The inaugural event was held at the fabulous East Square Plaza on the Fayetteville Square. If you haven't made it in yet, you need to! The first floor of the building has chic boutiques and a delicious new restaurant while the condos on the top floor are upscale and luxurious. For VIP guests, the pre-party was held in a top floor condo hosted and decorated by Chris Goddard. Breathtaking.

Huge posters hung from the venue ceiling featuring the very editorial photo shoot of MACA clothing and runway models. With delicious food and drink by area restaurants and a live music show performed by North Shore Pharmacy out of Chicago, it was definitely a part-ay.

My personal experience was mostly from behind the scene since I joined the other volunteers to model MACA clothing on the runway. It is always so inspiring to see so many people gather together to donate their time, energy and passion towards a worthy cause.

My sweet spot of the evening: after the show, the dress I'd planned to wear to the event - um, let's say had a major wardrobe malfunction - the zipper snapped and was completely out of commission. A girl who, like me, had volunteered her time on the runway pulled out an extra dress she brought and gave it to me to wear. Who gives a stranger her dress to leave in? Someone special, someone in complete alignment with the spirit of the night : opening our hearts in generosity to those we can in a small or big way help.

Check out our Photo Gallery of Unzipped.