USA -- Orange County’s hottest brands and emerging designers will take center stage at the second annual Style Week Orange County, from Sept. 24 – 26, at Irvine Spectrum Center. Nearly 10,000 trend-savvy visitors are expected to attend the runway fashion shows, designer appearances and in-store events throughout the week.

Tickets for each fashion show are $10 per person and all proceeds will benefit HomeAid Orange County. Tickets can be purchased online beginning Aug. 10 at StyleWeekOC.com.

The preeminent style event in Orange County will kick off Sept. 24 with the break-out fashion show for Orange County-based LRG (Lifted Research Group). A creative lifestyle brand, LRG is a leading designer, marketer and distributor of skateboard and music-inspired clothing and accessories.

Special guests on Opening Night with coveted front row seats will include Ryan Getzlaf, Bobby Ryan and Joffrey Lupul of the Anaheim Ducks; Trevor Ariza of the Houston Rockets, formerly with the LA Lakers; Big Black from MTV; and the entire LRG Skate Team including Chico Brenes, Rodrigo TX and Jack Curtin. Celebrity DJ Kevin Scott will provide music before and during LRG’s runway debut.

Runway show highlights of Style Week Orange County will include:
• Thurs., Sept. 24, 7:30 p.m. - LRG Spring 2010 Collection Debut
• Fri., Sept. 25, 7:30 p.m. - Designer Showcase Presented by Ezekiel & Active Ride
• Fri., Sept. 25, 9 p.m. - Branded: Saluting Emerging Designers Michele Genevieve & Oday Shakar
• Sat., Sept. 26, 7:30 p.m. - Nordstrom Fall 2009
• Sat., Sept. 26, 9 p.m. - Metropark Presented by MEK Denim with Celebrity Model Albert Reed

“LRG is a cool brand; I wear it all the time,” said Trevor Ariza. “I’m really looking forward to the fashion show and post-party.”

On Friday, Sept. 25, Designer Showcase presented by Ezekiel & Active Ride will feature the Needle & Thread Competition with six Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising (FIDM) Debut Designers, top graduated students who will show as many as five original looks on the runway that they have created for the Spring 2010 Collection for Ezekiel. All of the designs will be judged by a panel of industry experts and the designer with the best overall designs will be announced at the end of the show. The winner will receive a $4,000 scholarship and their designs will be carried in Ezekiel’s Spring 2010 line.

Immediately following the Designer Showcase on Friday, Sept. 25 the spotlight will shine on looks ranging from denim chic to red carpet ready at Branded: Saluting Emerging Designers Michele Genevieve & Oday Shakar. A year ago, Genevieve launched Hollywood Million Denim, which was quickly embraced by celebrity stylemakers Kim Kardashian, Drea DiMatteo, Jenny McCarthy, Kara DioGuardi and the cast of Real Housewives of Orange County.

At the age of just 21, Shakar debuted the first pieces of his own collection at the Mercedes Benz charity event “Fashion Forward Hits Beverly Hills” during LA Fashion Week. After stints designing at Von Dutch and Dragonfly clothing, and creating wardrobes for music video artists including Christina Milian, Shakar’s gowns were seen on the red carpet at the 2009 ESPY Awards. He fills the haute couture niche within the Orange County design world.

Following a Nordstrom fashion show on Saturday, Sept. 26, the final show of Style Week Orange County will be Metropark Presented by MEK Denim. Celebrity model and former Dancing with the Stars competitor Albert Reed will model and be on hand at a post-show party inside Metropark.

Numerous in-store events and designer appearances will take place throughout the week, including the Metropark party with MEK Denim on Saturday, Sept. 26 from 7 to 10 p.m. Celebrity model Reed will be on hand greeting fans and customers who purchase a full price pair of MEK Denim during the party will receive a free iPod Shuffle. Other events will include a collaboration with Macy’s and FIDM whose Chairing Styles exhibit, an initiative between fashion, textile and interior design students, will be located on the department store’s lower level.

The second annual Style Week Orange County builds upon last year’s overwhelming success of the first-ever Style Week Orange County, which featured appearances by reality TV celebrity Lauren Conrad, Olympic medalist Gretchen Blieler, Adam Saaks of Ed Hardy, and others.

“Both Orange County and Irvine Spectrum Center are proven trend setters and style leaders,” said Stacie Ellis, Marketing Director of Irvine Spectrum Center. “Style Week Orange County will continue its tradition of showcasing the latest fashions and emerging brands that our savvy customers demand.”

The fashion shows will take place in Giant Wheel Court at Irvine Spectrum Center, which are visible to the general public in standing-room-only areas.
 
Style Week Orange County