Scottsdale Fashion Week Draws a Crowd of 33,800

Despite the retail industry's current blues, Scottsdale had cause for celebration when more than 30,000 people showed up for the third annual Scottsdale Fashion Week, that ran from November 6 through November 9. The event, meant to jump-start the holiday shopping season and promote Scottsdale as a fashion hub, showcased 50 runway shows on two stages. On Friday and Saturday, the event drew 33,825 fashion fans and partygoers to Scottsdale's Waterfront and Southbridge area.

Kerry Dunne, co-producer of Scottsdale Fashion Week, said that was a 50 percent increase over last year's attendance. “We've captured the imagination of a lot of people in the Valley and motivated them to come down to something really special,” Dunne said. Attendees paid $25 to $400 to attend runway shows by international and local designers, large retail chains and independent boutiques. Four main shows sold out: Dillard's show styled by Sex and the City costume designer Rebecca Weinberg, Nordstrom's menswear show, New York designer Zang Toi's show and Rolf Lohse's “Beauty Evolution” show of couture hair, makeup and fashion inspired by 20th century American glamour icons.

Internationally acclaimed clothing designer Zang Toi is known for creating timeless elegance in his lines and thus appeals to women of all ages as evidenced by followers such as Ivana Trump, Eva Longoria, Debra Messing, Patti Labelle, Farrah Fawcett, Angela Bassett and Fergie (Black Eyed Peas). Toi debuted his spring 2009 collection, which was the same collection shown months earlier at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York City.

Scottsdale Fashion Week was anchored by Scottsdale Fashion Square to the north and continued south through the Scottsdale Waterfront and Southbridge areas to the downtown Arts District. This year’s event also included an expanded luxury pavilion of fine living. Purveyors of fashion, design, spas, wellness and beauty services set up shop to create a high-end and exclusive experience that no fashion aficionado wanted to miss.

For ongoing updates and information, please visit www.ScottsdaleFashionWeek.com