The third annual Phoenix Fashion Week kicked off on November 5, 2007 with the Celebrity Gala to benefit Partners in Malawi. The Celebrity Gala was invitation only and was not open to the public. The first night was almost a bust due to the caterer and dj backing out the day before the first show; but due to the assistants of Brian Hill of Femme Athletics (Ashley Vyrostek and Meghann Hall) a dj was found, and because of Megan Christensen (director of operations for PFW) a caterer was found the day before for Monday night's event. Despite the glitches the night went smoothly. Fashion designers and boutiques dressed their celebrities of choice for the first fashion show of the week. Orlando Hudson, Julie Chambers, Cece Peniston, Special K, Janelle of Sunset Tan, and Cheryl Cooper were just some of the few who modeled for the Celebrity Gala. Cheryl Cooper was the first to walk down the runway (actually she danced) down the runway and it set the tone for the rest of the show. There definitely was a fun feel for the entire show because the celebrity-models were able to let loose.

Boutiques were on the runway on Tuesday night. Why show clothing from local boutiques? Well, a lot of the boutiques in town often carry talented, but relatively unknown designers. Boutiques in the valley are always scouring the up-and-coming designers for customers with discriminating tastes and for those who want clothing that can't be found everywhere. Those that did not leave right after the runway show got treated to an intimate performance by Pras and Wyclef Jean They definitely stole the show, and performed for over an hour for the crowd. The crowd then head over to Six nightclub in Scottsdale for the after party, where the night did not end until two in the morning. It was a great ending for the second night of Phoenix Fashion Week. 

The runway show on the third night started off with D. Frank designs, a couture furniture company. Models dressed in butler uniforms pushed D. Frank's couture furniture down the runway which started the show with a unique, funky vibe. The rest of the show featured both local and foreign designers that are not household names, but whose experiences range from struggling to make it in the industry to already having made it, but still is virtually unknown. Ricky Gonzalez of V Marie is a local designer whose clothes I was unsure of when I saw them on the rack, but once the models strutted down the runway in V Marie, his clothes definitely belonged on the show. He certainly knows how to dress a woman, and understands their bodies. Debra Davenport does couture, and although her clothes may not be as outlandish or as crazy as the couture we have seen on the Paris and Milan runways, they definitely made an impression. She proves that there are talented designers in the valley.

The show consisted of designers from as far as Bulgaria (Galina Mihaleva of Galina Couture) and as close as Canada (Jaqueline Conoir). Both designers showed collections with amazing pieces; Jaqueline Conoir showed silk satin gowns and dresses in bright colors while Galina's pieces ranged from eclectic suits to avant garde knit dresses and caps in earthy tones with touches of color here and there. Duncan Quinn showed contemporary suits that weren't stuffy or uptight; his clothing had a young, fresh, and sophisticated feel to them. His style is distinctive and original; his suits can be dressed up or down and his use of color was fun, and fresh. Despite the line up of about ten designers Galina Couture, Jaqueline Conoir, and Duncan Quinn were the showstoppers of the evening; they are definitely the ones to watch for in the future.

From Tuesday evening on, attendees of Phoenix Fashion Week had so much fun at the shows that they lingered long after the shows ended. Each evening ended with an after party at a different venue in Scottsdale. Photographers, models, designers, boutique owners, media, and PFW attendees mixed, mingled and partied it up at Axis Radius after PFW's final show on Thursday. It was a great ending to a great week.

Many will probably question why Phoenicians bother with a fashion week at all, due to it not being as established as L.A. or New York. Both of those cities have manufacturing districts and many talented designers, something that Phoenix lacks especially for the former. Phoenix may lack in those two areas, but what Phoenix does not lack is the amount of fashionable people. Phoenicians love fashion, and it shows in the amount of boutiques and large department stores all across the valley. When were the end users of fashion not part of the equation? Without them the industry would suffer, just as it would suffer without manufacturers and designers. Phoenix does not lack when it comes to fashionable people who are willing to go out of their way to find and wear clothing from designers whether the designers are unknown or world famous.

Phoenix may be just a blip on the map in the world of fashion, but give it time and Phoenicians will mark their place in the fashion world that will someday be defined in its own distinct way.