LIFESTYLES
THE PREMIER RUNWAY FASHION EVENT OF TRIANGLE - SHADES
OF GREEN LUNCHEON & FASHION SHOW – IS MAJOR SUCCESS
DURHAM, NC - The premier runway fashion
event of the Triangle was recently held in
March at the Durham Convention Center.
Hosted by the Links, Incorporated, Durham
(NC) Chapter, over 325 people enjoyed the
Shades of Green Luncheon & Fashion Show.
Green represents one of the colors of
the organization, The Links, Incorporated. All
members, including some guests were dressed
in shades of green.
The ever-so-glamorous Valonda
Calloway served as the celebrity emcee.
Wearing a Felicia Farrar gown…green, of
course, Valonda has been a reporter in the
Triangle area since 2001. She loves fashion
and in 2013, Carolina Style Magazine named
her one of the 25 most stylish people in the
Triangle. She presently hosts her own show,
NBC-17’s, My Carolina Today.
The evening wear designs were provided
by internationally acclaimed fashion designer
and Durham (NC) Link member, Felicia
Farrar, who also served as the fashion director
of the show. Farrar’s designs have been
worn by a variety of recording artists such as
Whitney Houston, Patti LaBelle and Nnenna
Freelon…at the Oscars by Elizabeth Shue and
the Grammys by Gillian Anderson.
Fashions viewed during the show were
provided by Doncaster of Chapel Hill, Smitten
Boutique, Flaunt Boutique, Sara’s Too Boutique
of Durham, Apricot Lane & Ann Taylor of
Southpoint Mall and Main & Taylor Shoe Salon
of North Hills.
Rocking the runway with a touch of
grace, lots of energy, and plenty of attitude,
the models were cast from several agencies
within North Carolina – Locke Management,
Marilyn’s Model and Talent, Directions USA
Model & Artist Management and J. Casablanca.
Portia Kee of The Kee Goup, LLC of Charlotte,
NC, and the model coordinator of the show,
secured the models, including Ashley LoveMills, Miss North Carolina USA 2013. A native
award winning songs, such as Adele’s “Rolling
in the Deep” and Pharrell Williams’ “Happy.”
Fashion show participants were in awe of the
music from every scene. Bathé is no stranger
to inspiring people musically. She has sung
alongside some of the greatest jazz artists,
North Carolinian, Kee honed her skills while
Whether the lyrics, or the tune, or a
combination of both, the benefits of the great
music heard during this show was astonishing.
and is headlining some of the world greatest
cabaret clubs. Lionel Hampton has called her
“…the greatest vocalist since Sarah Vaughn.”
The “ AFR Style Lounge” provided the
“After Glow - After The Show!” Named for AFR
Event Furnishings, a sponsor of the event, the
lounge provided an upscale atmosphere, upfitted with comfortable lounge furniture, cash
bar and music for show goers to mingle and
shop for accessories and clothing exhibited
during the show.
A pictorial hallway of the Durham (NC)
Links’ 55 years of service to the community
was displayed in the grand hallway for all to
view.
Clare Bathé, a Durham (NC) Link member
and the show’s music director chose Grammy
working alongside Oscar award-winning
manager and producer Vincent Cirrincione,
who successfully guided the careers of Halle
Berry and Taraji P. Henson.
Credit for behind the scenes hair and
make-up prep work goes to Gia Peebles,
master stylist and her beauty team from Aura
Salon and Boutique of Durham, a full service
salon and day spa. Peebles has worked
with renowned artisans in the cosmetology
industry. She grew up in California, where
she was exposed to diversity, culture and
the uniquen