Designs on the Square

You might just want to channel your inner Carrie Bradshaw for Under the Tent in Market Square — the opening night extravaganza that kicks off Pittsburgh Fashion Week 2011 on September 26. Now in its second year, PFW 2011 showcases the season's hottest looks from some of the fashion world's top designers. Created by Pittsburgh's own top model Miyoshi Anderson, PFW is putting the city on the fashion map with this seven-day revue of runway shows for women and men with some backstage assistance from  the following sponsors: Izzazu, Piatt Place, McCormick & Schmick's, the Fairmont Pittsburgh, Capital Grille and Doncaster on Fifth. 

Promising 60 different looks in 60 minutes, this fast-paced runway romp will dress 20 of the city's glammest models in fab fall and holiday designs straight from Doncaster's Big Apple studios. Emceed by Kristine Sorensen of KDKA-TV and WTAE's Wendy Bell, this catwalk caper struts its stuff for a good cause, too — with a portion of the proceeds benefiting the Ladies Hospital Aid Society. And if you don't have your tickets yet, let's just say that passes for this high-watt tent show are selling faster than fish sandwiches at the Oyster House on Good Friday. To make sure you have a seat at the show — which starts at 7 p.m. — click here and discover why Pittsburgh Fashion Week 2011 is something to jump about.  (Online is your safest bet but if you're fashionably late and miss the online deadline, word on the street says there will be a few tickets available at the door.)

A quartet of interior design gurus will create a big splash in the Square with Design Squared. Inspired by the gusher of new businesses springing up around the Square, the kitchen and bath design wizards at Splash — located at the corner of Fifth and Market — are teaming up with PPG Pittsburgh Paints (located in PPG 2, facing Market Square), Axor kitchen products of Hansgrohe International, and Cambria custom countertops for another fab event. On September 28 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. the Square will be filled with product debuts from the participating sponsors, seminars, classes and more for designers, architects and others in the home decor business, cooking demonstrations by the kitchen wizards at NOLA, and live music by the Olga Watkins band from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. 

   While the designers have a jam-packed schedule of classes in the center main tent, all the great products and staff from Splash, PPG Paints, Axor and Cambria will be located in four smaller tents around the Square throughout the day. Geared to home interior designers, the general public is welcome to Design Squared to catch a sneak peek at a new line of color from Pittsburgh Paints, just off the drawing board quartz counters from Cambria, exclusive new Axor Hansgrohe kitchen and bath faucets and other hardware available only from Splash in a four-state region. And when the fun is done in the Square, all registered attendees are invited to enjoy a bit of the bubbly at the Splash showroom. If you are a design professional, you can sign up for this one-of-a-kind kitchen and bath home design event by clicking here.

Whether your looking to make a fashion statement with your wardrobe or in your home, Market Square is the place to be.