The 12th Annual Doggies on the Catwalk

Doggies on the Catwalk celebrates its 12th Annual evening of philanthropic fashion Saturday, June 1, 2019! Held at Buckhead Atlanta’s Greenberg Traurig’s penthouse office suite, this event is no stranger to the city and abroad! Doggies on the Catwalk (DOTC) is founded by E. Vincent Martinez, Founder of Fashionado — a sophisticated fashion lifestyle blog with a little bit of everything fabulous! This will be the second year hosted at this venue and is expected to be another amazing experience where long-time supporters, influencers and celebrity personalities alike will gather. Over the years, this event has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars in donations with the purpose of funding several organizations such as Canine Assistants, a non-profit which educates and provides service dogs for children and adults with physical disabilities or other special needs. Bigger and better by the year, make sure you get your tickets for this year’s DOTC which kicks off this Saturday at 7PM with a reception followed by the runway show at 8PM!

For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit www.doggiesonthecatwalk.org.

*Photo Courtesy of Tomas Espinoza Photography & Deanna Fiveash

The 9th Annual #DoggiesOnTheCatwalk in Review

Erika Sutton, a 2011 graduate of Canine Assistants, shares a little about her experience with me just before #DoggiesOnTheCatwalk kicked off. She and her 7-year old service dog "Paisley" were fashionably poised outside at The Shops Buckhead Atlanta when I arrived. Ericka says, "It's just been an awesome journey to have a disability, but that's not the highlight when we're in public. The highlight is her (Paisley) changing the conversation. We talk about her, then we talk about my independence and everything I have accomplished in life." In fact, it's people like Ericka and stories like these which are exactly why Vincent Martinez and his team work so tirelessly to host the highly anticipated fashion fundraiser every year!

Celebrating nine wonderful years of #DoggiesOnTheCatwalk bliss, the event was held again at the beautiful Shops Buckhead Atlanta. With just one year to a decade anniversary of this event, guests gradually starting flooding out the scene to network, browse the silent auction and gaze at these two 2017 Porsche vehicles parked out front including this a stunning 2017 lava orange Boxer S. There was just so much class about the whole event, that you couldn't help but be entertained from start to finish! The silent auction was lined up with over 20 items to pick from, including a custom 30 X 60 wooden mural portrait of a single pet by Kent, a matching necklace and earring pair by Kendra Scott Jewelry, an exclusive Porsche Driving Experience where the recipient would ride with one of the country's most accomplished race car drivers and many other signature items that were being auctioned out. Vincent Martinez does not hesitate to tell you that pulling off such a grand event requires a solid team and hard work, like that of Theo Tyson, Grace Murphy, Laura Williams, Jacqueline Childers and Denae Hutchinson.

Grace Murphy, the Director of Development for Canine Assistants, shares with us that her organization trains service dogs and places them at no cost with their recipients. With that being said, the foundation has to continuously raise funds to house and train these dogs from birth totaling over 25K per service team. Canine Assistants offers service dogs for epilepsy patients, diabetic patients, those in need of assistance with their general mobility. Likewise, they currently have 11 service dogs in rotations with the Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. Grace says the need is so great that they have a 5 year waiting list to-date. With this very pertinent information about what all Canine Assistants does, I found myself even more intrigued with these adorable dogs at the event. But alas, amidst all of the activities, the time for the runway show arrived as these amazing doggies strutted down the runway along with their models!

This year, #DoggiesOnTheCatwalk was fortunate to have designs featured on the models by Alice + Olivia, Akris, Planet Blue, Therory, Christian Louboutin, COS, Les Copains and Tod's. The lovely Monica Pearson was emcee of the runway show and introduce the looks and the K9 models as they walked. We also got a chance to view 3 stunning looks designed by individual Art Institute of Atlanta students. The culmination of a classy event with stellar designers all for an absolutely worthy cause, is one that I'd recommend you be a part of next year for the 10 year anniversary!

For more information and coverage of #DoggiesOnTheCatwalk, please visit www.fashionado.net and to support Canine Assistants, please visit www.canineassistants.org.

Photos Courtesy of Lindsay Abarca Photography

Dress Like A Gent

The 9th Annual #DoggiesOnTheCatwalk Returns!

Jenna Muller of Modern Luxury hosted a Kendra Gives Back at Kendra Scott in support of Doggies on the Catwalk w/ Vincent Martinez

Friday, June 4, the highly anticipated and 9th Annual  "Doggies on the Catwalk" return to The Shops Buckhead Atlanta! Spearheaded by its founder, Vincent Martinez of Fashionado.net, this year's event will be emceed by Atlanta's own Monica Pearson in an effort to raise funds toward Canine Assistants. In fact, proceeds from the $50 cost for the tix will help the foundation in their tireless mission to provide service dogs for children and adults with disabilities. And just in case you're wondering what #DoggiesontheCatwalk looks like, just imagine a bunch of totally adorable and well-groomed K9s strutting down the runway coupled with models wearing upscale brands such as Alice + Olivia, Akris, Planet Blue, Theory, Christian Louboutin, COS, Les Copains and TOD'S. This outdoor event is one you can't afford to miss and begins at 7PM.

To purchase tickets for the event or to make a donation to Canine Assistants, please visit the link here. Cocktails and hors d'oevres will be served prior to the runway show.

Thanks in advance and see ya at #DoggiesontheCatwalk!

DRESS LIKE A GENT

The 8th Annual Doggies on the Catwalk 2015: A Recap

photo credit: TKO Photographic

On June 13, 2015, the highly anticipated Doggies on the Catwalk Fundraiser was hosted at one of the most ideal venues in the city, Buckhead Atlanta. Now 8 years strong, this event has managed to gain more and more support by big name celebrities, top designers and many other very influential sponsors. The brains behind this amazing vision, Mr. Vincent Martinez aka Fashionado along with a team of witty sponsors successfully raised over 35K for the Atlanta Pet Rescue & Adoption. The evening was extremely engaging from start to finish. Monica Pearson emceed the show and ushered in models who sported brands such as: 

Christian Louboutin

Helmut Lang 

Alice & Olivia

Bella Bag, Bonobos

Brunello Cucinelli

Theory

Jimmy Choo

Let us not forget the doggies strutting down the catwalk who stole the show accompanied by these celebrity models!

Among some of these amazing pooches were Thaddeus, a 2-year old corgi blend, Maximilian, a cockapoo, Jolene, a terrier blend, Gabbana, a Jack Russell Terrier and many others. These K9s had been recovered, rehabilitated and cared for by Atlanta Pet Rescue & Adoption. The purpose of the event was to showcase pets that need to be adopted, many of which have been since their debut. Additionally, Doggies on the Catwalk sponsored a silent auction to raise funds for Atlanta Pet Rescue & Adoption to assist in furthering their efforts to rescue and restore these abandoned animals.

Buckhead Atlanta supplied the guests with various selections of beverages served from an outdoor bar along with hors d'oeuvres from their on-site restaurants. Some of the foods included scrumptious goat cheese balls sprinkles in almonds, tuna bruschetta, gourmet olives, a plethora of fresh fruit and more. Needless to say, there was not a dull moment at Doggies on the Catwalk! The weather was exceptional and the venue and its players were very accommodating throughout the entire night. This social event was the perfect fundraiser; very entertaining and well-thought-out. A Big thanks goes to Vincent Martinez and his team who have not only exposed us to the needs of the Atlanta Pet Rescue & Adoption but given us greater expectations for Doggies on the Catwalk in 2016! 

DRESS LIKE A GENT