STYLE WEEK TURNS 5
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
In 2013, Wadria Taylor put together a multiple day celebration of fashion, with stylish social gatherings across the city. She called it Style Week Pittsburgh in hopes that the events would be a platform to spotlight some of the region’s hidden fashion gems.
The local event producer didn’t know what to expect, but she was encouraged by what she observed, particularly during the debut runway show at the swanky champagne bar Perle in Market Square.
“People were really excited about it and saw value in it,” says Ms. Taylor, who runs her own event production company, Style and Steel. “That event was confirmation that we could really benefit from this being a recurring event.”
Since then, August in the city has become synonymous with Style Week Pittsburgh. This year is the fifth, with a four-day lineup (Thursday through Sunday) of runway shows, an awards ceremony, a fashion’s night out music event, networking brunch and more. The theme is “Style Meets Innovation,”
Fashion shows, markets, music and more
a nod to Pittsburgh’s burgeoning tech sector.
Style Week 2017 kicks off at Coterie, the co-working space for women in the penthouse level of the Frick Building, Downtown. Ms. Taylor has brought together veteran designers and up-and-coming talents, including Lana Neumeyer, Ruby Dawn Designs, Elaine Healy and S. Moye’s Fashions. Another opening-night highlight will be a presentation of jewelry by Gerry Florida, a Pittsburgh-based assemblage artist who’s used her work to pioneer an arts program at juvenile detention centers.
The action continues Friday at Alloy 26 on the North Side for the Style Awards, which recognizes some of Pittsburgh’s influencers in style and the arts through public nominations and online voting. On Saturday, shop ‘til you drop at a free public pop-up market at the Ace Hotel in East Liberty, followed by a night of music, dance and art. The week concludes Sunday with an industry brunch and panel discussion at The Frick Pittsburgh in Point Breeze. Guests also will be treated to tours of the “Irving Penn: Beyond Beauty” exhibition. “I want to use Style Week as a means to bring people together.” — Wadria Taylor, founder of Style Week Pittsburgh
Beyond the fashion-focused festivities, events are organized to give artisans and entrepreneurs a chance to mix and mingle — and maybe collaborate in the future.
“I want to use Style Week as a means to bring people together,” Ms. Taylor says. “People are inspired when they’re around people who inspire them and are taking chances in different ways.” Sara Bauknecht: sbauknecht@post-gazette. or on Twitter and Instagram @SaraB_PG.