La Nuit Noire: A ball dedicated to shedding light on suicide

"We have galas, fashion shows, and fundraisers for cancer, heart disease and a million other things. It's time for an elegant event to be held to stop suicide. This is a cause that can be directly impacted just by spreading education and awareness."

The matter of suicide is delicate and difficult to discuss. Pretty Living PR co-owner Allyn Lewis, a suicide survivor, lost her father to suicide in 2008. After years of coping and dealing with pain and confusion, it has come time for Allyn to share her story. On November 20^th 2008, “I walked in the door, and five years later, I can still hear the words from mom stinging in my ears, ‘They found your dad,’” Allyn shares, “People say that it gets better as time goes on when you lose someone, but when you lose someone to suicide, it does not work that way.”

And so, La Nuit Noire (the dark night) was born. It is with this debut event that Allyn hopes to provide support to those currently suffering from the loss that suicide creates, and to provide the public with the drive to spread resources and education for suicide prevention. The first annual La Nuit Noire Ball will be held to inspire fellow suicide survivors, pay tribute to the memory of the loved ones lost and raise awareness in their honor.

You're invited to attend the first annual La Nuit Noire Ball on January 25, 2014 at Cefalo’s in Carnegie PA, from 7-11p.m. and to join the effort in sharing Allyn’s story and suicide awareness with the public. Event features include the launch of Tidal Cool Couture with a fashion show presented and designed by Andrea Howell, live performances by Ambition, Shaun Novak, Kiersten Kelly and Danielle Barbe, along with local celebrity guests.

All proceeds to benefit The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), the leading national not-for-profit organization exclusively dedicated to understanding and preventing suicide through research, education and advocacy, and to reaching out to people with mental disorders and those impacted by suicide. 

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This is a partnered post, but all opinions are my own. 

Pretty Presents: Small Business Holiday Catalog

1. & 5. Tidal Cool Creations | 2. Vienna Victoria | 3. White Haute Fashions | 4. Cutie Pitutie Bath & Body

So whether you're a very last minute shopper or just ready to look for something for yourself as a treat for getting through the holiday rush, Pretty Living has you covered. With their holiday gift guide, Pretty Presents, you're sure to find something that satisfies your need to shop. And every item included in the guide is from a local small business, which is really a present to this community as well, since your purchases will help those little guys grow and thrive in Pittsburgh, and you can shop easily from home! Win-Win-Win.

Above I've selected just a few of my favorite pieces from the catalog in hopes that you will browse through it for yourself and support these great businesses! The catalog includes items for men and women, so you're sure to find something great for yourself or a friend. 

Wishing you a very happy holiday and happy shopping!

Catalog | Order Form

This is a partnered post, but all opinions are my own.

Summer Soiree & Fashion Show scheduled for July 25th

Just letting you guys in on an upcoming event that I am really excited for! Pretty Living PR, is hosting Pretty in Paradise, a summer soiree to benefit UPMC Cancer Center for Melanoma Research on NEXT Thursday, July 25th at The Cabana Bar in Wexford, Pa.

The event is, obviously, beach-themed and will feature a fashion show by Tidal Cool Creations, who was featured on Chels & the City a while back for Fashion Forward Fridays. This event will also offer raffles, local celebrities, hors d'oeuvres, and prizes! While the event starts at 7p.m., Tidal Cool Creations will start their fashion show at 9p.m. and you really don't want to miss this because it is the last runway/party before Tidal Cool heads off to New York Fashion Week!

Need a little more convincing? The cause that you will be supporting, UPMC Cancer Center, offers comprehensive diagnostic services, cutting-edge treatments and supportive care to patients with melanoma and non melanoma skin cancers. Also, specialty care options are available through the Melanoma and Skin Cancer Program of the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, patients also have access to a large network of community-based physicians. So, you'll have a great night and you'll be supporting a very important and worthy case.

To order tickets, head over to the Pretty in Paradise ShowClix page and to keep up with all of the events and promotions offered by Pretty Living PR, feel free to follow them on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook!

This is a sponsored post, I received tickets to this event but all opinions are my own.

Fashion Forward Fridays: Tidal Cool Creations!

Recently I was approached by Pretty Living PR to feature one of their clients, Tidal Cool Creations and thought that this company would be perfect to include with Fashion Forward Fridays. Although not considered a Pittsburgh-based company, they are located in Cleveland Ohio, but have showed their previous collections at Pittsburgh Fashion Week and are growing to even greater fashion heights.

I love the mixture of hard and sweet elements in this new collection, Primary. It is very much my style and I connected to it's mix of edgy and girly instantly. Below is my interview with the Tidal Cool Creations designer, Andrea Howell, and some inside looks as to what to expect from this up and coming brand. Enjoy!

How did Tidal Cool Creations come to be?
I launched Tidal Cool Creations a few years ago as a creative outlet, and was designing and sewing commissioned items as a side job and hobby. Last Spring I auditioned for Fashion Week Cleveland (the first audition or submission I'd ever done) and was accepted. Upon hearing about my acceptance into the show, I decided to go all in, quit my career in restaurant management, and focus 100% on my clothing label.