South Walton Fashion Week Hits the Runway Oct 7-10

South Walton Fashion Week celebrates high fashion with an impressive schedule for its 2015 festivities including the launch party, runway shows, special designer shows, trunk show events and pop-up shops all beginning Wednesday, October 7 through Saturday, October 10. 

The main event takes place in Grand Boulevard at Sandestin under the SWFW tent, which includes the Style Lounge featuring pop-up boutiques, a VIP lounge and a full bar, along with the main theatre and runway. Other exciting fashion events, parties and trunk shows take place in boutiques, bars, restaurants and venues throughout South Walton.
 
Emerging designers from around the country will arrive to South Walton Fashion Week to debut their latest collections with the hope of being selected as the Emerging Designer of 2015. Nearly 100 models from around the Southeast will walk the Vivo Runway showcasing original designs and their own talent, but only two will walk away with the Sheila Goode Model of the Year Awards.

South Walton Fashion Week welcomes a distinguished group of judges, all of whom bring a unique perspective and seasoned eye to the event and these competitions. Emerging Designer Judges include Shelly Brown, jewelry designer and wife of Grammy-award winning recording artist Zac Brown; Claudia Robertson Fowler, celebrity stylist from Nashville and owner of Haven and Hero Boutiques; Amanda Valentine, celebrity stylist and Project Runway alum from Season 11 and 13, who will also show her own clothing line Valentine Valentine on Saturday; Emily Erusha-Hilleque, Design Director for Target Corporation; Amy Giles from Santa Rosa Beach, personal stylist and founder of Wardrobe Made Simple; and Carla Beveridge, a Senior Managing Partner and Personal Stylist for J. Hilburn, a custom luxury menswear company offering the best in handmade designs and European quality.

Model Judges include Amy M. Phillips, founder of EYE Model Management who will give winning models one-on-one interviews; Tommy Crow, internationally known fashion photographer, owner of Tommy Crow Studios and the talent behind the 2015 SWFW photo campaign; and Tracey Thomas, art director of VIE Magazine, which will feature the winning models in its 2016 fashion issue. 

The Launch Party kicks off SWFW on Wednesday, October 7 from 6:30-9pm at the Alys Shoppe in Alys Beach. Runway shows begin Thursday, October 8th under the SWFW Tent in Grand Boulevard at Sandestin and continue through Saturday, October 10th. Guests can walk the Red Carpet from 5:30 – 7:00pm each night and then enjoy shopping unique pop-up shops, sushi and a cocktail bar in the ZT Motors Style Lounge.  

VIP ticket holders will have exclusive access to the Bud & Alley’s VIP Lounge each night, and the evenings will end with an official after-party taking place at Wine World Grand Boulevard. 

You'll find all things fabulous in celebration of South Walton Fashion Week right here. Beginning Wednesday with the Official Launch Party at The Alys Shoppe and continuing through Saturday with amazing trunk shows throughout South Walton, here's the scoop on THE must-attend events!  
 

Wednesday Oct 7 | Official SWFW Launch Party
The Alys Shoppe presents the official 2015 SWFW Launch Party in Alys Beach on Wednesday from 6:30pm - 9:00pm. 
The speakeasy-themed party is a ticketed event available for purchase at swfw.org. Ticket-holders and guests will have the opportunity to mix and mingle with celebrity judges, emerging designers and models at this event while enjoying craft cocktails and delicious food.
 

Thur Oct 8 |  Runway Shows
On Thursday VIP ticket holders can access the tent early at 5pm for a sneak peek of the ZT Motors Style Lounge and enjoy complimentary champagne and light bites from the Bud and Alley’s VIP Lounge.

Fashion Shows on the Vivo Runway will begin at 7pm sharp until 10pm. Runway Shows for Thursday include Grand Boulevard Sandestin Retail Stores featuring Pretty Please, Brooks Brothers, Chico’s, Altar’d State, J. Crew, The Orvis Company, J. Mclaughlin, J. Jill and Billabong; Silver Sands Premium Outlets featuring Banana Republic; Southern Coalition of Fashion and Design featuring New Orleans-based designers Les Patin, Andi Eaton, Krystal Frame and Matthew Arthur.  

Emerging Designers Cayce Collins, Ragan Creel, Vena Kim and Caroline Smith show their designs and compete for the Emerging Designer of the Year Award. Fab’rik will showcase their looks for the finale show of Thursday night.
 

Fri Oct 9 | Trunk Show Parties and Runway Shows
“Willow Loves Fashion Rooftop Presentation” will jump start Friday SWFW festivities at The Pearl Hotel in Rosemary Beach from 10am-Noon and set the tone for the essence of South Walton style in this picturesque setting with unparalleled views of the Gulf of Mexico. 

Join Ophelia Swimwear at their Seaside location on Friday from 1-3pm for a special "Coast to Coast" Trunk Show featuring the latest styles from Australia-based CAMILLA and local favorite Coastal Road. Sip on a TGIF cocktail and get in the SWFW spirit.

Fashion Shows on the Vivo Runway again begin at 7pm sharp and include Tommy Bahama, Sirens Lingerie with Norma Dean Designs, The Village Boutique and The 30A Collection by Amy Giles featuring Alys Shoppe, De’javu, Beach Folly, Willow+Mercer and Mason. Silver Sands Premium Outlets will also show featuring White House | Black Market and DKNY.  

Emerging Designers Nikki Manuel, Mallory Hardiman, Adrienne Yunger and Katherine Faust show their designs and compete for the Emerging Designer of the Year award. Local designer Nicole Paloma showcases her latest designs for the finale of the evening.

 
Sat Oct 10 | Trunk Show Parties and Runway Shows
Fashionably Late Boutique will kick off Saturday, October 10 events with “Bellinis, Bags and Baubles” featuring Gigi New York bags in Uptown Grayton from 1-3pm.

Fashion Shows on the Vivo Runway begin at 7pm sharp until 10pm and include

Emerging Designers Megan Dean, Darlene, Ariaza, Tara Skelley, Tielr Garsaud and Richelle Valenzuela. Ophelia Swimwear, Silver Sands Premium Outlets featuring Saks Off 5th, Emerging Designer Winner Romey Row, Roy Blake Smith and Amanda Valentine will complete SWFW runway shows. 

SWFW is presented by Visit South Walton and Grand Boulevard at Sandestin and produced by the Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County in partnership with Monark Events.

Tickets are on sale atswfw.org with special lodging packages, VIP packages, launch party tickets and much more.
 

Official #SWFW events schedule:
 

Want to enjoy South Walton Fashion Week‬ with a fabulous group of friends? Enjoy 15% off when you purchase tickets for groups of 10 or more.
 

The Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County (CAA) supports the arts through leadership, advocacy, funding, programs and education. The vision of the CAA is to make Walton County a creative place to live, work and visit - a destination for cultural and artistic excellence where lives are enriched, economy is stimulated and community is strengthened.