Bruce Bogartz attracted attention in a pink skirt!
We were just filing into The Foundry for the 7th annual Diva Luncheon, a fashion show of wearable art that is part of the Dogwood Arts Festival. The facility’s banquet manager, Jason Grahl, looking worried, rushed up to Mickey Mallonee, the chair of the event.
“I need to ask you something,” he said, his brow furrowed. “There’s a large man in the lobby wearing a work shirt and a skirt!”
“It’s OK,” Mickey said as she started to smile. “He’s supposed to be here.”
The man in question turned out to be one of Knoxville’s celebrity chefs — Bruce Bogartz. He was part of the fashion show of men wearing skirts, a tribute to one of the sponsors of the Diva Luncheon, skirt! magazine.
I knew this wasn’t going to be your ordinary lunch!
The Diva Luncheon has grown in many ways since Mickey and Anne Julius first conceived it in 2004. Now it includes a sales area where vendors offer woman-friendly merchandise, a fashion show of wearable art, and the men in skirts, of course. It’s also grown in attendance from 120 the first year to over 300 this year.
Winners in the wearable art competition were:
- Judy Gaston, Best of Show/Fiber, for her western wedding jacket and skirt
- Izzy Nightingale, Honorable Mention/Fiber, for her black and bronze swirl jacket
- Vicki Love, Best of Show/Accessories, for her deerskin leather purse
- Marty Hancock, Honorable Mention/Accessories, for her spring necklace, pearls, earrings and cuff
- Michael Goeke, senior vice president at the News Sentinel, Best Man in Skirt
I don’t think words can quite do justice to this event. I’ll just have to share some snap shots. Enjoy!
The table settings were bright and cheerful.
Every table had a different (and dramatic!) pair of shoes as a centerpiece. This was ours.
Awww! The cupcakes featuring pink shoes were a huge hit.
Paul Abraham, vice president of finance at the News Sentinel, had a beautiful skirt.
Bruce Bogartz, in all his glory, takes to the runway.
The women at our table wanted this skirt, modeled by chef Seth Simmerman, co-owner of Echo in Bearden.
Ron Emery of Emery 5&10.
Shawn Hines of Knoxville Catering and Special Events wasn't about to let a set of crutches keep him from strutting his stuff!
Photographer Ambler Brown was dressed for safari.
Frank Riggs of Campus Cargo and Steam Trunk in Dandridge looked snazzy.
When the men were finished, a drummer set the stage for the serious fashion show -- of wearable art.
Dramatic.
The fashion show was very choreographed with both models and dancers displaying the wearable art.
Beautiful jacket.
Terrific turquoise!
Pretty peach.
Helen Short, left, and Shelba Murphy were among the more than 300 divas in attendance.
Mickey Mallonee received a tiara and a scepter in recognition of her hard work as chair of the Diva Luncheon the past seven years.
Nancy Parrish, with skirt! magazine, was the emcee of the men in skirts segment of the luncheon.
Everyone received this cute bag as a souvenir. Shaun Fulco is showing off hers.
The divas at the Moxley Carmichael table were, in back from left: Rachel Dellinger, Amy Foster, Julie Bernal, Ashley Hubbard. Front, from left: Lauren Christ, Ellen Robinson, Tami Hartmann, Shaun Fulco. Now the men in the office are lobbying for a "gentlemen's lunch." It better not be at Hooters!
Photo credit: Gay Lyons took the photo of the Moxley Carmichael divas. Thanks, Gay!
This was a fun event! The Moxley Carmichael men should be in the “men in skirts” segment next year. Then it will be an office outing for all of us!
Thanks again for the treat!
Thanks so much for hosting our diva table, Cynthia! I got a great deerskin purse by designer Vicki Love… Now if I can only keep my sister from stealing it from me.
Great. Very fun. Next time, though, the tablecloths cover the table legs, OK? That means more yardage all around. Rental will love you for it, and Knoxville will not come up short, well unless it is a skirt on a willing participant. Kudos!
Great seeing men in skirts not just kilts. Should be going mainstream, finally an alternative to their old boring pants.
I like men taking advantage, even some skirts were not well fitting their bodies. Just great, men go skirted!
About the Author
What You’re Saying
What’s Hot
My Favorite Blogs
Archives