Lineup for Fashion Week El Paseo 2012 announced today

A special event to announce the lineup of shows and special events planned for the Fashion Week El Paseo 2012 is planned for 5 p.m. today.

Among the changes for next year’s event is the addition of presenting sponsor Integrated Wealth Management, which has an office in Palm Desert, to the event title.

A full schedule of shows and events was posted online over the weekend with names of designers participating, except for March 17, which states “designer to be announced.” Susan Stein, fashion editor for Palm Springs Life, said that person won’t be named tonight.

Tickets for the March 15-23 event went on sale today, with the high-end Diva tickets already sold out.

2013 show highlights include:

• Gilbert A. Chagoury, an independent couturier who was born in Lebanon and raised in Paris, is the Designer of the Week and his will be the closing night show. Chagoury began his career working for the legendary Christian Dior in Paris. He is now regularly commissioned to design gowns for the fashion elite in Paris, the Middle East, New York and Hollywood. Celebrities and socialites he has designed for include Katy Perry, Hayden Panettiere and Eva Longoria.

• Designer Sue Wong is scheduled to present her fashions on March 21.

• Houghton’s head designer, Katharine Polk on March 22.

• Le Chien couture fashion show for dogs returns for the second year on March 16 with designer Linda Higgins.

• “Project Runway” fans will be happy to know local designer Michael Costello, twice a contender on reality TV show, is organizing “The Drama and Designs of Project Runway,” to be staged on March 20, with 11 designers participating, more than double last year.

Since it was started eight years ago by Palm Springs Life magazine, Fashion Week El Paseo has blossomed into an event that draws designers and fashionistas from around the world. This year’s event drew a record 11,140 to the big white tent on Larkspur Lane, and pumped about $3 million into the local economy.

Seven of the nine shows sold out, with the “Project Runway” show drawing the largest crowd at about 1,300. Fashion Week raised almost $125,000 for local charities. Two new additions, trunk and dog fashion shows, drew hundreds and raised thousands of dollars. Both of are returning next year.