Fashion Week Comes to the Vineyard

Fashion Week may be currently underway in New York, but next week, the Island will have a fashion event all its own. This first annual Martha’s Vineyard Fashion Week, which has been highly anticipated since its successful launch party back in April, will take place September 19 to 24.

Expect a host of parties, nightly themed events, as well as trunk shows and sales throughout the week. However, Fashion Week’s creator, Trena Morrison, said she is most excited about the fashion shows. “I don’t think the Vineyard has ever seen something with this kind of content before,” said Morrison. “The shows are quite large and I’m really looking forward to having everybody participate.”

The first such show, titled “End Your Summer In Style,” will take place on Wednesday, September 21 at the in Oak Bluffs. From 5 to 9 pm, models will be strutting their stuff wearing a showing of looks from the Greenroom, Citrine, B*TRU and Vineyard Vines, as well as designs made exclusively for the show by Island designers Karen Russillo, Ashley Chase of Ulu Swimwear and Noava Knight. According to Morrison, you can expect to see close to 70 looks at the show that all feature a “youthful, fun vibe.”

The second show, “The Designers Collection,” on Saturday, September 24, will be just that. Here you can expect close to a 100 looks coming down the runway that, according to Morrison, run the age gamut “from early 20 to later in life.” Featured designers Karen Russillo, Chrysal Parrot, Marlene DiStefano and Randi Sylvia, and Rose Maidoff and Chelsea Phaneuff will be revealing all new looks. The event will take place at Dreamland, the long awaited space upstairs from the MV Chowder Company.

“We are pretty excited and nervous,” said Morrison about being the first public event held at the space. “We are both revealing all these new fashions at the same time that the space is being revealed.”

Everyone involved in the shows are locals —the models, the producers and the designers—many of whom are young and bringing their work to the public for the very first time. Rose Maidoff and Chelsea Phaneuff, a team just out of high school have put together 12 looks for Saturday’s show. “Their line is a little Victorian, with a youthful touch,” said Morrison. “It is very well constructed, and really amazing for such young designers.” Additionally, the mother/daughter team of Randi Sylvia and Marlene DiSteffano has never done anything more than design for themselves and their friends. According to Morrison, “Their theme is the ocean and it’s absolutely stunning. It’s somewhat contemporary, super wearable and absolutely amazing. I wanted to take them all.”

Morrison, who was a fashion editor in New York City for many years before settling down to have a family on the Island, has dreamed of doing this event for a long time. “To tell you the truth, I just wanted to put together a well-done, well-thought-out show and have the clothes go back to stores and designers. I thought it would be a great way to see some great fashion and benefit the stores as well,” said Morrison.

The stores aren’t the only ones who will benefit. While Martha’s Vineyard Fashion Week gives Islanders a chance to put on their stepping-out clothes, it is also benefits one of our most important causes: Angel Flight Northeast, an organization of volunteer pilots that arranges free flights to those requiring access to medical care off-island. “When we were able to get Angel Flight involved, it was such a bonus,” said Morrison.  

Morrison works with a team made up of Richard Skidmore, Basia Jaworska Silva and Marlene DiSteffano. “Us four are a big powerhouse,” she said. As to why they chose Angel Flight as the beneficiaries, she said it felt like the perfect organization for such a local event.

“They are not an organization that you see all over the place. In fact, you probably don’t know about them unless you or someone you know has used them. So we really hope to be able to raise awareness as well as money.”

As for next year’s plans, Morrison hopes to keep the event in September alongside the International Film Festival and the Food & Wine Festival. “I like the idea of giving us one more little push at the end of the season,” she said. “I’m very proud of everyone involved. I did not think I would have this kind of response. I think it will be successful and hope next year we can be bigger and better.”

For more information and updated events listings, go to www.mvfashionweek.com