The Designer's Palace 44 Years of Flair Fashion Show

It's super cold right now, and as I glance out my window I can see that my street is blanketed with enough snow for me to have to put on my heavy boots and not the cute ones I wore on Sunday to Ms. DeeDee's 44th Annual Fashion Show! I didn't care how much snow was on the ground, I wasn't about to miss this event, and I could tell by the amount of extra chairs needed at the venue for the sold out crowd that I wasn't the only one, and if you have ever been to any of Ms. DeeDee's past shows then you know exactly why.

Living in Cleveland, Ohio, you never know what you will get from month to month as far as our weather- there is no guarantee of snow for Christmas or sunshine in June, but the one thing that you can count on every February is local Designer's Palace designer Ms. DeeDee Tufts's annual Stop the Violence Fashion Show!

Taking place on February 10th, at the Mediterranean Party Center, "44 Years of Flair Fashion Show" was a packed crowd of stylish guests, friends and family who came to be entertained for several reasons: The signature fly and flashy designs, the models who stroll with rhythm and confidence and make you want to buy the garments straight off the runway, the dancers that mesmerize and tell a story through movement. For the cute kid models who may or may not love to walk in front of crowds of cheering adults, but build self esteem by doing so, and then of course for the hilarious fashion commentator Mr. Patrick Washington and his outrageous ad-libs throughout the show! Oh and there is always a plate of food, cause Ms. DeeDee understands that all that visual excitement can work up an appetite! 

Designer's Palace offers clothes for women who have an innate flair for fashion and style, but may decide to play it safe in separates at their 9-5, and wear pretty sheath dresses with shawls to church. But when she steps out on the weekends, travels or attends events she has the desire to stand out apart from the crowd and knows the only way to do that is to wear a signature piece from Fashion Palace.

Ms. DeeDee is known for her signature ready to wear designs that allow you to ball up a fabulous dress or tunic, throw it in your suitcase, change in a cramped bathroom after your flight lands in Vegas and emerge sans wrinkles and ready for a night of fun. You can wear a figure hugging gold two piece number to stunt on the former crush that ignored you back in the day at your 30 year class reunion, or step out in a cape with a full train to divorce court and then replace it with a flowy kimono top to runoff to Puerto Vallarta with ya new boo lol. These clothes ain't for everybody, but they are made to flatter every body type, since Ms. DeeDee uses fabrics that stretch, drape and skim the body, featuring loose cuts without the use of zippers, buttons or any other restrictions.​

At the show we saw an African inspired collection with print heavy tent dresses and peplum tops with long trains, maxi length caftans and two piece outfits, but I especially loved the voluminous jumpsuits and scene causing capes that flew out dramatically when the models strutted.

And strut they did. You won't see any of that stiff, model as a hanger, New York Fashion Week type of modeling here. No, these models walked with a sturdy mix of soul, rhythm and pride that you felt in every bounce, twirl and spin and you know they couldn't help it with a crowd of aunties and elders throwing out encouraging phrases and compliments like hand grenades: "Come on HIPS!!" "Look at them shoulders!" "Gone girl don't hurt nobody in them heels!"

You can be anywhere in the world on any cold Sunday evening, by why not be surrounded in a crowded space of love, encouragement and fashions at a Designer's Palace show?

More looks that came down the runway included playful polka dot and black and white striped ensembles, gold and silver slinky metallic evening wear, bold purple and red cocktail attire with fringed asymmetrical hems, sequins, rhinestones and glitter. Basically the type of clothes that are ready to wear and cause people to either stare or glare!

I loved the show and I especially appreciated the body positive models because seeing how the clothes move on the body is a very real dilemma that most designers ignore, but it's not cool when potential clients can't imagine how they would look in a garment they like. There were tall slender models, models with pudgy stomachs, ones with large hips and thighs, skinny legs, broad shouldered, plus sizes in various shapes, petite models with big breasts and some with barely A-cups and Designer's Palace fabulously dressed them all!

The fashion loving crowd was also treated to a very special appearance by menswear designer Vaughn Glover and a scene by custom denim designer Antoine Feaster with his Splash collection, which the audience really went in for. 

This is one show I look forward to attending every year because it is so much more than fashion- it is a real live experience and the closest some of us might get to attending the now defunct Ebony Fashion Fair Shows. If you are a regular you witness the growth of models from the previous years, the familiar faces that start walking for Ms. DeeDee and then venture off to other shows, new ways to style familiar pieces, and fellowship with the audience members and vendors from past shows. Overall it's a feel good event and for a great cause and I'm excited to see what is offered next year!

This fashion crowd came dressed to SLAY, not to PLAY lol! Enjoy more pictures from the show in the slideshow and don't forget to watch the video below. If you see something you like, contact Ms. DeeDee on her Facebook page!