What to expect at Tampa Bay Fashion Week

Posted by Bengtsson on September 18th, 2015

Get ready to celebrate the local fashion scene.

Tampa Bay Fashion Week has been spotlighting creative designers since Wednesday. This weekend, five designers are scheduled to show their garments at trunk shows.

All of the shows take place at International Plaza, 2223 N. West Shore Blvd. in Tampa, at 6-8 p.m. today and 12:30-3:30 p.m. Saturday. The shows are free to attend, but space is limited and you must RSVP to be added to the guest list.

n Wendy Ohlendorf will show her collection of gowns at 6 p.m. today and at 12:30 p.m. Saturday. Ohlendorf earned a degree in Interior Design from the Art Institute of Tampa and then worked in the restaurant and furniture industries before realizing her dream of becoming a fashion designer. She now has a retail store called Boulevard De Magenta in downtown Portland, Oregon.

“Influence and inspiration come to me from all over the place: books, arts, movies, nature, definitely architecture,” Ohlendorf said. “I studied architecture for four years at the Art Institute, and that comes to play in my designs.”

n  Desiree Noisette is the owner of Cerulean Blu, a retail store in downtown St. Petersburg where she sells her clothing line. Her designs are inspired by the women she meets, and she tries to create garments that are flattering on various body types. She will show her designs at 6:30 p.m. today and at 1 p.m. Saturday.

“My No. 1 influence is the real woman who comes into my store,” she said. “The fit is a key feature to my style, along with the color. … I think one of the hallmarks of my line is that it does use classic silhouettes, but incorporates trends that are going to make the pieces last a long time.”

n Priscilla Kidder is the designer behind Be-Bops swimwear, which she sells mostly online at www.be-bops.com. Kidder designs for all body types and comfort levels. She also tailors her swimwear to each customer’s measurements. She will show her garments at 7 p.m. today and at 1:30 p.m. Saturday.

“My influences are mainly women my age, my friends,” said the 50-year-old designer. “… My inspiration is old-school Florida, the old beaches, Weeki Wachee, Gatorland, all the silly roadside attractions in the 1950s and 1960s.”

n  Oscar de la Portilla Escandon is a Cuban designer whose work garners attention for its cleanliness and careful attention to detail. His designs have been shown in France, the Bahamas, St. Lucia, and now Tampa. He will show at 7:30 p.m. today and at 1:30 p.m. Saturday.

“To tell you what to expect from me is difficult to do,” he said through a translator. “While this won’t be my first fashion week, I’ll be facing a different audience. I’m going to try to convey the same respect that I feel when any of my designs go on the runway.”

n  Elizabeth Carson Racker, a ready-to-wear designer based in Tampa, will show her garments at 8 p.m. today and at 2:30 p.m. Saturday. She was unavailable for comment about her collection prior to the start of Tampa Bay Fashion Week.

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