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2018 Couture & Cars Fashion Show returns to Tacoma

Clothing by Designs by Thor, a Portland-based fashion designer, will be presented at this year’s Couture & Cars 2018 fashion show. Photo credit: Jared Ribic

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You heard us! Get dressed, Tacoma, because the Couture & Cars Fashion Show is back for a second year in a row, and it offers the perfect opportunity to dress to the nines. Couture & Cars Fashion Show is easily one of the highest-profile events of its kind in Tacoma, and it highlights eight Northwest designers specializing in bridal, eco-conscious, latex, men and women suits, ready-to-wear and swimwear couture clothing and accessories. 

"We have some amazing designers with unique backgrounds," said David Bailey, founder of Fashion District NW and executive producer of Couture & Cars. "Some presented last year, but some are new to the show ... This is one of the biggest one-day fashion shows in the Northwest region."

Couture & Cars will be held at the same venue where it debuted last summer, LeMay - America's Car Museum. The event will showcase Chany Venurini, Dawnamatrix, Designs by Thor, Heidi Fish Swimwear and Lisa Marie Couture fashion designers. Ann X Design, Lunaversoul, and Namiko Abloom accessory designers will also present at the show.

"The designers are the centerpoint of what we're doing," said Bailey. "Dawnamatrix is known around the world for what she does with latex. She's styled for Katy Perry, Kylie Jenner and Vogue. We've also got Heidi Fish, a swimwear designer whose work has been featured in Sports Illustrated a handful of times over the last few years."

This year, the fashion show is expected to sell out with a projected audience of at least 500 people.

"The city is starting to embrace this event a little bit more," said Bailey. "We're excited about where we're heading with the show, and with the community, as well. We're trying to build a bigger and better fashion community not just in Tacoma, but in the Northwest. This is a Northwest-fashion-community-driven event."

Seattle artist and entrepreneur Juliet Dang, will return for a second year to emcee the event. Tacoma native DJ Nelson Estrada will accompany her. Prior to the show, red-carpet photo opportunities will be available to audience members, followed by designer booths to browse over the course of the night. An after party will commence after the runway show.

"This fashion show provides a highly unique perspective. It's fun because to some degree, we don't have control over parts of the show. The LeMay museum collection changes every year. Last year, it was exotic supercars, but this year it'll be BMW racecars. Some of the designers will use that as their inspiration, and some of them will find their inspiration elsewhere. Every year will be a little bit different."

"We hope this event continues to establish a cohesiveness and polish in fashion, especially in the Tacoma area. We're creating an event that people can respect and are excited to be a part of."

2018 COUTURE AND CARS FASHION SHOW, 6:30-11 p.m., Saturday, July 21, Lemay - America's Car Museum, 2702 East D St., Tacoma, $35-$65, coutureandcars.com

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