Later this week, I’ll be heading down to a much-anticipated event: Snap! As this is its first year, I’m excited to see how the night will unfold. It’s new but I do know this: it’s billed as a “Transformational night of music and fashion” in celebration of International Women’s Day.

Runway, tunes, and female empowerment? Yeah, I’m in. The cherry on the pink icing with sprinkles and glaze covered event cake, for me, is that the proceeds go towards Dress for Success Calgary, an organization that I volunteer as a stylist where we dress countless deserving women each and every week. The Dress for Success website posted this event breakdown…

“Debuting at the Palace Theatre on March 7, 2019, snap will welcome ~1,000 Calgarians to participate in an event that will celebrate women and reinforce the IWD message of “bettering the balance to better our society.”  

Presented by Richardson GMP, snap will feature the musical talents of Canadian Juno award-winning singer-songwriter Serena Ryder, Calum Graham, Michael Bernard Fitzgerald, and Amelie Patterson plus a preview of the season’s latest style trends on the Runway produced by PARK.  snap will be a transformational night of music and fashion.

Event proceeds from snap will support Dress for Success and the many women from our community that access this program on their journey towards economic independence.”

Obviously, I’m biased, but hey, aligning your charitable efforts with organizations you believe in makes sense. If you love dogs, work with an animal shelter. Let’s say you’re into biking, why not donate to a charity that helps keep the bike lanes cruise-worthy? Or, if you’re like me and know the progressive power of well dressed, ready to impress, full of confidence woman in a suit: volunteer at Dress for Success.

This event is even more special as it’s representing a lot of local fashion talent. Anneke Forbes, House of Nonie, and a runway show produced by PARK are all on deck for the night. It may be trite to say but when there’s somewhere bumpin’ to go and a great cause that benefits, a community comes together.

Let’s get behind the scenes a bit and parse out how an event like this actually happens, shall we?

Small, mostly Calgary-run businesses will donate prizes to be auctioned off creating much needed cash injection into the charity. Other businesses will help out with running the event – the planning, getting the artists, the venue, the volunteers, the marketing materials, media support - and gather up necessary supplies to make it a hit. Influencers and well-connected professionals will do their part by showing up on the night and getting the word out before and after the curtain. The fashion industry – agents, models, hairstylists, makeup artists, photographers – all assemble to create a show worth seeing (and Instagramming). It’s a fabulous ecosystem that works because we all have something to gain.

The expression “A rising tide lifts all boats” comes to mind as a single tear rolls down my face. I kid, but not really.

Do you have your tickets for Snap? Get them here. If you can’t make the event, you can still bid on the silent auction items – full disclosure: I’ve donated a prize – or purchase goodies made just for the event by local artisans.