“I've been working as a bridal designer for awhile and [there are] two things people say to me more times than I can count: One, I never thought of myself as a white dress person. And two, people saying it's too bad that weddings are the only time you get to wear a fancy dress,” says longtime Portland bridal designer Elizabeth Dye.

Those comments are the impetus for her first solo fashion show in years, She Comes in Colors, with all brightly colored evening gowns. “This is me calling bullshit on both of those things," she continues. "There is no white dress rule. And also, why not wear an amazing dress for any reason you want? Why do we only have permission to celebrate clothes in this specific thing that is loaded in so many other ways?”

The show, scheduled for Wednesday, June 26 at the Vessel by studio Eÿn Vas, will be more of a gallery exhibit than runway show. Dye paired with Gather Events to create a series of installation spaces for the six models to perfectly pose in, showing off a total of 18 gowns over the course of the night, while guests mosey about, mingling and sipping cocktails. The event is also a fundraiser for Planned Parenthood, which will have reps on site, plus a portion of the ticket sales will go directly to our local branch. It was an easy decision for Dye.

“I've been trying to think about how to use the tools that I have to make a difference. This is what I know the most about, dresses and bodies and hearing all of the ways that women aren't kind to themselves. Planned Parenthood is a slam dunk in terms of being a worthy cause, especially right now, and I love how inclusive their mission is,” she says about using the show to raise money for the healthcare provider. “They’ve really embraced a code of ethics that very closely mirrors my own. There's not a surplus of love and acceptance out there. Like, no one is drowning in community and beauty and positivity. So, more than ever, we need to support organizations that give those safe spaces and give people choices and information and empowerment."

She Comes in Colors from Elizabeth Dye on Vimeo.