CFW and Charleston magazine style director Ayoka Lucas announces that Cody Sai Adler-McAllister has swept the awards for Wednesday night. Photograph by Cyle Suesz

Half the fun of Charleston Fashion Week® is the pre- and post-parties that get the good times rolling or keep ’em going, whichever the case may be. But what about those pre-pre-parties? That’s where all the hype-building hubbub bubbles up over what to wear, how to style your hair, and just what brand of glamorama you’re gonna get on. Scores of bloggers like Chassity Evans of LookLingerLove.blogspot.com post their potential outfits online; and on Wednesday at Stella Nova before the evening’s festivities, I caught up with stylist Patrick Navarro who was trimming model Justin Walczuk’s locks in prep for the fellow’s 2011 CFW debut in Friday night’s Biton and Sucker Jeans shows.

Although he’s a catwalk pro, having modeled since he was 10, Walczuk owned up that even he practices his strut a little at home. Navarro laughed and said Walczuk’s like scores of his clients who book their hair appointments months and weeks in advance to get polished before hitting the tents. If you consider these pre-pre-primping parties are happening all over town and throughout the blogosphere, and know that CFW draws some 7,000 attendees (compare that to 3,000 at Atlanta’s fashion week), the fact that last year the event had a reported $1.7 million impact on Charleston is understandable.

Heading to the Tents
After getting coiffed by Navarro, I headed to Marion Square. First stop? To drama-up the eyes and lips in the Style Lounge thanks to gals from Cos Bar. Slipping into a chair at the touch-up station, I got an overhaul and schooling in skin care while DJs from Jukebox Heroes warmed me and other loungers up for the pending chest-thumping sounds in the main tent.

And Now, the Shows!
Wednesday’s lineup got started with some calypso-flavored tunes from DJ Arthur Brouthers, who generously took it easy on the scores of return attendees who seem to have had tied one—or more like five?—on the night before while celebrating Tuesday’s CFW opening. Once the groove was established, Tommy Bahama reminded the crowd that beach season is right around the corner here in Charleston. Here’s to hoping that their sheer, cardigan-style cover-ups and their bikini-fedora combo take off on our sandy shores. On the bare heels of that show, House of Sage covered things up a bit with their signature streetwear looks and a line of boots that had myself and L.A.-based Olivia Gosset from ILikeWhatYoureWearingCharleston.com distracted with shoe envy. We loved the almost-knee-high zip and laced numbers, and noted that construction boots are apparently haute as well. Military emblems as necklaces and patches abound as accent details.

Per the standard nightly setup, the second half of the shows brought out the debut of original designs by both a set of four competing Emerging Designers (EDs) and the evening’s Featured Designer. At this point, my neighbor to the left, photographer Ian Rojas of GlobalFashionBrands.com (GFB) perked up as he’s in town scouting for new designers to sign to the GFB’s online mall of budding designers. First up? North Carolina’s Stephanie Mejia sent a cascade of knits and over-over-oversized knitted cowls down the catwalk. Our little trio—Ian, Olivia, and I—and the rest of the audience, however, got most excited when Mejia stepped out of a black-and-white world. Faves? The dusky purple silk pantaloons with tiered, pleated layers and saucy overlaid mini skirt; an apple-red sheer chiffon pleated skirt that skimmed the ground paired with a lazy, fall-off-the-shoulder chunky sweater in wheat. After Mejia’s earthy vibe, Charleston’s own Mary Labberton brought on the bouffants when her models strutted toward the photo pit in teased Barbarella-style ’dos. It made sense as her line was inspired by a post-apocalyptic 1960s theme. Translated, that meant a shimmering bronze hotpants jumper with a fur collar; a camo-mini; sheer, rust-colored long-sleeved sweaters; and olive silk knickers. I nudged Olivia when a simple jean-’n’-T combo strolled by—boxy black denim capris, paired with heels and a backless top scattered with green jewels and draped just so? Yes, please!

New Jersey’s Anjelika Krishna—the antithesis of Snooki—was next. A designer who works with organic, eco-friendly material, Krishna clearly prefers classic knits. While she schooled the crowd in binding button-less coats and dresses with leather belts, the audience pleaser was her more formal pleated strapless black gown with its floor-skimming unfinished hem. Cody Sai Adler-McAllister rounded out the ED show and wooed attendees and the Fashion Panel into naming him both the People’s Choice Winner and the night’s winning ED, which means he’ll proceed to the Saturday finale to compete with other nightly winners. What got us all riled up over this New Yorker? With finished tailoring and boxy jackets and coats with strong, squared shoulders, his line was an intellectual endeavor that had everyone reconsidering fabric pairings and how to showcase the female form. By concluding his show with an innovative but wearable ballgown—think silver and black fuzzy full skirt with a black and gold zippered bodice cut away to subtly sex up the ensemble—he sealed his good fate for the evening.

Troubadour Takes Over
Adler-McAllister was the perfect segway to the final show of the night, which found 2010 CFW ED finalist Lindsey Carter returning to the tents, this time as the headlining Featured Designer. Since Ian was all a-twitch, even switching from photos to video to get every last look, I whispered her website—troubadourclothing.com—to him, which he immediately texted to his boss with a note that she was a must-contact. Stay tuned! What to say about Carter’s show? Polish! Cohesiveness! Wearability meets fresh ideas! The woman dished out an array of scoop-necked chiffon gowns and tanks gathered and pleated to flatter any form; tailored minis dressed with a touch of humor (I’ll take that big button on the back, thank you); and a mix of ticking-like cotton (or linen?) striped dresses and plaid and herringbone wool suits all punctuated with sheer chiffon peep-holes that softened the dominant material or elevated it as needed. The verdict: how awesome to see the evolution of a designer, especially one with CFW beginnings.

On Tap Tonight
• Crank up the pre-partying at the Style Lounge and sample complimentary “Testarossa” cocktails from Top Cocktail winner Teresa Whims of Charleston Grill while warming up with DJ Rocky Horror (and come back during the break for Electric Friends)
• Get your groove on in the runway tent when singer-songwriter Emily Hearn opens the catwalk shows.
• See more Emerging Designers and retail shows from shops (like Hampden Clothing), plus check out Featured Designer Hunter Dixon’s fem-tacular show.
• Keep the party going with after-parties at the Music Farm (featuring Biz Markie! CFW ticket holders get a discount off the $13 cover charge); and O-Ku.

Buy tickets for tonight! They are selling out fast!

And get your big white gown fix at Saturday’s Spring Bridal Show…this event is also on the verge of selling out!