Park Avenue Fashion Week's big finale awaits

When the spotlights hit the runway on Saturday, Winter Park will become the most fashionable city on the planet for one night. In case you’ve missed the explosion of glamour, Park Avenue Fashion Week has already started strutting, and its big finale is only a few nights away.

The PAFW runway show has always been the main event for the weeklong fashion showcase, now in its eighth year in the Central Park West Meadow. Underneath a giant white tent, crews have spent the past week transforming last week’s Cows ‘n Cabs wide-open-floor boot-scootin’ food and wine festival into a runway-centered style mecca. On Saturday night it’s all about lights, cameras, fashion.

Open the doors and the muffled wall of sound suddenly clarifies as rapidly as the mood shifts.

“You feel like you’re in Manhattan,” former model Debra Hendrickson said. “There’s just a tremendous amount of energy.”

Twelve style firms will strut the long stage in front of an expected packed crowd of 800.

“It’s along the line of a New York City fashion week for sure,” Hendrickson, now the Winter Park Chamber’s vice president, said. “For a little place like Park Avenue, it’s huge.”

All of the designers sell or create their fashion right along Park Avenue.

And for those up-and-coming designers who’ve never made it to the stage, it’s a shot at the big time. A group of lucky finalists from PAFW’s Emerging Designer Contest will see their fashion take a walk in front of nearly a thousand people at the runway show, part of a competition that ends with the winner announced under the spotlights.

The show’s matron saint — and presenting sponsor — Harriett Lake may be about to auction off her apartment-sized wardrobe on Nov. 6, but she’ll give at least one lucky outfit a final stylish sendoff seated aside the show’s iridescent piste du défilé. Look for her in the front row, likely with the most eye-catching hat in the room.

Still need tickets? They’re at parkavenuefashionweek.com and that includes some remaining VIP seats at $250 each. VIPs get early 5 p.m. entry to the show, full VIP treatment, a special seating section and lounge, plus a lot more. General admission is 6 p.m. with the runway show starting at 7 p.m.

But since getting your fill of fashion all in one day could seem like a tall order, spreading it out for the remainder of Fashion Week are special events, trunk shows and more coming up Thursday through Saturday.

Here’s a timeline:

Oct. 30

Two high end fashion shows at the Luma Luxury Fashion Experience will feature styles from Fused Fashion, live entertainment, gourmet fare and hand-crafted cocktails at 290 S. Park Ave. It’s $40 per ticket. Visit lumaonpark.com or email [email protected]

Sip champagne and Tuni’s signature PAFW cocktail at a Tuni Trunk SHOWdown from noon to 8 p.m. and meet designer Kelly Cimber and preview collections by Rebecca Minkoff and Yoana Baraschi. It’s at 301 S. Park Ave. Visit shoptuni.com or call 407-628-1609.

Charyli at 400 S. Park Ave. is hosting a ladies night until 8 p.m. with light bites and wine. Visit charylistores.com or call 407-455-1983 for more information.

Current’s Stone Rose trunk show will run from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at their store at 128 S. Park Ave. For more information, visit currentmen.com or call 407-628-1087.

John Craig at 132 S. Park Ave. is hosting an 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Robert Graham trunk show. Visit johncraigclothier.com or call 407-629-7944 for more information.

CottonWays is hosting a meet-the-artists event at the Dewy Collection, with fashion handbags hand-woven in Bali. It’s from noon to 4 p.m. at 332 N. Park Ave. Visit cottonways.com or call 321-203-4733 for more information.

Enjoy champagne and cupcakes at Eyes & Optics, with a showing of Chanel eyewear’s Eternal Femininity. It’s from 1 to 7 p.m. at 312 N. Park Ave. Visit eyesptics.com or call 407-644-5156 for more information.

Cool off with mimosas and refreshments courtesy of Maxine’s On Shine at this event at SEE, with a cartoonish caricaturing your silly side with retro eyewear. It’s from 3 to 6 p.m. at 342 S. Park Ave. Visit seeeyewear.com or call 407-599-5455.

iLashWorks at 111 S. Knowles Ave. is offering a spray tan special, to get that Valentino look before the big day. Visit ilashworks.com or call 407-622-0226 for more information.

Oct. 31

Charyli at 400 S. Park Ave. will help you craft your red carpet look for the runway show while nibbling healthy treats all day. Visit charylistores.com or call 407-455-1983 for more information.

The Collection Bridal is going long with a trunk show from Reem Acra from Oct. 31-Nov. 3. Visit thecollectionbridal.com or call 407-740-6003 for more information.

iLashWorks at 111 S. Knowles Ave. can get your Halloween chic going with eyelash extensions with big discounts for one day only. Visit ilashworks.com or call 407-622-0226 for more information.

CottonWays is hosting a trunk show with Treska and Audrey Quetier from 2 to 6 p.m. at 332 N. Park Ave. It’s unique and funky jewelry that’s guaranteed for life. Visit cottonways.com or call 321-203-4733 for more information.

Nov. 1

Check out Anuschka handcrafted and hand-painted leather handbags at CottonWays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at 332 N. Park Ave. Visit cottonways.com or call 321-203-4733 for more information.

Current is hosting a 7Diamonds trunk show from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at their store at 128 S. Park Ave. For more information visit currentmen.com or call 407-628-1087.

Sassafras Sweet Shoppe is hosting a fashion show and candy buffet at 5 p.m. Nov. 1 just before the big runway show. It’s at 115 E. Morse Blvd. Visit sassafrassweetshoppe.com or call 407-388-0101.