First I want to give a huge thank you to everyone who helped make Fashion Takes Flight possible… Designers Donovan England, Walish Gooshe, Nam Nguyen, Ella Rue, and Streets of Georgetown provided amazing clothes (and a LOT more looks than a normal collection) and proved that D.C. CAN be fashion forward.  Hair and makeup artists James Cornwell, Dyan Smith, the rest of the PR@Partners team, Megan Riddle, and Blend Makeup Artistry turned our visions of sending vintage, ’40s style pinup girls down the runway into a reality.  Models from T.H.E. Artist Agency were such a pleasure to work with, even without fittings, instructions other than “don’t bring drag queen faux lashes,” and more importantly, doing it all pro bono.  Sondra Ortagus and Lynda Erkiletian made that happen, and I couldn’t be more grateful.  The Luke’s Wings team of Fletcher Gill, Lindsay Kin, Mackenzie Miles, Charlotte Jarrett, and especially Nichole Devolites helped put the vision I had of  my last Fashion Takes Flight into a reality.

The 2012 Fashion Takes Flight Team

Courtesy of Vithaya Photography

But my biggest thank you goes out to the military men and women in attendance, especially my darling friends Eric Porter, Joslyn Hemler, Jason Morris, Ross O’Rourke, and Mark Radlinski (brother of, not cousin of, Luke Radlinski, my bad), who I coerced into walking in the show.  They were so amazing and beautiful, and I love them to death for walking in front of 400 strangers, looking so calm, cool, collected… and TOTALLY HOT.

Military Models for Fashion Takes Flight

Courtesy of Vithaya Photography

Also, if you were too busy checking out how hot my friends are (or were me and were too busy a) singing along to the music and b) trying not to trip and fall on your face) and missed the slide show that was playing on the screens flanking the runway, here it is…

I am proud to say that I went to school with, served with, and am friends with a person featured in each of those photos. From young bucks like Courtney Stecker and Kenneth Suarez, the military models currently serving, deployed friends like Ben Horn, and those who we will always cherish their memory… Van Wilson, Brendan Looney, Travis Manion.  You are loved and missed every.single.day.

It is bittersweet leaving the Luke’s Wings team, and knowing this was my last year with Fashion Takes Flight, but at the same time, it was the best show to date.  We left an indelible mark on D.C., the story of Alan Babin and his mother Rosie brought people to tears, and thanks to the incredible generosity of Kazi Investment Group, Fashion Takes Flight brought in almost $30,000.  I love it when a plan comes together…

Alan and Rosie Babin

Please check out all the gorgeous pictures of the event from our contributors below… including the ones where Krista Johnson thought it would be ok if I just didn’t wear pants.  Turns out, she was right (as usual).

http://vithaya.smugmug.com/Events/20120204-LW-FTF-Port-VP/21353279_5czTfp#!i=1700895508&k=q6sbnkS

http://photos.tdlphoto.com/events/fashionflight2012

http://www.revamp.com/story.php?StoryID=1631

http://guestofaguest.com/washington-dc/events/lukes-wings-4th-annual-fashion-takes-flight/

…more coverage coming soon!