fashion, Edo Popken stylist Fred Jones, Belk Personal Shopper and luxury jewelry designer Charmaine Marshall, and Galleria Dallas Stylist Holly Quartaro.

 

 

As if ordinary mixing and mingling weren’t enough, FGI spiced up the action by apprehending violators on site with two of Dallas’ most haute Fashion Police. Serving citations for being a “hot mama” or having the “best legs”, impromptu arrests throughout the night gave way for even more fun and laughter during the evening.

 

 

 

Peppered between runway shows were presentations of the 2015 Rising Star Awards. Winners for the evening included: Rising Star of Fashion Lucy Dang (pictured above); Rising Star of Interior Design Brant McFarlain; Rising Star of Beauty Dr. Naila Malik (also pictured above); Rising Star of Photography Brandon Lyon; Rising Star of Jewelry Megan Thorne; Rising Star of Art Shayema Rahim; and the People’s Star Awardee Shona Gilbert.

 

 

 

The evening concluded with a finale runway spectacular by the Rising Star of Fashion nominees: Esé Azénabor, Binzario Couture, and Lucy Dang. With last minute Instagram snaps, hugs, and final moments of goodbyes, the FGI crowd bid adieu to Galleria Dallas with promises for even greater advancement of the industry in 2015. From all of us at DFW Style Daily, we had a fashionably good time, and we’ll be seeing you again very soon!

 

Lead, top, and bottom image credit Thomas Garza for FGI. All other images credit Sylvia Elzafon for FGI.