Pink Rocks the Runway at Fashion Week Miami

The Eden Roc was the place to be for the kickoff of ROCK Fashion Week in Miami Beach Wednesday night and pink was all the rage, from the Stoli-infused cocktails at the Gen Art pre-show party to The Pink Dress Collection benefiting Susan G. Komen for the Cure, a symbolic event in light of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

“People talk about the little black dress but tonight it’s all about the little pink dress and to bring awareness to women and to men, because men do have breast cancer and suffer from it as well,” said Andrea Orane, President of the Miami/Ft. Lauderdale Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure. “We’re really honored to be involved in one of the three events and also to have our affiliate impacted by the presentation today. This is one of the fashion capitals, so why not bring it to Miami and to our affiliate? There are so many people who have no insurance and no way to pay for a clinical breast exam or a mammogram and they go without. It’s really sad, but tonight is a festive night and it’s all about helping other people.”

With 125 affiliates in the U.S. and overseas, Susan G. Komen is the world’s largest advocacy group for breast cancer awareness and breast health globally, having invested more than $1.3 billion since its inception in 1982. Over the years, the foundation has attracted millions of devoted volunteers, survivors and supporters, including former NBA defensive dynamo and famous fashion risk-taker Dennis Rodman, who closed out the show in a pink and silver glittery ensemble handmade from head to toe by Kayce Armstrong of Art of Shade (according to Tara Solomon of Tara, Ink., Rodman had the custom outfit fitted on him right on the sidewalk in front of Armstrong’s Harrison Avenue boutique in Hollywood, FL while he was smoking a cigar).

“It’s amazing how many people come together for a good cause,” said Rodman. “The Pink Dress Collection has taken on more of a name to where I think it’s become a fad now. Ten years ago it wasn’t even anything. It was a one day event, but it’s like a one week event now and it’s amazing how much it’s grown over the past 10 years. When I first did it back in 1996, it was never like this. It was more like a ribbon, but it’s got such momentum right now. This is serious stuff.”

When I asked Rodman, who has been involved in the charity for almost 16 years, about the inspiration behind his outlandish outfits, he said “I’m just an accessorizing type of guy. When I go out and do things like this I just accessorize, whatever works.”

And work it he did, following a parade of Deco Models and local celebrities, including singer/songwriter Jamie Jo Harris, WSVN’s Deco Drive anchor Shireen Sandoval, NBC’s South Florida Today anchor Roxanne Vargas and CBS 4 weather anchor Lissette Gonzalez, who strutted their stuff down the pool-top runway in the name of charity in a variety of pink satin, chiffon, lace and ruffle-adorned creations from the long and flowing to the skin-tight, short and sexy. The dresses, donated by a myriad of generous designers, including Abi Ferrin, Karen Zambos, Lilly Pulitzer, Juicy Couture, Betsey Johnson, Pamela Roland, Luca Luca, Ella Bella, Guess by Marciano, Tadashi and Nicole Miller, among others, will be auctioned off at the close of ROCK Fashion Week L.A. at Paramount Studios.

Overall it was an incredible event, celebrating two things very near and dear to my heart: fashion and fundraising. Simultaneously raising awareness about a critical cause and showcasing some of the hottest pink frocks to grace a runway this season, now what could be better than that?