Fashion Week 2018 gets underway in Rochester to benefit youth center

Firefighters, violinists and the latest in fall fashions hit the runway at the inaugural show of Fashion Week of Rochester 2018.
The noontime fashion luncheon drew a sold-out crowd of over 500 people to the tent next to Midtown Athletic Club at 100 E. Highland Drive in Rochester. This is the second consecutive year that Fashion Week hosted the runway shows at the same site.

Now in its ninth year, Fashion Week of Rochester is the largest fundraiser for the Center for Youth. This year's goal from the events, ranging from a boutique crawl to runway shows, is expected to raise more than $750,000, said Elaine Spaull, executive director of Center for Youth.
The funds from Fashion Week will help with a new home on Arnett Boulevard for LGBTQ youths, fund the crisis nursery and aid young women who have been trafficked for sex. Rochester has a high rate of youth trafficking, said Spaull, who is also a city council member.
This is the first year that all the shows will sell out, said Meghan Mundy, Fashion Week co-founder. There are tickets left for the Thursday and Friday shows, with Wednesday and Saturday shows now sold out. The Leads the Way fashion show is up next on Wednesday night featuring area leaders and teens modeling on the runway, including Rochester Mayor Lovely Warren.
Thursday is the edgy Walk and Roll Show, featuring drag queens and jewelry designers from Rochester Institute of Technology. Hammerstep, an Irish hip-hop dance troupe who was on America's Got Talent, will perform Thursday night.
Fashion Week 2018 kickoff took place Tuesday, Oct. 9, 2018. Events will take place on E. Highland Drive, next to Midtown Athletic Club.
Fashion Week 2018 kickoff took place Tuesday, Oct. 9, 2018. Events will take place on E. Highland Drive, next to Midtown Athletic Club. (Photo: CARLOS  /ROCHESTER DEMOCRAT AND CHRONICLE)
Friday night remains family-forward with fashions from Von Maur and Rochester designer Gigi Baker with her artful fashions and accessories. Vietnamese-American designer Khang Le will showcase his works during the Fabulous Finale show Saturday night. Fashion Week always strives to do something different, Mundy said.
The lunch, shopping and fashions are something new at Fashion Week this year. Ladies, and some gentlemen, dined and shopped at the noon show on Tuesday, with Athleta and Chandeliers Boutique selling their fashions at the show.
Athleta showed fall athleisure wear that can go from gym to a day out as well as its cotton dress paired with a poncho. Rochester designer Lucky Nahum showed his colorful shirts from his Get Lucky line that are unisex. Wraps and ponchos from Chandeliers Boutique in Pittsford and Canandaigua reminded fashion watchers that despite the Indian summer weather of late, fall has indeed arrived.
Fashion Week is an annual event that Chandeliers owner Darlene Truax looks forward to every year.
"It's a great cause," Truax said. "It's great to see Rochester celebrate fashion."