“This is my fourth year doing it so I guess just can’t get enough of me and these curvy girl fashions honey,” said designer Qristyl Frazier. “I guess I’m representing my hometown alright.”
The New York based, but St. Louis born and bred full figured fashionista will be in good company as Mathews-Dickey presents Sheer Elegance No.24 This Saturday at the Chase Park Plaza’s Khorassan Room as a host of nationally-renowned designers and celebs help bring the five Platonic solids of earth, water, air, fire and aether to life in “Elements of Style & Grace.”
In addition to Frazier, designs by Brown Shoe’s footwear, along with apparel by As U Wish, Lee J’s, SofistaFunk Skirt Company of New York, Trixxi and fellow “Project Runway” alum designers Michael Drummond, Laura Kathleen, A.J. Thouvenot will be featured in annual fashion extravaganza that raises funds for the Mathews-Dickeys’ girls program.
“Sheer Elegance is about more than just fashion; it recognizes a special group of young women for their outstanding achievements in academics, community service and citizenship,” said Barbara A. Washington, founder of the Sheer Elegance show and vice president of public relations and special events for Mathews-Dickey. Our girls benefit from peer team-building exercises, personal and social skills development and exposure to the arts/culture from a caring team of professional women who serve as role models.”
The Sheer Elegance experience is one that never gets old for Frazier.
Even though she’s brought her fashions around the world thanks to television appearances, runway presentations in places like Nigeria and by being the first independent designer to have a line featured at Lane Bryant, what Sheer Elegance stands for in the lives of young girls and women in St. Louis will always bring her home.
“I’ll always come back and help Mathews-Dickey because I support what they do and I’ve known about the organization since I was a child,” Frazier said. “I don’t even know how to explain how invaluable Barbara and Bill (Fronczak) are for what they do –making sure that all of those kids have the funding that they need to stay out of trouble. And I will always try to do my part.”
Through the fashion and community awards show, Mathews-Dickey is hoping to raise $130,000 for girls programs. And Frazier will lend her talent to their initiative by bring a fresh perspective to runway on Saturday.
“I’m going to be stepping it up fashion-wise and showcase a variety of clothes that women with curves probably didn’t think that they could wear,” Frazier said. “People will see something that can really talk to curvy women and their lifestyle – fun and flirty clothes with more attitude.”
Guests will see what sets her apart from the growing full figured fashion industry – and what keeps her a hot commodity on the style scene. She has become a familiar brand for BET’s annual fashion and performance event Rip The Runway (which she did earlier this year) and has been named New York Fashion Week Full-Figured Designer of the Year.
“I have real clothes, to fit real women and their real lifestyle,” Frazier said. “It’s cool to do avante garde but people really want to see clothes that speak to their lives – and that’s what I try to bring.”
Frazier is excited to be bringing her “muse” plus-sized supermodel Christina Mendez – who will be making her Sheer Elegance debut. But like the additional guests from the fashion industry a-list, such as model Jennie Runk and notable names like Miss Missouri USA 2012 Katie Kearney and Sheer Elegance honorary co-chair actress Anna Maria Horsford, the purpose of their presence goes beyond highlighting signature pieces in front of area tastemakers.
Guests and attendees will stand in support of the 20 young women honorees who will grace the stage and be honored for continually rising to the expectations of excellence within the Mathews-Dickey girls program.
“I’m glad to be involved with the show because our youth need to be saved,” Frazier said. “And I feel like Mathews-Dickey is doing their part.”
Mathews-Dickey’s presentation of Sheer Elegance No.24 will take place at 11 a.m. on Saturday, December 8 at the Chase Park Plaza. For more information, visit http://www.mathews-dickey.com/SheerElegance.html or call (314) 382-5952.
