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Highland Park hosts fashion week
Posh Essentials is featured during Fashion Week in Highland Park. Money raised at the Runway Fashion Shows will benefit The Auxiliary of NorthShore University HealthSystem (NorthShore) at Highland Park Hospital. | Joe Cyganowski~ For Sun Times Media
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Updated: October 14, 2012 12:51PM
HIGHLAND PARK — After watching a 45-minute morning fashion show at Port Clinton Square in Highland Park, Skokie’s Marla Spector said she was going to march over to Enaz, located a few blocks away, to buy an ensemble that she spotted in the show.
“That red shirt, I must have it,” Spector said. “And the leggings with the leather on the side, too.”
About 50 people on Friday attended the first of two fashion shows that showcased the hottest looks from the city’s top boutiques.
Guests paid $10 to enter and received a goodie bag filled with moisturizers, creams and gift cards. Dressed in the latest fashions, professional models strutted their stuff on a makeshift catwalk in honor of the second annual fashion event.
Twenty-four clothing retailers in Highland Park showed off their now-and-wow fall looks, and the dozens of residents and visitors took a seat under a white tent to see what they had to offer.
“I think this show is so exciting because it celebrates the trends and lifestyle of those who like to live in fashion,” said Tracy Tarantino of Oak Brook-based Zzazz Productions, who moderated the fashion show. “When you shop in Highland Park, you move in style. We are seeing the latest collection from a variety of retailers.”
It’s the second foray into fashion for the city after last year’s standing-room-only blow out. It was so successful that this year the organizers held two shows, at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., to accommodate the interest.
Those who attended were informed that scarves are a major staple this fall, as are designer leather jackets. Also in are rust-colored pants that can be mixed with brights or black.
“I am surprised to find out what Highland Park has to offer,” said Susan Lurie of Highland Park after the fashion show. “They had everything — sports clothes, high fashion, relaxed fashion.”
The fashion show was in the middle of a three-day blowout. On Thursday, patrons were treated to fitness classes, including yoga and pilates, and mini salon treatments, like manicures, makeup makeovers and hair blowouts.
On Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., a party-planning showcase taught patrons how to put on stunning weddings, dinner parties or bar mitzvahs.
It was sponsored by the Downtown Highland Park Alliance, a partnership among the Highland Park Central Business District Property Owners Association, the city of Highland Park and the Highland Park Chamber of Commerce, said Amy Amdur of the Downtown Highland Park Alliance. Part of its goal was to promote the businesses in downtown, roughly defined as a 12-block area centered around Central Avenue.
Proceeds will go to the Auxiliary of NorthShore University HealthSystem at Highland Park Hospital, she said. As much as $3,000 was expected to be raised, Amdur said.
For more information, go to fashionweekhp.com.
