QUINCY, Mass. — Last Sunday night marked the kickoff to Quincy Fashion Week. And by week we mean day. And by day we mean half hour.

The clear highlight of Quincy Fashion Half Hour was the Betsey Johnson fashion show, held at the Marina Bay Beach Club. The models strutted a beachside runway wearing playful styles currently available at Johnson’s Newbury Street store, including summery dresses, swimsuits and handbags.

Stylists from Salon Marc Harris primped the models for the event, turning out spunky up-dos and making frizzy pigtails a worthy fashion trend. The show started off with the stylists presenting a birthday cake and singing “Happy Birthday” to Harris, who attended the event and blew out his candles on the runway.

While Johnson and her trademark cartwheel were absent from the event, the show stayed true to the designer’s high energy. Models danced along the runway to upbeat music from The Ting Tings, Alien Ant Farm, Lady GaGa and Kevin Rudolf.

The Connecticut-born designer recently unveiled her Fall 2009 collection in New York, entitled
“Betsey’s Crocker’s Recipes for Dressings.” All of the outfits in the collection are named after comfort food recipes, including Sex Pot Pie and Triple Cheeseburger Deluxe.

Sunday’s show, however, was more about celebrating what’s left of summer. The sand-strewn runway and whimsical party dresses made us wish there’s a whole lot left.

The groundhog may have seen its own shadow to symbolize only six more weeks of winter, but with these below zero temperatures don’t expect to wear shorts anytime soon. With heavy coats, leggings and snow boots, its time to start looking into cuter alternatives for these last weeks of snow to avoid getting the nickname of Yeti by the official end of winter.

For hot designs that keep you just as warm we looked into a new designer who has actually worked with the fashion big names. Dana-Maxx Pomerantz released her winter collection under the Dana-Maxx label this past November. Her party-perfect cocktail dresses are detail oriented and reminiscent of a 1940s era.

Pomerantz developed her designing abilities at The Fashion Institute of Technology in New York, after spending her younger years studying fashion n a program at her high school. She interned for Betsey Johnson while studying at the FIT and soon after graduation was hired by the blond eccentric-chic fashionista. After working for Betsey Johnson, Pomerantz made the move to Marc Jacobs. She continued to learn the in and outs of a fashion business. In 2007 she launched her label and business.

“I worked at Betsey Johnson and Marc Jacobs in design, and although they are very different each job completely enhanced my experience as designer. Having my own company now, what I love about designing is that you can make people feel special and really good,” the designer told Blast. “What I like most about my line is that feminine and sweet feel but its also detail oriented and you pay an exceptionally good price for the material, prints from France and Italy, silks and other luxury fabrics. Its definitely top notch.”

Her Fall 2008 season focuses on showing a woman’s curves, perfect for the 20 to 35 year olds who are conscious working women/high style lovers. The pieces can be mixed and match and the earth-tones allow for use season after season. Silk blouses, fitted jackets and a sexy dress with plunging front and‚ back-line‚ in a rich cocoa color, are only some of the items.

The line is available in sizes 2-10 and petite-large, featuring fabrics that are chosen for their quality and soft wearability, such as 100 percent worsted wool and 100 percent double face satin. ‚ With a focus this season on intertwining genuine leather into select pieces to make them more eye-catching and luxurious, the collection provides the modern woman with a high quality, stylish line made in the USA.

Giving tremendous value to the customer at its contemporary price range, the collection can be found at fine retailers across the nation and Canada. Ranging between $200 and $400 the line truly offers durable quality and style at prices that are not common in higher designer labels.

“The hardest thing has been getting more established stores to open their doors to a new designer, in this economy stores are hesitant to purchase to buy form big designers so why buy from small one? But I find that even with the established industry people and the new stores my line is accepted well.‚  You don’t just get a dress; it’s the personality that comes through the clothing,” Pomerantz said.

Looking forward to warmer weather, Dana-Maxx designs for spring and summer 2009 are inspired by French singers. The pieces will have a feel of chic Parisian in a candy shop with sexy and edgy designs accompanied by lots of color. Pomerantz put it as wearing something where, “you want to be eye-catching in but you don’t want to be boring; it’s alluring yet quiet, and it makes a statement.”

While praying for the skies to clear so these summer styles can pop up everywhere, check out the fall ine and invest in a good fashion and weatherproof outfit that you will use again once the snow returns.