Boutiques Unleashed fashion show a “Project Petway”
March 19, 2010 by karenvitt
Filed under Neat EVENT, Neat STUFF
If there’s anything The Neat Sheet is more fanatical about than fashion, it’s pets! We’re excited to combine our two great loves and participate in the upcoming Boutiques Unleashed people and pets benefit fashion show, to be held at The Tiffany Center in Portland on Friday, April 9.
We’ve been working with DoveLewis Emergency Animal Hospital to help them stage a fantastic fifth annual event, in which stylish Portlanders will walk the runway with pets – dogs, cats, llamas, you name it – each dressed in designs provided by local designers and boutiques. This year’s MCs are Kimberly Maus and Wayne Garcia from Fox 12 Oregon.
The Neat Sheet’s producer/editor Karen Vitt will walk the runway with her beloved bengal cat George (above) for the third year in a row. She’ll be wearing spring fashions from Pin-Me Apparel boutique, and George will be trotting along on his leash in K-Lee’s Designs. “George looks forward to this annual fashion show even more than I do,” Vitt said. “He loooooooves all the attention. He puts on his little polka dot vest from Reigning Pets NW and struts around the house for weeks before the show to practice.”
We also helped land local fashion designer Seth Aaron Henderson, currently one of the leading designers on Project Runway Season 7, to create a custom design for the “mystery animal” – Miss Mollee Muffin – in the fashion show’s finale. (UPDATE! The mystery pet is revealed: Miss Mollee is a rabbit!) Henderson, who is dubbing the Boutiques Unleashed show “Project Petway,” said he’s stoked to participate this year.
“I feel totally up for this. It’s fun and different, and that’s what I like,” Henderson said. “I luvz me some animals, and if I can help animals by doing something I love to do – designing – that’s a no-brainer.”
Henderson will be attending the show with his family, which includes four pets at home: A Boston Terrier named Chopper, a red devilfish named Sherbert, a bearded dragon named Zilla, and a guinea pig name Toco. Henderson says he has some experience designing for pets (“I have designed some coats for small puppies, in suiting, fur and nylon”), so we’re confident he’s up for this fun Project Petway challenge.
Another notable on the runway this year is The Neat Sheet’s good friend Liz Hummer, editor of Oregon Bride magazine, who is struggling with the recent loss of her 22-year-old black tabby cat, Boo. The loss of a pet is such a devastating experience, and our hearts go out to Hummer and others who have lost their furry family members. In fact, all proceeds from Boutiques Unleashed will benefit the DoveLewis Pet Loss Support Program, to help individuals and families whose pets have passed away.
UPDATE for Wednesday, April, 7: Boutiques Unleashed is just two days away! The mystery pet has been revealed (Miss Mollee is a therapy rabbit!), and you can tune in to KOIN 6 Keep It Local from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursday, April 8 to watch as Seth Aaron Henderson meets Miss Mollee for the first time. The TV show will preview some of the Boutiques Unleashed runway looks as modeled on local personalities and their pets (including The Neat Sheet’s Karen Vitt and her Bengal cat George). Neat!
Boutiques Unleashed
8 p.m. Friday, April 9 (doors open 6 p.m.)
The Tiffany Center, 1410 S.W. Morrison St.
$60-$100; 971-255-5938 or purchase tickets online
www.boutiquesunleashed.org
Pet photos by Alicia Dickerson photography. If you like what you see on The Neat Sheet, please consider becoming our Facebook Fan and/or linking to us from your site. We need your help to spread the word!
I can’t wait for this event! Animals and fashion…what could be better?!