Influence Fashion Experience: Know Before You Go
We invite you to join The Southern Atelier – along with some of our fave local bloggers – this Saturday for the 2019 INFLUENCE Fashion Experience! Follow these bloggers for complete coverage of the show: Cent$ible Blonde, My Own Sense of Fashion and Life Fashion Styling!
Exalte’s mission is to meld the worlds of fashion and philanthropy together for an amazing cause. Exalte is partnering with Bella White, Miss Worldwide Teen Alabama of LOLC (Live Out Loud Charity) to advocate for those without a voice and to fight against the stigma of mental health issues.
LOLC has educated millions of individuals globally on the signs of depression and suicide prevention. Live Out Loud Charity focuses on core character development, anti-bullying and suicide prevention. The goal is to make a difference on the Gulf Coast with the INFLUENCE Fashion Experience by using fashion as a form of communication to bring awareness and continue a conversation about depression, bullying and the importance of suicide prevention.
Here is what you need to know before you go:
Who: Influence Fashion Experience presented by Exalte Magazine
What: A fashion show that shines a light on mental health issues
When: Saturday May 4 from 7pm-10pm (gates open at 6pm, show starts at 7pm)
Where: The History Museum of Mobile
Purchase tickets by clicking this link.
Being a recent suicide-loss survivor, this cause is very near to my heart. I am SO proud to announce that two of the people who have been by my side through the traumatic grief process are participating in the show – they also happen to be part of The Southern Atelier team. Lacie Phillips with Wisteria Way Designs will be opening the show with her gorgeous creations, and Niki Coker will be showcasing Lacie’s designs as she walks down the runway, bringing a whole new meaning to the term “role model.”
The Southern Atelier is exclusively debuting one of Wisteria Way Design’s newest creations BEFORE it officially hits the runway! I was lucky enough to shoot the dress while in Denver with the talented Ginny Haupert Photography, and I felt like a total golden goddess in this gown! Be on the lookout for it on the runway on Saturday along with many of Lacie’s other gorgeous designs – she will be opening the show, and I am SO excited to see what she has had up her sleeve since I last saw her on the runway for Mobile Fashion Week. To read more about Wisteria Way Designs, click here and here.
I would be remiss to write about a fashion event for suicide awareness without spreading actual awareness – so on a more somber note, here are some quick facts about suicide’s increasing prevalence:
Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States and the 11th leading cause of death in Alabama. In our state, nearly 2x as many people die by suicide than by homicide annually. One person dies every 11 hours in Alabama from suicide.
I pray that by talking about suicide and bringing it out of the darkness that Influence Fashion Experience is able to touch – and save – many lives. I am grateful to be involved with this show because this is the first time I have mentally been able to write about being a suicide loss survivor. Writing has always been cathartic for me, and in the next few months as I continue to heal, I plan to share more of my story in hopes of helping others in similar situations – if nothing then to let other survivors know they are not alone in their trauma and grief.
I look forward to seeing you all at Saturday night’s show! Be sure to follow our Instastories as we will be LIVE backstage bringing you all the #BTS details with Wisteria Way Designs as well as providing footage from our front row seats! We will have all the angles covered at Influence Fashion Experience. Stay tuned and remember, dress to impress – runway shows are always the perfect excuse to have fun with fashion!
xx,
Sarah
Photo Credit for all of my golden goddess gown pictures goes to the talented Ginny Haupert out of Denver, Colorado. Shooting with Ginny was an absolute dream – stay tuned for SEVERAL blog posts on my experience on set as well as pictures galore! If you are ever in Denver you absolutely must set up a shoot with Ginny…I am already looking forward to my next one (seriously, go check out her site…stunning!).
