Every year, aside from the tradition of going to the Pageant of the Masters, I always see to it that my family and I attend the Festival of Arts Runway Fashion Show. Why? Because it’s not just a regular fashion show. The Festival of Arts Runway Fashion Show is just like Heidi Klum’s Project Runway on TV, where artists compete to create the most imaginative and innovative designs; but these artists use reclaimed, reused and recycled materials. This innovative fashion show has been running for seven years, and offers cash prizes of $1,000 in four categories.
The winners of four categories were:
- Artist Brad Elsberry, for the Most Exciting Ensemble with Wow Factor . He used 50 pairs of used blue jeans from various thrift stores.
- Painter Elizabeth McGhee, for Most Creative Concept. She used dozens of water jugs and plastic bags.
- Sculptor Casey Parlette, for Most Innovative Use of Materials. His designs were comprised of various types of wood, titanium scraps turned into butterflies, paper and plastic bags, dry cleaner bags, screen door mesh, and feathers.
- Mariana Nelson, for Most Glamorous & Elegant ‘Red Carpet’ Worthy Creation. She used 2,000 black cocktail straws and dry cleaner bags. She also included a hat made from fan parts, old CDs and zip ties.
Most Exciting Ensemble with Wow Factor – Artist Brad Elsberry
Most Creative Concept – Painter Elizabeth McGhee
Most Innovative Use of Materials – Sculptor Casey Parlette
Most Glamorous & Elegant ‘Red Carpet’ Worthy Creation – Mariana Nelson
The winners were selected by:
- Artist Regina Jacobson, who graduated Summa Cum Laude in 2003 at Laguna College of Art and Design. Her oil paintings have been featured in galleries all over Southern California.
- Costume Designer Alex Jaeger, who has styled celebrities like Prince and Bette Midler and whose work has been featured in the fashion spreads of Vogue, G.Q., In Style, and Rolling Stone, to name a few.
- Production/Set Designer Nelson Coates, an Emmy nominee for his art direction of the miniseries the Stand. Coates was also named 2008’s Film Professional of the Year by Cambridge Who’s Who in America.
The event was hosted by Cristina Ferrare, former supermodel, best-selling author, and co-host of The Hallmark Channel’s daily two-time Emmy nominated series, Home and Family. It had been 25 years since Cristina had been to Laguna Beach, and it was her first time attending the Festival of Arts/Pageant of the Masters. I asked Ferrare about the Festival of Arts Fashion Show and she said, “The fashion show just blew me away. Even though I commentated on it I had to stop because I couldn’t believe what I was looking at. It’s incredible. It’s so innovative and creative. The air around here is all lit up with excitement because of the creativity and the energy.”
I could not agree more with Ferrarre; the Festival Runway Fashion Show is crowd-awing.
Cristina Ferrari was the host of Festival of the Arts
Sharbie Higuchi PR Director of Festival of Arts and former supermodel Cristina Ferrare
With the beautiful Cristina Ferrare co-host of Hallmark Channels Emmy nominated series Home and Family
PR Director Sharbie Higuchi Model Mary Schmidt and PR Coordinator Meghan Perez
Glad you come each year – I think it’s the best event of the summer!!