Pittsburghers love their sports, but there were no bedazzled jerseys or Terrible Towels to be seen Thursday at the fifth annual Style Week Pittsburgh.
Instead, fashion enthusiasts pulled out all the stops for the opening night runway show at Coterie Pittsburgh, perched on the top floor of Downtown’s Frick Building. Pearls, in particular, were en vogue. Patricia Sheahan looped several oversized strands of them around her neck to liven up her classic black frock. Meanwhile, Lydiah Wanyoike turned them into a headpiece with sparkling embellishments.
Others opted for bold, look-at-me prints. A favorite: Irene Koroma’s chunky-heeled sandals with tribal-inspired prints that paired perfectly with her colorful pants.
Another talk of the night were trash-to-treasure necklaces from Pittsburgh-based assemblage artist Gerry Florida. One of the most Instagram-worthy was made from a serpent snaked around a mannequin head. The backdrop for the display was a gritty graffiti scene painted by residents at the Shuman Juvenile Detention Center in Lincoln-Lemington.
The print parade continued onto the runway, thanks to Lana Neumeyer, who has an innate knack for vibrant fashions. Art Institute of Pittsburgh graduate Elaine Healy went an edgier route with black-netted pieces and a few funky furry jackets that were hard to resist touching. Stephanie Moye, another Art Institute grad, presented futuristic pieces that played well with the skyscraper ponytails by Philip Pelusi Salons.
Style Week didn’t forget about the city’s dapper men. Social Status, a go-to shop for sneakerheads and streetwear fanatics in East Liberty and Downtown, showed some casual looks with a dash of attitude.
The fashionable festivities continue Friday night at the Style Awards at Alloy 26 on the North Side. Style Week Pittsburgh runs through Sunday.
Sara Bauknecht: sbauknecht@post-gazette.com or on Twitter and Instagram @SaraB_PG.
First Published: August 18, 2017, 4:30 p.m.
