Celebrating Music and High Fashion
Recently, fashion designer Isaac Mizrahi showed his fall 2010 collection at the Nashville Symphony’s Fifth Annual Spring Fashion Show, an event benefiting music education. With performances by country music group Little Big Town, a cocktail party, dinner and a silent auction, the evening was an all-around success. TEXT Nikki Aviotti | PHOTOGRAPHY Nikki Aviotti
On a warm April evening, Nashville’s finest gathered to raise funds and celebrate high fashion at the Nashville Symphony’s Fifth Annual Symphony Spring Fashion Show. Featured on the runway was the fall 2010 collection of fashion designer Isaac Mizrahi, who teamed up with retailer Guy Mayer for the event. The show was emceed by country group Little Big Town.
The evening’s proceeds benefited the Nashville Symphony and the Thor Johnson Scholarship fund, named for former Nashville Symphony music director. The scholarship provides 12 school-aged students in Middle Tennessee an opportunity to advance their music education. “This cause is very meaningful to me,” said Mizrahi, who has a background in performing arts and is directing a production of Stephen Sondheim’s “A Little Night Music” in St. Louis opening June 6. “I think the beginning of art is music. I respect so much musicians.”
The evening, co-chaired by Troy Solarek and Pamela Kurio-Poe, took a full year to plan. The Nashville Symphony’s courtyard, where a pre-show cocktail party was held, was decorated in a palette of pale greens and whites and was accented in floral arrangements by the Tulip Tree. A silent auction was also held during the pre-party, during which guests could bid on items from Tiffany, a trip to Fashion Week in New York, an evening for 12 with Titans General Manager Mike Reinfeldt and a “Many Will See” necklace by Amanda Urrego.
Little Big Town’s Kimberly Schlapman and Karen Fairchild both donned sparkling Mizrahi ensembles from the collection and appeared with bandmates Jimi Westbrook and Phillip Sweet. “I love fashion because it’s kind of like music,” Fairchild commented. “It’s a self-expression. It’s quite an honor to be able to wear his [Mizrahi’s] collection and be a part of this.”
Because music is such an important part of the band member’s lives, the group felt the need to contribute to the cause. “We just wanted to help out in the small way we could,” Schlapman said.
The fashion show took place in the Laura Turner Concert Hall, where models from the Nashville area glided along the catwalk in looks that included day and evening wear featuring fur, sequins, tulle and exposed zippers. “A lot of things inspire me,” said Mizrahi of his collection and shows. “This show we did in New York, I was inspired by the idea of sprites and fairies living in Central Park. I like the idea of that kind of urban fairytale.”
Before the show, Mizrahi playfully commented on Schlapman and Fairchild’s outfits, exclaiming, “Oh my God, where did you get those gorgeous dresses?” His light-hearted banter continued on stage before the show began, when the barefoot designer half-joked, “Anyone who wears my clothes, I love them!”
Although this was his first time visiting the country music capital, Mizrahi said, “I’ve always been fascinated with the idea of Nashville. There is something about it [country music] that is more direct and pure.”
The show ended with a standing ovation and was followed with an acoustic performance by Little Big Town including popular hits like “Bring it on Home,” “Stay” and “Vapor.” The crowd then poured out of the show and made its way to an outdoor tent where dinner was served as the evening wound down.
Before the Show:
Some of our favorite pieces!
A Standing ovation:
Little Big Town performing:
The end of the evening:
