FORT LAUDERDALE, FL – The Underground Lauderdale Fashion Weekend will bring together fashion influencers and consumer enthusiasts from all over the country for an unforgettable long weekend of fashion and style with a touch of New York-inspired nightlife. The events will take place by the beach, an artful escape during the height of the winter season, from January 26-29, 2017.  Underground Lauderdale Fashion Weekend will be held in partnership with the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau's Office of Film, Music, and Entertainment.    

Renowned fashion icon and businesswoman Rachel Zoe will host Friday night's festivities including headlining designer runway show by Nicole Miller, taking place outdoors before 800 guests at the W Fort Lauderdale followed by an after-party at the W's chic WET Decks. Nicole Miller will be showing pieces straight from her widely praised Spring 2017 collection. The assortment will feature styles inspired by Panamanian art and culture, reflected in hand-finished beading, embroideries, and bright festive prints. The three-day Fashion Weekend will be anchored by world-class partners including national millennial organizations IVY and Create & Cultivate, along with some of the best brands, personalities, and hotspots in the area.

“I am thrilled to be participating in Underground Lauderdale Fashion Week showing my Spring 2017 line! What better place to show bright, playful and stylish clothing than in Fort Lauderdale?” says Nicole Miller.

In addition to Nicole Miller's marquee fashion presentation, Underground Lauderdale Fashion Weekend will feature events including a series of six emerging Fashion Designer Presentations and a Fashion Thought Leader Panel, all hosted by IVY; Create & Cultivate's Style Symposium drawing in top fashion bloggers, female entrepreneurs, and fashion personalities; W Fort Lauderdale's experiential sunrise beach boot camp and yoga; after parties at W Fort Lauderdale; and it will all close with a taste of New York featuring the Queen of Nightlife herself, Susanne Bartsch, hosting the Finale Warehouse Extravaganza at F.A.T. Village (the arts district).

Throughout the Underground Lauderdale weekend, style icons will also get to enjoy a Luxury VIP Styling Suite presented by The Colonnade Outlets at Sawgrass Mills, daily access to the Beauty Lounge featuring services from top tier beauty brands, Pop-Up Fashion & Accessories Experiences, a VIP Hospitality Suite and endless pool, beach and party activities.

“Greater Fort Lauderdale has become an increasingly sought after destination for its high-end lifestyle appeal,” said Stacy Ritter, president and CEO, Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau. “We are delighted to be able to help make this exciting concept a reality and look forward to the top names in fashion being here to shine a spotlight on the tremendous shopping and fashion opportunities for our visitors.” 

The Underground Lauderdale Fashion Weekend represents an expansion of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau's Office of Film, Music, Entertainment & Creative Industries programming into the realm of style and fashion, which currently includes film festivals, music festivals, and creative industries programming. Local fashion high-end retail partner, The Colonnade Outlet at Sawgrass Mills, a luxury shopping mecca for travelers from around the world, is one of the leading local partners helping to make the event a success, along with the newly renovated W Fort Lauderdale located on Greater Fort Lauderdale's famed beachfront featuring luxury hotels and ocean vistas. 

"Underground Lauderdale fashion encompasses a style of bohemia. It's progressive in terms of our fashion sensibility, yet mysterious, daring and reflective of our destination's creative culture,” said Noelle Stevenson, Vice President of the Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward Office of Film, Music, and Entertainment.

For tickets and a full event schedule, visit: www.undergroundlauderdalefashionweekend.com.

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Media Contact:

Aubrey McGovern

Finn Partners 

Tel: (212) 715-1600 

E-mail: aubrey.mcgovern@finnpartners.com

About The Partners

About Nicole Miller:

Known for her signature graphic prints and innovative silhouettes, Nicole Miller is an iconic American designer with a modern, ageless aesthetic. With a degree in fine arts from The Rhode Island School of Design and a degree from l'Ecole de la Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture Parisienne in Paris, Nicole Miller combines her art training with couture technique. Nicole Miller's creations have garnered a loyal following of celebrity fans including Angelina Jolie, Beyoncé, and Blake Lively, amongst others.  Nicole is a CFDA board member, and has been the recipient of numerous industry awards such as the Legend of Fashion Award (2006), Fashion Group International Lifetime Achievement Award (2012), and the Visionary Woman Award (2014).

