Scottsdale Fashion Week – Spotlight Dillard’s

Another crazy and fun-tastic week of fashion brew-ha, it seems that barely a week goes by lately that isn’t filled with store openings, fashion shows and events. H&M of course is opening it’s first store in town with the pre-opening party happening last night…can I say I felt as if I was in the land of the giants…is there no one in this town that dips below 5’4” anymore? Jimmy Choo is hosting a benefit for Project Pep and Scottsdale Fashion Week kicks off Thursday with the wearable art fashion shows from Marshall way through Stetson Dr.

On Friday the main stage will be chock full with some of the most fun filled shows of the three day event including Dillard’s who will close out the evening with a highly charged fashion show that will thrill any fashionista anxious to add to their fall wardrobes.

As master of ceremonies, Nolé Marin from America’s Next Top Model will kick off the runway extravaganza and Eva Franco will close the show with a presentation of select pieces from her stunning Fall collection. Phoenix favorites the professional basketball dance team will be the models du jour strutting their stuff on the catwalk.

You may recognize Nole Marin’s credits from ANTM but his resume’ doesn’t end there. Not only was he the mastermind behind the ABC reality show True Beauty, he was also the creative director on Canada’s Next Top Model and three-time coach of MTV’s #1-hit makeover show MADE. Add to that his work as a contributing editor to some of the world’s top fashion magazines and guest gigs on shows like E! and TV Guide for his expert commentary on Oscar, Golden Globe and Emmy fashions. His celebrity clients include Claudia Schiffer, Tyra Banks, Hugh Jackman, Heidi Klum, Lenny Kravitz, Alicia Keyes, Kanye West, Cynthia Nixon, Ricky Martin, Vivica A. Fox, Gabrielle Union, Kimora Lee Simmons, and Chloe Sevigny.

If you are not familiar with the name Eva Franco, you may recognize her face from various acting roles on the daytime soap Passions and guest appearances on Cold Case and Judging Amy which helped support the fledgling designer in her early days. The Hungarian born/ LA-based Franco always loved fashion and credits her design versatility to honing her skills as a design assistant for Etienne Brunel in Paris. She is known for creating pieces that universally celebrate the female form. Her silhouettes flatter while incorporating a playful sensibility that she knows her customers desire. Eva Franco’s wares can be found in 400 stores across the United States, London, Paris and the Orient.

You can catch Franco’s work up close and personal at her Dillard’s trunk show on Saturday from 12-4pm.