Jeffrey Fashion Cares

I still remember the very first fashion show I ever attended. It was none other than the Jeffrey Fashion Cares show in Atlanta. For anyone that’s ever attended a well-produced fashion show you’ll understand when I say, ’ I literally had goose bumps from the music and lost my breath upon seeing the models strut down the runway in their designer looks’. It’s now been almost 10 years since I first attended the Jeffrey Fashion Cares show and Im still in awe of the production level, clothing and ambiance.

Jeffrey Kalinsky is hands down one of my fashion role models. He brought true designer fashion to the South with his store in Phipps Plaza in Atlanta. His edited selection of clothing, jewelry, handbags and shoes cannot be emulated as he has an eye for what designers are up & coming, and which ones are classics. He has a second location in NYC’s Meat Packing District, but he always comes back to the South for his annual Fashion Cares show…and we Southerners truly are lucky!

Jeffrey Kalinsky at this year’s 20th Anniversary Fashion Cares event at the American Cancer Society Center.

The event chaired this year by Lila Hertz, Jeffrey McQuithy and Louise Sams benefits the Susan G. Komen for the Cure– Greater Atlanta Affiliate, and the Atlanta AIDS Fund. Last year they raised $650,000 for the two non-profits!

Every year Jeffrey selects a designer of honor to attend and be featured at this show. This year Joseph Altuzarra (pictured above) was the designer du jour. Side note: I’ll never forget when Oscar de la Renta was the guest designer-I literally died when I saw him in the Jeffrey store prior to the fashion show!

It wouldn’t be Jeffrey Fashion Cares without some celebs! Model & Real Housewives of Atlanta (AND Alabama native) Cynthia Bailey and her husband Peter attended this year’s show.

Jeffrey is currently the EVP of Designer Merchandise for Nordstrom. And if you’ve visited the department store in the past few years you will see his designer touch.

Notable designers in this year’s show included Joseph Altuzarra, Givenchy, Bottega Veneta, Dries Van Noten, Lanvin, Stella McCartney and Mary Katrantzou.