The Roanoker March/April 2024 - 42

EYE ON
FASHION
Keep an eye out for fashion show
pop ups from local boutiques by
following their social media
pages. Check with your favorite
charitable organizations as they
also host fashion show fundraising
events. Here are a few events
coming up soon.
LA DE DA
HOSTING
TATTOO
FASHION
EVENT
La De Da regularly has art popups
and consigns unique artisan
pieces year-round and last year,
they premiered The Tattoo
Fashion Show. This innovative
event featured local artists and
tattoo studios decorating La De
Da clothing, resulting in oneof-a-kind
wearable art pieces.
Creations were auctioned off
at an after-party held at Txtur,
with all proceeds donated to
The Breast Cancer Research
Foundation. The Tattoo Fashion
Show will take place again this
year and be a special collaboration
celebrating La De Da's 30th
anniversary and marking the 5th
year of Crystal McBroom owning
the store (tentatively scheduled
for May).
WEST END
CENTER
SPRING
BLING
A fundraising event benefiting
the West End Center for Youth,
Spring Bling takes place May 5
at Hotel Roanoke and includes a
fashion show, silent auction and
champagne brunch. Models will
include the students. Fashions
will be featured from Patina,
She's International, Davidsons
and Run About Sports. To volunteer
or for more information,
visit westendcenter.org or contact
kpillis@westendcenter.org.
42 MARCH/APRIL 2024
Tanya Alleyne (winner of RFW)
models a bleach-painted Free
People set painted by Niccole
Conner of Elysium Tattoos.
The team includes Sonia
Gravely who serves as second
in command as well as a model
coach and Kim Tucker Preston
who started as a model and is
now a model coach. Boutique
owners Pauline Wood of
Shades of Color and Crystal
McBroom of La De Da, Inc.
contribute their time, sponsorships
and fashions. They
work with Kat Pascal, Tameka
Pullen, Kathryn Keefer, Beth
Bell and Stacey Howard
Wright to produce a fashion
experience.
Based on her experience as
a model, Jenkins wanted to get
rid of the cliché in modeling
that excluded many. Roanoke
Fashion Week offers an inclusive
opportunity for people of
all ages, sizes, shapes, abilities
and colors who love fashion
and want to model.
Models audit ion in
February and receive coaching
to prepare them to walk
the runway. Tanya Alleyne
won last year's show and Javual
Burnett was the first runner up. Both received
cash prizes plus a clothing allowance and
modeling opportunities with La De Da, Inc.
Alleyne has wanted to be a model since
she was a little girl. Participating in Fashion
Week over the years has helped her build
confidence and friendships.
" I can say this experience has taught me to
get rid of self-doubt, because honestly I did
not expect to win, " Alleyne shares. " I was just
there to do what I loved, so imagine getting
the call that I had won! I look forward to
seeing the growth of Roanoke Fashion Week
and the talent discovered right here in the
Star City. "
Burnett, who had no previous modeling
experience, agrees that participating in
Fashion Week was a confidence-booster.
" I didn't think I was going to win and did
not mind if I didn't, " Burnett says. " I did it
for me. For the enjoyment and the confidence. "
Roanoke Fashion Week: We Demand Diversity and
Inclusion takes place April 18-21. Events include a
fashion bus crawl which will take participants to various
boutiques offering special discounts and includes lunch
at Farmburguesa.
BudgetChic will feature consignment and thrift ideas
with Paparazzi Accessories as well as a clothing swap.
Proceeds will benefit the Roanoke Diversity Center, and
leftover clothing will be donated to the women's shelter.
Runway shows include Queen of the Runway and the
Finale. Local models will compete wearing area boutique
and designer fashions.
Jenkins enjoys giving boutiques and designers the
opportunity to showcase their offers and talents. She
encourages shopping at boutiques for their unique
offerings and ability to interact and respond to customer
desires.
" Boutiques stand out as prominent influences in the
realm of fashion, " she says, noting that key influencers
TheRoanoker.com
MONIQUE DUNCAN PHOTOGRAPHY
http://www.westendcenter.org http://www.TheRoanoker.com
The Roanoker March/April 2024

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