We were SEEN

The Seen column insert of the Post-Gazette came out this weekend and they did an amazingly wonderful article on Carousel Couture at the Madcap Masquerade.  Five of the gowns were featured in their full-color glory, and I was even credited with letting the whole city of Pittsburgh know about our local design talent!  How fabulous!

Check out the article here and don't forget to click all the links on the left side to see the photos that were published. The photo here of mine and Carl Williams' designs is just one of five great pics. Special thanks to our models Marlee Fritz and Jenn Thomas for working it on the runway!

Photos Have Been Posted

TONS of photos from Saturday's Madcap Masquerade have been posted to Pittsburgh Grapevine. There are 476 photos posted, so if you want to skip right to the fashion show they start around page 22 of the album.  Since many of us who were backstage didn't get to see the beginning of the party, be sure not to miss photos of Bill Kolano and Bridgette Pavlik showing up as Amy Whinehouse and a London Police Man... in a working ambulance! Amy (I mean Bridgette) was wheeled into the party on a gurney! Don't miss those photos.

The pic you see to the left is of Samantha Scott of the Docherty Model & Talent Agency wearing a carousel inspired design by Brittney Thieroff for Babylove designs. Photos of all 16 of the designers' work can be seen on Pittsburgh Grapevine.  Don't forget to vote on your favorite design below after checking them all out.

Bravo!

It is all said and done now! Carousel Couture was a great success, and if you were lucky enough to have seen it, you know what I am talking about. The gowns were absolutely spectacular this year. I know I may be a little biased, but I was so impressed by the amount of detail, creativity and care that was put into each garment. Thank you designers for really making this the best show yet!

Of course, the gowns would not have looked nearly as beautiful without our 17 stunning local models provided by Docherty Model and Talent Agency, the Talent Group, and independent models provided by some of their own designers. Thank you girls for being so easy to work with and being so beautiful!

At every fashion show I've even been to the music is a key part of the audience's experience. This year we had amazingly helpful people working on the music to ensure it all went as planned. Thank you, as well!

There are so many people who made this event the hit that it was, too many to list here. So, if you were one of them, THANK YOU!

Please cast your vote in the poll below on which gown was your favorite at the show. If you can't choose just one, you can select your top three.

Also, stay tuned to this blog for photos and even a video of the show to be posted later this week. I know many people were there taking photos, please feel free to post links to their location in the comments section of this post.

Poll: Which Gown was your Favorite?

Which Carousel Couture gown was your Favorite?
	Brittney Thieroff for Babylove Designs
	Carl Williams Jr.
	Emma Shutko
	Jena-Anne Sabom for SABOM Style
	Jennie Canning for Diondega
	Karen Page
	Kiya Tomlin Couture
	Lets Get Trashed!
	Marla Parker
	Mary McVay
	Nami Ogawa for ZETO
	Nicole Scarpone
	Richard Bryan
	Idia'Dega
	Tori Mistick
	Zoe Collins for Threadneedle Street
pollcode.com free polls

Press Preview: Pittsburgh Tribune Review

Please run out today and buy the Tribune Review to read their article on Carousel Couture at the Madcap Masquerade.  Fashion journalist Joanne Harrop sat down with myself and a few of the other designers this past Monday night to talk about the show and our inspiration. Online you can also view some photos we took of a couple of the gowns in Oakland's Schenley Park.

Included in this post is one of Nicole Scarpone's designs modeled by Samantha Sham.  Nicole has choreographed an elaborate dance for herself and her model for Saturday's show, you will not want to miss it!

The article also goes on the mention Kiya Tomlin, Tori Mistick, Carl Williams and Margaret Gerhart and Vanessa Koch of Lets Get Trashed!.

Read the full article here.

Sneak Peek: Final Chance

OK, this is it!  My third and final sneak peek of these amazing gowns for Saturday's show. 

I still can't reveal who designed this gown, but I think you know what I am going to say now - Come see the show to find out!

A link to buying tickets is to the right. "After 9" tickets which include open bar, dessert, dancing and the Carousel Couture fashion show are just $65.

Don't Tell: Another Sneak Peek!

OK, here is your second chance to preview some of this year's gowns. This shows the shoulder detail of one of the designs.

Again, to see the full design and find out which fabulous designer created it, you will have to come see the show on Saturday night!

Tickets are still available online for the "After 9" party, they are now $65. Check out the link to the right to buy tickets.  You will also be able to purchase tickets at the door for the same cost.

