For decades, Nashville struggled with a fashion issue. That is not to say Nashvillians lacked a sense of style — far from it. The well-heeled citizens often visited luxury boutiques like Gus Mayer, McClures, Jamie, and Harveys. But more often than not, for major events, many in the fashion-forward set would travel out of town to find the perfect Oscar or Chanel.
Change was in the air in 2006 when the Symphony League reimagined its daytime fashion luncheon as the evening event we now recognize as the Symphony Fashion Show. Though it looks a little different, today’s event still honors its original mission: to raise funds to support the Nashville Symphony’s many community initiatives.
In 2006, as guests arrived at Belle Meade Country Club for the newly refreshed fashion show — the new Schermerhorn Symphony Center would not open until September of that year and would host most of the following fashion shows — Beth Alexander, editor of Nfocus at the time, described a roomful of symphony mavens, adorned in designs by jeweler Chopard. The event’s co-chairs, Colleen Welch and Bonnie Perdue, planned an exquisite evening of fashion and fundraising. Designer Pamella Roland — who will return for the 2025 show — debuted pieces from her fall 2006 line.
The following year, Sandra Lipman chaired the event with Elaine Sullivan. Sandra remains active with the event in her roll as executive chair. Through the years, the Schermerhorn Symphony Center has served as the setting for runway shows featuring some of the world’s top designers, including Oscar de la Renta, Carolina Herrera, Monique Lhuillier, Zang Toi, Prabal Gurung and more. Adding the Nashville brand to the event, co-chairs invite top entertainment to perform, making the evening truly magical.
This year’s Symphony Fashion Show will take place April 29 at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center, featuring entertainer Vince Gill and the aforementioned return of designer Pamella Roland. More information can be found at nashvillesymphony.org/contribute/galas-events/symphony-fashion-show/
