Hot Flash: NOLA Fashion Week

Local designer Camilyn Leavitt hosted her first runway collection at New Orleans Fashion Week Sept. 28 through Oct. 5. Leavitt, who launched her first collection in 2012, named Camilyn Beth, featured 23 looks during the show. This is the third collection for the designer, who specializes in dresses.

The setting for Leavitt’s show was a raw abandoned building in downtown New Orleans. The rooftop of the creole-style building was a perfect match for debuting Leavitt’s chic line of dresses, and music by Passion Pit, Robyn and MIA really pulled the downtown fashion week feel together.

Specialty cocktails made for Leavitt’s SS14 show, coined “Camilyn Beth Kahlua Cocktails” were offered to guests as they arrived and took their seats. The 23 looks were modeled by 12 models, one of whom was Leavitt’s sister, Ashten Weniger.

“It was so important for me to have my sister model the first and last look,” says Leavitt. “She shared my excitement as participating in fashion week together has been our dream.”

Among the attendees at the show was Hattie of Hattie Sparks Boutique — the first boutique to carry Leavitt’s line.

“The entire experience leading up was so much hard work and focus, it almost felt impossible,” says Leavitt. “But in the end with the help of my seamstresses, my husband, family and friends, it was absolutely worth it.”