PITTSBURGH MAYOR ED GAINEY, WITH WIFE, FIRST LADY MICHELLE GAINEY, AT THEIR INAUGURATION CELEBRATION GALA AT NOVA PLACE, JUNE 25. (PHOTO BY EMMAI ALAQUIVA)
PITTSBURGH’S GOT STYLE: Vereen, McLaurin designers for Mayor Gainey and First Lady Michelle’s inauguration, Gala wardrobe
by Dr. Sheila Beasley, For New Pittsburgh Courier
We witnessed history on Jan. 3, with the swearing-in ceremony and inauguration of Ed Gainey as the first African American mayor of the City of Pittsburgh. First Lady Michelle Gainey lovingly stood by his side as excitement and celebration were felt by many throughout the city.
Pittsburgh has been transformed by the “Let’s Go Get It” spirit and actions of Mayor Gainey and his staff to make Pittsburgh a more welcoming and vibrant city for all. Mayor Gainey stated in his inauguration speech: “Success does and will continue to live here and thrive here in our City of Pittsburgh.”
Due to COVID-19, Mayor Gainey was unable to hold his Inaugural Celebration Gala until more than six months later, on Saturday, June 25, at Nova Place, North Side. And as people admired Mayor Gainey and First Lady Michelle at the inauguration at the City-County Building and also at the Gala, what some may not have recognized was that their ensembles were styled by fashion designers Darnell McLaurin and Raiyonda Vereen; both have ties to Pittsburgh.
RAIYONDA VEREEN, A PERRY TRADITIONAL ACADEMY GRADUATE. She was the designer for First Lady Michelle Gainey’s wardobe during the Jan. 2022 mayoral inauguration and June 2022 Inauguration Celebration Gala.
Vereen is a Pittsburgh native who lived in Beltzhoover as a young girl and later moved the North Side. Vareen attended Schiller Middle School and Perry Traditional Academy, graduating with honors. Participating in runway shows at age 13, she realized she wanted to be in the fashion industry behind the scenes. Vareen’s tenacity was evident early, as she told the owner of the Mo Gear Men’s Apparel store in Pittsburgh as a 15-year-old: “If you allow me to work here, I would sell the clothes, vacuum the floors and wear the clothes to sell them right off of my back.”
Vereen attended Howard University with an initial major in Fashion Merchandising. Her mother convinced her to change her major to Marketing with a solid business foundation. She is now the head costume designer for Tyler Perry studios in Atlanta, which means she’s responsible for the wardrobe and design of the stars you see in shows like “The Oval,” “Ruthless,” “All the Queen’s Men” and others. Vereen also has buyer credits for such films as “Hunger Games II,” “Hidden Figures” and “Greenleaf.”
DARNELL MCLAURIN WAS THE DESIGNER FOR MAYOR GAINEY’S WARDROBE FOR THE JAN. 2022 INAUGURATION AND JUNE INAUGURATION CELEBRATION GALA.
McLaurin moved to Pittsburgh in 1988 to attend the ICM School of Business’ fashion program. He also enrolled in the Bradford School’s business program and Duquesne University. He earned degrees in Fashion Merchandising and Retail Management in Pittsburgh. Since then, he has taken the fashion and textile industry by storm with his original, innovative designs and ideas not only in Pittsburgh, but elsewhere. McLaurin developed his interests and skills by designing rooms in his home with his mother making swimsuits for his classmates. He left Pittsburgh in 2003 for New York City, but returns to Pittsburgh at times to choreograph fashion shows for FashionAFRICANA, founded by Pittsburgh’s own Demeatria Boccella.
Lee Davis, a well-known figure in Pittsburgh and CEO of Lee Davis & Associates Consulting LLC, was the connection to McLaurin’s and Vereen’s invitation to style the Gaineys for the inauguration and Gala. “I knew Darnell and Rai before they even knew what would unfold in their careers,” Davis told the New Pittsburgh Courier. “I met them in the early ‘90s when urban fashion was new and exciting and spoke to the Hip-Hop generation. Rai was working at Mo Gear and I met Darnell while running into him at various retail stores. Both talked about how they would be in the fashion industry.”
Now that everyone has met, it was time to get to work and make the Gaineys’ wardrobe the talk of the town.
The style gift blessing originated from the heart of Reverend/Mother Beasley and transcended to a collection of ensembles styled by Vereen and McLaurin, made with love and extended to other Pittsburgh fashion artisans and icons. Hazelwood native, Boccella, the aforementioned founder of FashionAFRICANA and Creative Director for “Rock Steelers Style,” generously provided space in her studio and style support throughout.
“It was such a great honor and blessing to work so closely with the First Lady of Pittsburgh and the Gainey family on this historic celebration,” Boccella told the Courier. “Part of my vision for the FashionAFRICANA studio is to empower our youth and community by celebrating and recognizing the achievements of people of African descent —and their presence in my studio definitely embodied that vision.”
Mayor Gainey and First Lady Michelle were dressed to the nines, worthy of inauguration recognition, customary in American government royals. For January’s inauguration, Vereen gave First Lady Michelle a classy chic look with a cream pants suit for a clean, strong businesswoman look with a satin lapel and sequins blouse, which read soft and feminine. For the Gala, Vereen presented First Lady Michelle with a black one shoulder gown with a diamond and onyx stone brooch on the shoulder with a front slide split.
McLaurin styled Mayor Gainey in a Hugo Boss midnight navy blue tuxedo with notch lapels and trim black satin piping. He wore Calvin Klein tuxedo dress shoes and a tuxedo shirt pleated with sterling silver button covers and matching cuff links. McLaurin personally designed the lapel accessory to compliment First Lady Michelle’s accessories.
Davis put his own spin on the evening, gifting the style team with Unico Vino wine bottles personalized with the image of the mayor and first lady.
Others who contributed to Mayor Gainey’s and First Lady Michelle’s big night a few weeks ago included David Porcher, Donna Baxter Porcher, Antoinette Payne, Michael Payne, Tanya Hankins, Bobby Engram, Deanna Engram (of the Sickle Cell Foundation), and hair/makeup artisans Tenel Dorsey, Veronica Burgess and Marquela Crosby.
About Post Author
