This fall marks the inaugural New Jersey Fashion Week, an innovative fashion forum that allows emerging local designers and beauty professionals to showcase their skills to leading fashion industry influencers, beauty experts, potential buyers, and consumers.

Held October 11–12, 2010 at the Pleasantdale Chateau (www.pleasantdale.com) in West Orange, New Jersey Fashion Week will be unlike any the fashion industry has seen before. More interactive and innovative than traditional Fashion Weeks, it will include not only a fashion runway show, but also an accessories showcase, hair runway presentation, beauty bar, and sponsor exhibitions, as well as awards honoring the evening’s talent.

The event is open to the public, and attendees will be invited to mingle with celebrity soap stars, athletes, New York and New Jersey fashion and beauty editors as well as notable celebrity stylists and personalities. Tickets can be purchased online at www.newjerseyfashionweek.com.

Donnella Tilery, owner of Donnella’s Closet and a fashion-focused entrepreneur initiated New Jersey Fashion Week as an opportunity to promote and support fledgling talent in a global, innovative fashion forum. Co-founder Jack Panico, CEO of Panico Salon & Spa is an influential celebrity hair and beauty expert. Donnella and Jack created this alliance between the fashion and beauty industries that traditional Fashion Weeks have lacked, putting hair and makeup artistry on the same level as high-end designer apparel.

In addition to highlighting beauty and fashion, New Jersey Fashion Week will benefit Susan G. Komen® for the Cure North Jersey Affiliate. The top-tier list of platinum sponsors from New York and New Jersey include the following: Lord & Taylor (offering New Jersey Fashion Week swag bags), Accessories magazine (judging the accessories competition), Yanina & Co fine jewelry designer, New Jersey Life Health & Beauty magazine, Oribe, Goldwell, Elan Sassoon of Sojourn, Wine Sources Selections, Glaceau Vitamin Water Zero, NJ Limo Bus, America’s Best Limo, Bare Escentuals, Davines, Fashion Group International (fgi.org) and the Accessories Council (www.acccessoriescouncil.org), both of New York, are part of the fast-growing roster of supporters. For more information, visit www.newjerseyfashionweek.com.