Ebony Fashion Fair Makes Annual Stop

Portland gets its annual dose of glitz and glamour this month when the 48th Ebony Fashion Fair — "Fit to Be Fabulous" — makes an appearance at 8 p.m. Friday, April 21, in the Oregon Convention Center, 777 N.E. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.

New and varied trends of fashion will be featured, including extravagant styles by world-famous designers such as: Givenchy, Oscar de la Renta, Reem Acra, Christian LaCroix, Jean Louis Scherrer and Black designers B. Michael and Tracy Reese. Twelve models — 10 women (including a full-figured model) and two men — will showcase the provocative designs.

The show is characterized by its glamour, elegance and beauty and has all of the energy of a Broadway production. Billed as the world's largest traveling fashion show – the show is produced and directed by Eunice W. Johnson,a premier fashion authority. It is sponsored by the Portland Chapter of The Links Inc. for the benefitofTheLinks Educational/Scholarship fund.
Johnnie Reed Bell, general chair of the benefit performance, said ticket sales are going well, and she expects an even larger crowd than last year.

Tickets can be purchased atGeneva'sShear Perfection,5601N.E. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.,503-285-1159; Simply Elegant Nails/Salon, 332 N.E. 82nd Ave., 503-262-8208; One Stop Record Store,1615 N.E. Killingsworth St., 503-284-2425; Tondalaraya Designer Salon, 5401 N.E. Cully Blvd., 503-284-0712; Reflections Coffeehouse, 446 N.E. Killingsworth St., 503-288-6942; Me Rae's on 42nd, 5852 N.E. 42nd Ave., 503-288-5258; and from any Links member.

Ticket prices are $75 and $45, and include a one-year subscription to Ebony magazine or a six-month subscription to Jet magazine.

Ticketholders will have a chance to win round-trip transportation for two to any destinationservedby American or American Eagle airlines in the continental United States, a 2006 Ford Explorer and selected items from Fashion Fair Cosmetics.

Proceeds from previous shows have made it possible for The Links Inc. to give over 90 scholarships to outstanding high school seniors throughout the Portland areaandSouthwest Washington. The organization hopes to raise $30,000 for its scholarship fund this year.