About Rachel Zoe:

Rachel Zoe is a distinguished designer, editor, author, stylist, TV personality and entrepreneur renowned for her effortless take on glamour. As a designer, Zoe makes her exceptional taste and expertise accessible to the fashion savvy as Creative Director of Rachel Zoe Collection, comprised of ready-to-wear, footwear and jewelry lines. Zoe is the Editor-in-Chief of online style destination, The Zoe Report, reaching over 14 million worldwide. The Zoe Report recently launched Box of Style, a subscription service filled with items hand picked by Rachel and her team of editors. Rachel started her career as a world-renowned stylist revolutionizing the styling business and inspiring future generations of stylists. Zoe is committed to philanthropic organizations both locally and globally, serving as an Artist Ambassador for Save the Children and on the Board of Directors for Baby2Baby.

About Greater Fort Lauderdale:

Greater Fort Lauderdale, located in Broward County, boasts 23 miles of Blue Wave certified beaches, 300+ miles of inland waterways that run from the Intracoastal Waterway to the Everglades, thousands of restaurants and eateries, a thriving arts and culture scene and top shopping. The Greater Fort Lauderdale CVB/Broward Office of Film, Music, and Entertainment (OFME), a division of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau, focuses on creative industries including film, music, entertainment, art, fashion and special events. The OFME, is responsible for branding, partnerships and publicity that creates opportunities with a direct positive impact from these market segments. For information about fashion in Greater Fort Lauderdale visit www.sunny.org/fashion

About IVY:

IVY is a national organization with operations in 7 U.S. markets that brings together an audience of culturally sophisticated 25-42 year olds from all industries. IVY produces a wide range of programming for its supporters including emerging designer fashion presentations, indie film screenings, art receptions, Thought Leader and Entrepreneur Nights, and curated travel adventures. IVY's emerging designer platform includes presentations at NYFW, LAFW & Miami Swimweek which have featured Maria Korovilas, Angelys Balek, Versakini by Amanda Perna, and William Bradley. IVY has also collaborated with fashion Thought Leaders including designer Chris Benz, Gilt Group co-founder Alexandra Wilkus Wilson, and Lubov Azria of BCBG MaxAzria.

About Create & Cultivate:

Create & Cultivate is a conference series for female entrepreneurs working in the digital space. The Summits aim to be a platform for conversation that seeks to enlighten, entertain and inspire all of those who attend. At each Conference attendees network, mix and mingle with their peers, building new relationships all while taking in key learning's from some of the best in the business. The conference draws in big name speakers (such as Jessica Alba, Chelsea Handler & Rachel Zoe) and a 21-35 demographic of early adopters and engaged consumers.

About Colonnade Outlets:

The Colonnade Outlets at Sawgrass Mills is an exclusive collection of luxury outlets and exquisite dining in a refined, relaxed open-air promenade in Fort Lauderdale. With more than 60 exclusive luxury brands plus top-notch dining and entertainment, there is an exciting option for everyone. For Underground Lauderdale Fashion Weekend, The Colonnade Outlets at Sawgrass Mills will host the Create & Cultivate Fashion Conference. And those not otherwise attending, should consider taking a quick Uber ride to visit the venue.

About W Fort Lauderdale:

Lounging on along an exclusive stretch of sugar-sand coastline, the Fort Lauderdale luxury hotel inhabits the hottest address on the beach, inviting guests to explore the resort's seductive spaces and take advantage of the signature Whatever/Whenever® service. The hotel's 430 anything-but-typical rooms and suites boast unrivaled ocean and Intracoastal views, elevating the expectation of waterfront luxury. On property, guests can dine on delicious cuisine at Stephen Starr's STEAK 954, sip creative cocktails and indulge in tropical-inspired treatments at the signature BLISS Spa. To make a reservation in the Priority Partner room block for the Underground Lauderdale Fashion Weekend, click here.

About Susanne Bartsch:

Susanne Bartsch has been the queen of New York City nightlife since the 1980s when she became renowned for creating spectacular parties where she and a diverse mix of individuals—uptown, downtown, gay, straight, multiracial—all dressed up in their own versions of high fashion, street style, drag, & Mardi Gras extravaganza. Susanne will be flying down from New York City with an entourage of performers and DJs to host the Finale Extravaganza Party in grand style in Fort Lauderdale's art district (F.A.T. Village).

About F.A.T. Village:

The Flagler Arts & Technology Arts District was created by Doug McCraw in 2000 which acts as the hub for local creative businesses and artists. Each last Saturday of the month F.A.T. Village hosts its infamous "Art Walk" which brings thousands of art & design enthusiasts to the area for a large scale creative multi-block art party gathering.  Saturday, January 28th (during the Underground Lauderdale Fashion Weekend) will be such an Art Walk night, running from 6-10pm. In the heart of the Arts District, the ArtsUP! Warehouse will then serve as the venue for The Finale Extravaganza Party hosted by fashion & party icon Susanne Bartsch.