De Nicolas is executive director of Fashion for Paws, a runway show that raises money for the Washington Humane Society. This year’s show is on April 9 at the National Building Museum. How did F4P begin?
It started with a girlfriend named Andrea Rogers who wanted to do a fashion show. We all came together in 2006, and in 2007 I was working here at the Humane Society. … I worked at Washington Life magazine before I started at the Washington Humane Society, and everybody was thinking of a way that would elevate the Washington Humane Society brand and garner the attention of the magazine’s audience.
In just a few years it has become one of the biggest events in the D.C. social scene. Why is it so popular?
I think it’s growing beyond just being the social circle in which it began, that’s the exciting part. Compared to a city like New York or L.A. that’s already saturated with fashion events, we are lucky in Washington that fashion events come as a big hit — people love fashion events. It’s a fun crowd, especially when it’s friends and people we know.
What’s your favorite type of pup?
I am a Pappy-loving pit bull fan. I have a pit bull rescue dog and I’m a big advocate for pit bulls, which most shelters are inundated with.
What’s the best aspect of F4P?
The Washington Humane Society itself takes in 30,000 animals a year. In addition, it does some cutting-edge and innovative programs for human/animal rehabilitation programs. We work in city schools and with at-risk youth … and Dogtags works with soldiers at Walter Reed.
Any notable show hiccups?
As with any fashion show, there are behind the scene mishaps, like when you have a gorgeous couture gown and then the dog has an accident. It’s nothing we don’t fix in time.
Caitlin Byrnes
