Captured Event

June, 30 2009 - Fashion Group International Kicks Off 2009 Rising Star event

What: Kickoff event for 5th biannual signature event

Where: Home of Don & Arlene Johnson

When: Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Time: 5:30 p.m.

Beneficiary: Fashion scholarships and educational outreach programs

Presenting Sponsor(s): Mercedes Benz of Westminster

Gala Chairperson(s): Scottie Taylor Iverson, Regional Director-Elect

Honorary Chairperson(s): Former First Lady Frances Owens and Monica Owens

Executive Director: Regional Director of FGI: Bea Kahn Wilhite

Committee Members: All-star cast: Cynthia Petrus*; Ray Higgins*; Steve Replin*; Nathalia Faribault*; Carol Engel-Enright*; Susan Ware; Lisa Elstun; Lisa Wax; Peggy Ziglin*; Cindy Mackin; Jim Howard; Lauren Chlebowski; Gino Velardi; Lenora Chavez; Mimi de Olloquie-Turner; Patty Spivack*; Jan Top*; Melissa Oster; Vicky Nolan; Keri Christiansen; Jo Frank; Lauren Vitale; Debbie Pain; Nolan Carleton; * = executive committee members

Catering: Occasions by Sandy

Entertainment: Live song presentation by Dejo

Music: Sweetness & Co.

Sponsors: Mercedes Benz of Westminster, K-Hi Radio, The Villager Newspaper, Denver Magazine, Occasions by Sandy

Attendance: 150

Attire: Summer casual

Special Thanks: Don & Arlene Johnson for being such gracious hosts

Hors D'Oeuvres:: Margarita tuna crisp, Asian peapod shrimp, steak house slider, chicken teriyaki coronet, buttermilk asapragus soup sip, cheese, caviar and fruit display

Event Coordinator: Scottie Taylor Iverson

Board of Directors: REGIONAL DIRECTOR ~ BEA KHAN WILHITE; REGIONAL DIRECTOR-ELECT ~ SCOTTIE TAYLOR-IVERSON; TREASURER ~ STEPHAN REPLIN; TREASURER-ELECT ~ LINDA JENNINGS; TREASURER-ELECT ~ DAVENE COUTTS; SECRETARY ~ NATHALIA FARIBAULT; SECRETARY-ELECT ~ HOLLY NITSCHE

Blacktie Photos by: Pamela Cress

Event chair Scottie Taylor Iverson, left, with honorary chairs Frances Owens and Monica Owens
View all photos

Some very talented and unique artists were in the running for the upcoming, prestigious Rising Star Fashion By Design runway gala, the biannual signature event orchestrated by Fashion Group International of Denver. Everyone has marked their calendars for the event: October 23, 2009.

Ten finalists were chosen to ultimately participate in the biannual signature event, as guests, sponsors and supporters gathered at the lovely home of Don and Arlene Johnson to kick off the event. (see list of finalists below.) Guests were greeted by an array of Mercedes Benz from presenting sponsor Mercedes Benz of Westminster, including the 2010 E350 that has not even hit the streets yet.

Wonderful food dishes were passed by Occasions by Sandy, complemented by delicioius "sparkling stars," (drink concoctions containing Midori liquer, champagne and a star melon), as attendees lounged by the pool or mingled in the marble foyer of the Johnson home. Be sure to mark your calendars for the spectacular Rising Star event, which will be at the Mercedes Benz of Westminster showroom. One entire wing will be turned into a '50s extravaganza, in honor of the 2008 50th anniversary of FGI's founding in Denver.

FGI is a global non-profit where fashion industry professionals connect, create and move the fashion industries – apparel, accessories, beauty and the home. The first non-profit fashion organization that now boasts 6,000 members worldwide originally became a force in New York City, the organization’s headquarters. Helena Rubenstein, Eleanor Roosevelt, Edith Head and others with early New York fashion careers are responsible for FGI’s founding.  

The concept of Fashion Group International began originally in New York in 1928 when 17 women, gathered by Edna Woolman Chase, Editor-in-Chief of Vogue, met for lunch in a modest midtown New York restaurant. 

They had three things in common: Each held a job of consequence in the business of fashion, each held all the others in high regard and together they held a belief that fashion needed a forum, a stage, or a force to express and enhance a widening awareness of the American fashion business and of women’s roles in that business.

The Fashion Group®, conceived at an informal luncheon in 1928 became an organization in 1930, with a place, a purpose, by-laws, officers and women eager to be members. The Denver chapter of Fashion Group International was founded March 1958 by Gretchen Weber.

Finalists for the 2009 Rising Star Fashion By Design Runway Gala are:

• Women's Sportswear/Leisure Wear: Bornfit, Lisa Welch and Julie Hill
  
• Women's Dress/Evening Wear: Smooch, Stephanie Onmacht
  
• Art Wearable/Couture: Women With A Cause, Susan Kiely
  
• Custom Design: Denver Couture, Maureen de Haan
  
• Active Wear/Outdoor Wear: Sierra Design, Phoebe Stapleton
  
• Men's Sportswear: Totem Industries, Josh Holleb
  
• Urban Apparel: DVLP Clothing, Rustin Coburn and Noah Price
  
• Children's Wear: LamanBlu, Holli Gibson
  
• Accessories: Yo-San Studio, Eulanda Sanders
  
• Jewelry: Andrea Li, Andrea Li
  
• Retail: Mona Lucero, Mona Lucero
  
• Interior: Vintage Renewal, Jeanne Connolly

For more information, log on to www.denver.fgi.org