BrightestYoungThings: PHOTOS: Front Row Fashion Show @ Bethesda Row

all photos by: Priscilla Ledesma

The third annual Front Row at Bethesda Row kicked off on Thursday with a screening of Bill Cunningham New York, an award-winning documentary that’s been gathering endless praise since its release in March. The film chronicles Cunningham, a long-time New York Times fashion photographer, and without giving anything away, I must say, it'll make you reevaluate the way you feel about fashion.

The weekend was filled with trunk shows, in-store events, and specials at Bethesda retailers and restaurants, including complementary makeovers at Aveda and mini-spa treatments at Equinox.

While Saturday was dedicated to kids, with Lego building, a cooking demonstration by Cacao, and a “Fancy Nancy Story Time” hosted by Barnes & Noble, day two of Front Row featured the event’s main attractions: a runway show, showcasing summer collections and fall previews from retailers that included Urban Chic, Ginger, Pink Palm, and Sassanova, as well as a signing by Kelly Cutrone, founder of fashion PR firm People’s Revolution and star of Bravo’s “Kell on Earth,” for her self-help book Normal Gets You Nowhere, the follow-up to New York Times best-seller If You Have to Cry Go Outside. In contrast with her TV persona, Cutrone was very warm and friendly, spending generous amounts of time with fans, personalizing every autograph.

The fashion show itself went smoothly, despite starting ten minutes late. The audience was particularly loud, shouting “oohs” and “ahs” - although mostly directed at one very popular male model. Local personality sightings included Mary Schmidt Amons of “Real Housewives of D.C.” fame and K Street Kate’s Kate Michael, who walked in the show.

All in all, it was a nice weekend of events, spotlighting Bethesda and its businesses. Here's to next year.