For Lisa Butler, there\u2019s more to fashion than looking good.<\/p>\n
\u201cFashion is wearable art,\u201d Butler said. \u201cIt\u2019s a form of self-expression. Even when you\u2019re not choosing to be fashionable, you\u2019re expressing yourself.\u201d<\/p>\n
That\u2019s why she believes fashion shouldn\u2019t be considered frivolous \u2014 and why she launched Syracuse Fashion Week. The 2019 event takes place the second weekend in April with three very different shows, all meant to showcase the enormous talent in the Syracuse area. It began as Syracuse Style in 2009, a fall runway show in Armory Square, and has since evolved into a three-day, semi-annual event.<\/p>\n
Syracuse Fashion Week came from Butler\u2019s own love of clothing and design. Butler started out in theater, working in costume design at Syracuse Stage and then moving into wedding design. She worked with a number of local designers and started showing off their work.<\/p>\n
\u201cI started doing fashion shows just for myself,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
But as she looked around, she saw that, while Rochester and Buffalo had a thriving fashion scene, Syracuse didn\u2019t<\/p>\n
\u201cI said, \u2018Syracuse needs one,\u2019\u201d Butler said.<\/p>\n
Thus Syracuse Style \u2014 and ultimately Syracuse Fashion Week \u2014 was born. This year\u2019s event includes three shows (\u201cLast year we did five events and we almost died, so we have three events this year,\u201d Butler said): a Spring Fling show on Thursday, the infamous Underground Show on Friday and the popular Gala on Saturday.<\/p>\n
The Spring Fling show kicks off the weekend in the intimate setting of the Aloft Hotel in the Inner Harbor, which is a new venue for the event, Butler said.<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, my gosh, what a beautiful venue,\u201d she said. \u201cIt\u2019s very colorful and modern.\u201d<\/p>\n
Models will walk through the hotel\u2019s lobby for the show, giving patrons a close look at the fashions on display, including accessories and jewelry. This show also features many new local designers whose work is available for sale.<\/p>\n
The Underground Show, meanwhile, features more of what Butler calls \u201cfantasy fashions.\u201d This adults-only event is \u201csexy,\u201d Butler said. \u201cIt\u2019s popular with a lot of guys.\u201d<\/p>\n
The weekend wraps up with the gala on Saturday at the Landmark Theatre. The designs here range from high-end wearable to high couture custom gowns. This is the biggest show of the weekend.<\/p>\n
Proceeds from Syracuse Fashion Week benefit the Food Bank of Central New York.<\/p>\n
\u201cIknew I wanted to raise money for some charity [with the event],\u201d Butler said.<\/p>\n
She hadn\u2019t decided which one to support until she and her husband watched a documentary called \u201cA Place at the Table,\u201d which discusses the extent of hunger in the United States.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt talked about hunger and food insecurity in America. There\u2019s no reason any citizen should be hungry,\u201d Butler said. \u201cSo I reached out to Lyn Hy [at the Food Bank of Central New York] and we\u2019ve been partnering all these years.\u201d<\/p>\n
Since the partnership began, Syracuse Fashion Week has raised $10,000 for the organization \u2014 enough to feed 30,000 people.<\/p>\n
For more information about Syracuse Fashion Week 2019, visit syracusefashionweek.com.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Sidebar<\/strong><\/p>\n Syracuse Fashion Week 2019<\/p>\n Spring Fling Show<\/p>\n When: 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday, April 11<\/p>\n Where: Aloft Hotel, Inner Harbor, Syracuse<\/p>\n What: Models will stroll through the lobby, and you will have a front row seat wherever you sit! Looks will include custom designed swimwear, casual and business looks and everything in between, from local designers and boutiques.<\/p>\n Cost: $43<\/p>\n The Underground Show<\/p>\n When: 8 p.m. to midnight Friday, April 12<\/p>\n Where: Marisa\u2019s Fortress of Beauty, 220 Walton St., Syracuse<\/p>\n What: This year’s show will feature sexy silhouettes from the 1950’s to the Aughts, with a rocking soundtrack to match.\u00a0Snacks and a cash bar. The show begins promptly at 9pm. Featuring a sultry and sexy romp through the decades. Ages 21 and up only.<\/p>\n Cost: $59<\/p>\n Syracuse Fashion Week Gala<\/p>\n When: 7 to 11 p.m.<\/p>\n Where: Landmark Theater, 362 S. Salina St., Syracuse<\/p>\n What: An evening of fashion, art and music. This year’s line-up includes custom-made couture, formal wear, bridal wear, and the best from CNY’s local boutiques.<\/p>\n Cost: $64 to $328<\/p>\n All proceeds benefit the Food Bank of Central New York. For tickets, visit cnytix.com\/organizations\/syracuse-fashion-week<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" For Lisa Butler, there\u2019s more to fashion than looking good. \u201cFashion is wearable art,\u201d Butler said. \u201cIt\u2019s a form of self-expression. Even when you\u2019re not choosing to be fashionable, you\u2019re expressing yourself.\u201d That\u2019s why she believes fashion shouldn\u2019t be considered frivolous \u2014 and why she launched Syracuse Fashion Week. The 2019 event takes place the…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":2321,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[104,103,101],"tags":[287,807,398],"class_list":["post-2320","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-causes","category-fashion","category-features","tag-food-bank-of-cny","tag-lisa-butler","tag-syracuse-fashion-week"],"gutentor_comment":0,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/SFW-2.jpg?fit=3208%2C3641&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":1146,"url":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?p=1146","url_meta":{"origin":2320,"position":0},"title":"Fashion, Food and Philanthropy","author":"Staff","date":"October 27, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Fashion with a Purpose\u00a0 By Lisa Marie Butler | Photography provided by Syracuse Fashion Week\u00a0 Whether