DC Fashion Week is the fifth most recognized fashion week in the United States. Twice a year, it showcases local emerging artists in the DMV area as well as international designers over a four-day period. Last weekend, February 24-27, DC Fashion Week kicked off with a huge networking party where designers, models, makeup artists, spectators, hairstylists, etc. all came together to share their passion for the arts through fashion, design, makeup, and more. We had the opportunity to interview many of these talented individuals to see what goes into DC Fashion Week, beyond what you see on the runway.
Designers
Inner Be Leaf
Designers have been working on their sets for months making various outfits in their collection to be showcased during this week. One of the designers we heard from is Savita Gilbert, founder of Inner Be Leaf. Savita is a watercolor artist, as well as a fashion designer, and her artwork inspires her designs. She uses flora and fauna themes in her clothing and her theme for her Fashion Week clothing line was roses and skies. Following this theme, one of the designs that debuted was the American Beauty Rose dress, inspired by DC’s national flower. The rose garden in the White House is where speeches are given to the public. Savita used this dress to turn DC’s culture and natural beauty into a tangible piece of art that can be worn. The body of the dress is a simple, short black dress with elegant pink-colored sleeves and rose designs that flow as the model walks
In addition to the rose dress, DC’s skies are displayed in the clothing. According to Savita, “DC is known for very vibrant sunrises and sunsets because you have the Shenandoah Mountains and the Chesapeake that create dramatic scenes,” which is seen in her beautifully vibrant ombré sunset dress.
To see more of Inner BeLeaf, you can visit https://innerbeleaf.com,or go to @inner_be_leaf on Instagram.
Lightsideout
The second designer we talked to was Megan (Meg) Peters from Lightsideout. Meg initially ran a small business with her family in Syria until she moved to the DMV. Once she was settled in DC, she was able to open her business here. Fazila, who is from Kabul, works alongside Meg in combining Afghan and Western cultural aesthetics to create unique and ready-to-wear designs.
As models were trying on her designs, she showed us how her clothing is all hand sewed and the intricate designs that are on each piece. Lightsideout is centered around a female-empowerment theme and they are working to employ women from Afghanistan and Syria who live in the DMV area. Even though they only started two months ago, Lightsideout’s collection has already dropped, right after Fashion Week ended.
To see this collection, you can visit https://www.lightsideout.com or go to @lightsideoutdc on Instagram.
Once Upon a Time Boutique
Starbrille (Star) Cooper, the founder of Once Upon a Time, describes her designs as whimsical, fairytale-like, and centered around releasing your inner child. Her three-year-old daughter is her inspiration; whenever Star dresses up her daughter, she lights up, and that inspires Star to create designs that make the wearers feel that same excitement. “I love dressing over the top and I love being extra,” Star explains with a smile. “You can be basic any day…but I like to bring a smile to people when they look at me.” That’s exactly what her designs do: with bows, frills, and tutus, her clothing stands out in a crowd.
Star has had an incredibly diverse career in fashion. She has been sewing since she was sixteen, completed internships with wedding gown designers, ready-to-wear designers, and to top it all off, she went to fashion school in New York. She started her business during the pandemic when she was working from home, therefore having extra time to make things for herself. Two years later, Star’s clothing is on the runway at DC Fashion Week and inspiring others to be over the top and expressive through fashion.
To see more visit https://www.starthevisionary.com or @onceuponatimeboutiquellc on Instagram.
Models
Models are equally as essential as the designers. They spend hours getting ready for shows, practicing walking in seven-inch heels, and perfecting their makeup so they can show off designs on the runway. We spoke to multiple different models to hear what goes into being a model in DC Fashion Week and how they got here.
Nya is a model who works for Models Inc.
On Thursday night, she wore Bang’s (@Bang500 on Instagram) extravagant black and white dress, which was one of my personal favorites. Bang is the CEO of Models Inc. and a designer, among many other things. The dress Nya wore had layers of black and white mesh in the middle of the skirt with white sequin drapes on the sides. The sleeves had intricate triangles with feathers and pearls. The ends of the sleeves flared out, the same as the bottom of the dress. The bodice has embroidered white flowers with the same elements as the sleeves incorporated as well. At the very top of the dress, there was a large bow with a rose-shaped center that had thin white feathers emerging from it.
There couldn't have been a more perfect model to wear this dress. Nya showed off the dress elegantly and with confidence. She started modeling six years ago and is from Washington, DC. She had never done an event as big as DC Fashion Week and she told us how she was nervous to have this many people watching her walk for the first time. However, when she was on the runway, you would have never guessed she was worried. You can find her on Instagram @babygurlnya.
Makeup Artists
Some models, like Nya, do their own makeup; however, there are also talented and experienced makeup artists who do full faces of makeup or simply just touch-ups for the show. I spoke with Lynette Evans from Glam Incorporated. Lynette has been working as a makeup artist for fifteen years now. She taught herself by looking at magazines and recreating looks. Her cousins would beg her to do their makeup and eventually, she went to school to get licensed. In Maryland, the state no longer requires a makeup license and Lynette wishes they would. Not only does the licensing confirm that the artist has a certain skill level, but they also teach about necessary sanitation practices. Her clients usually come from referrals, as well as from Fashion Week. These referrals landed her at two all-inclusive destination weddings in Jamaica and the Dominican Republic. She jokingly stated that wants to go to Turks and Caicos next.
When I asked Lynette if her family was supportive, she told me about how she comes from a conventional blue-collar family in Michigan. They expected her to go to college and get a simple job. Her father, however, has been very understanding of Lynette’s work. She sometimes misses family events because of her clients, but her father is understanding. Conversely, her mother was not supportive at first. However, when she saw Lynette's work, she was ecstatic and wanted Lynette to do her makeup. In 2012, Lynette’s mother passed away and she spent those last moments doing her mother’s makeup, touching up her mother’s lips, sharing her talent and love for makeup with her family, as she continues to do today.
Hairstylists
Makeup artists and hairstylists work together for Fashion Week to make sure that the models look impeccable. We spoke with hairstylist Kenneth Edgerton who worked with Nya’s hair. Kenneth has been a hairdresser for about 24 years now and he has a passion for learning about different aesthetics and learning from other industry professionals. Not only is he the President and CEO of Capital Hair Exchange, but he also works with Kinetix hair and styled multiple models who walked the runway at DC Fashion Week. We asked whether he was interested in fashion, along with hair, and he told us that he has, “an eye for individuality and expression,” which is apparent when looking at the ensemble he wore last Thursday. He exhibited a dramatic black dress that he ordered online and had only arrived earlier that day and was easily one of the best-dressed men in the room.
Find him on Instagram at @indiehairlane or @welovekenetix.
Vendors
On each day of Fashion Week, vendors sold sunglasses, Chanel look-alike earrings, and handmade clothing. Many of them have been running their small businesses for years, constantly expanding their products. One booth was selling quirky, large sunglasses and hand-designed water bottles. Prestige Concepts Boutique has affordable, look-alike designer jewelry and bags. This boutique is located in Maryland but they do different events in the DMV and ship items as well. You can find them on Instagram @prestigeconceptsboutique.
One of my favorite booths was alkeBULANPrints. Their clothing is hand-made in Ghana and each item has beautiful elaborate African designs. From dresses to suits, to coats, to masks, there’s something for everyone at this shop. You can find them on Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/alkebulanprints/ or Instagram @alkebulanprints.
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