Don't Tell: Sneak Peek

The Madcap Masquerade is just 2 days away! So, I think you deserve a sneak peek at some of the gowns. This is the first of three little previews I'll be providing here.

Of course, I can't share any of the details yet! You will have to come to the show to see the full design and find out who created it. Buy your tickets ahead of time here.

This Year You Can OWN a Madcap Couture Gown!

This year, we have a very exciting new addition to the Madcap Masquerade. By popular demand, we will be auctioning off a selection of the Carousel Couture gowns directly following the fashion show. Party-goers have asked every year where they can get their hands on the wonderful gowns, and the designers are also eager to see their designs off the runway.

Eight out of the sixteen gowns for the show will be auctioned off that night. The designers of the auction gowns are:

Brittney Thieroff for Babylove Designs

Carl Williams

Jennie Canning for Diondega

Lets Get Trashed!

Nami Ogawa for ZETO

Nicole Scarpone

Jena-Anne Sabom for SABOM Style

Zoe Collins

I can tell you right now, that you will want to bid on not one, but all of the gowns available. From what I have seen so far they are all stunningly avant-garde and wearable at the same time.

One of the first concerns about this auction was that all the gowns would be small sizes, but all the designers are willing to alter the gowns to the winning bidder's desires and many of them are able to be altered from a size 2 to a size 10! The prices of the gowns are very diverse too, we will have a price point for everyone. Currently, the lowest starting bid will be $100 and the highest is $1,800.

After the fashion show on Saturday night, don't forget to go up to the runway to see the designs up close, chat with the designers, and palce your bids.

Festival of Lights to be Showcased at Madcap

Last night was the official debut of a lighting installation on the 535-foot-tall Cathedral of Learning and the Stephen Foster Memorial on University of Pittsburgh's campus. The buildings also look over Schenley Plaza, the location of this year's Madcap Masquearade, and will serve as an elaborate backdrop for the ball next Saturday.  Special clear tents have been arranged so that masqueraders will be able to see the lighting display throughout the night without obstruction.

The Cathedral of Learning display is just one of the amazing lighting displays, including Katz Plaza and the Omni William Penn Hotel, that are illuminating out city for the next few weeks.

For more information check out the official photo-site for the Festival of Lights PittsburghGrapevine.com, and this Post-Gazette article that gives more details on the project.

Event Site: Schenley Plaza

This year's Madcap Masquerade is moving from the Hunt Armory in Shadyside (where the past three spooky spectaculars were held) the the shiny new Schenley Plaza in Oakland. Situated in the heart of Oakland (right across from the Cathedral of Learning, and next to the Carnegie Library), the Plaza is a major destination for university students, business people, and anyone who loves the outdoors. With proximity to many cultural attractions, and plenty of open space, it truly has something for everyone!

Food vendors along the perimeter provide everything from hot chocolate to pizza - and with free Wi-fi, the Plaza is the perfect place to spend your free time.

We can't wait to see the space transformed for the Masquerade. Giant clear tents will be annexed to the existing round white one, and heated that night to ensure a comfortable atmosphere. A floor will also be put down so nobody's stilettos disappear into the ground (what a travesty that would be!). In addition to fabulous decor and lighting, this will all be constructed immediately before the event so that there is minimal risk of damaging the grass below. Once it is all deconstructed on Sunday, the party will disappear like a ghost!

                                            

Check out these photos of the Plaza and the amazing carousel - you can see why we chose it as the inspiration for the fashion show!

The carousel features more than just your typical horses - look for giraffes, pigs, dragons and dolphins!

The Date is Set for this year's Madcap Masquerade

On Saturday, October 25, 2008 the fourth annual Madcap Masquerade featuring this year's fashion show theme Carousel Couture will take place at Schenley Plaza in the Oakland neighborhood of Pittsburgh.  The event is one of the annual fundraisers for the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy, funds raised at the first Madcap went towards creating Schenley Plaza where the event will take place this year.

This year, the Parks Conservancy expects 600+ guests, many of whom return each year to see the spectacular fashion presentation. It is unlike any other fashion show in Pittsburgh in that it features one-of-a-kind original creations by Pittsburgh designers. This year's show features 16 designers who will create black-tie couture gowns inspired by the carousel at Schenley Plaza. Past themes for the show have included Couture Noire, Black&White, and International Masquerade.

Check out this blog often for updates on the event as well as bios on all of the participating designers.