you\u2019re reading this magazine over morning coffee, on a work break or on a treadmill at the gym, please remember one thing: there is a human being less than one mile from you who\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Fashion"","block_context":{"text":"Fashion","link":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?cat=103"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/IMG_0781-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C789&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/IMG_0781-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C789&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/IMG_0781-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C789&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/IMG_0781-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C789&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/IMG_0781-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C789&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2529,"url":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?p=2529","url_meta":{"origin":2320,"position":1},"title":"FASHION FORWARD: Wearable art","author":"Staff","date":"August 1, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"By Kathie Morris \u00a0 This is the education issue.\u00a0I liked math but I loved art. Learning to work with color, form and shapes, and to view things from different perspectives opened my eyes and my mind. In my teens, the arts programs were being considered for removal from the curriculum,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Fashion"","block_context":{"text":"Fashion","link":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?cat=103"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Kara-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Kara-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Kara-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Kara-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Kara-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3336,"url":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?p=3336","url_meta":{"origin":2320,"position":2},"title":"In memoriam Lorraine Koury, Syracuse fashion icon","author":"Alyssa Dearborn","date":"September 30, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Lorraine Koury, owner of the iconic shop Boom Babies on Westcott Street, passed away on Thursday, Sept. 15 following a short illness. She was surrounded by family and loved ones. Koury established Boom Babies in 1986 and over the years the store became a staple in the Syracuse fashion scene,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Features"","block_context":{"text":"Features","link":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?cat=101"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/DSC_0414-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/DSC_0414-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/DSC_0414-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/DSC_0414-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/DSC_0414-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":861,"url":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?p=861","url_meta":{"origin":2320,"position":3},"title":"Teresa Martini","author":"Staff","date":"June 30, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Tere of Transformation By Lorna Oppedisano | Photography by Alexis Emm Life is full of surprises. \u201cYou have one idea for yourself,\u201dTeresa Martini mused as she peered through oversized sunglasses. \u201cI thought I would be an organic farmer or travel the world or whatever free-spirited, crazy thing I thought I\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Featured"","block_context":{"text":"Featured","link":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?cat=99"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/Inspire-tere_0717.jpg?fit=1200%2C801&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/Inspire-tere_0717.jpg?fit=1200%2C801&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/Inspire-tere_0717.jpg?fit=1200%2C801&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/Inspire-tere_0717.jpg?fit=1200%2C801&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/Inspire-tere_0717.jpg?fit=1200%2C801&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2625,"url":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?p=2625","url_meta":{"origin":2320,"position":4},"title":"SPECIAL FEATURE: Supermodel Emme will be keynote speaker at Go Red for Women luncheon","author":"Sarah Hall","date":"October 8, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"A familiar face will take the stage at the Go Red for Women Luncheon and Festival of Red later this month. 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Celebrate local style and fashion, all while supporting The Food Bank of CNY. We went behind the scenes with hair and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Fashion"","block_context":{"text":"Fashion","link":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?cat=103"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Most-of-SFW-committee.jpg?fit=1200%2C692&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Most-of-SFW-committee.jpg?fit=1200%2C692&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Most-of-SFW-committee.jpg?fit=1200%2C692&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Most-of-SFW-committee.jpg?fit=1200%2C692&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Most-of-SFW-committee.jpg?fit=1200%2C692&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2320","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2320"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2320\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2322,"href":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2320\/revisions\/2322"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/2321"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2320"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2320"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2320"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}