Congratulations to all of our finalists! The designer with the most votes is...Manny Cuevas, President & Designer of Wear It Out by Manny. The top three finalists all had the opportunity to present their look at the Suiting The Sound Panel Discussion at the Country Music Hall of Fame on Tuesday, October 12. Thank you for voting!

Nashville Fashion Week partnered with the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum to offer Middle Tennessee designers and creators an opportunity to participate in a design competition by creating their personal interpretation of country music stage wear inspired by the museum's online exhibition Suiting the Sound: The Rodeo Tailors Who Made Country Stars Shine Brighter.

Drawing from the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum's exhibit galleries and extensive collection of stage costumes and archival materials, Suiting the Sound: The Rodeo Tailors Who Made Country Stars Shine Brighter—an exhibition curated exclusively for online audiences and free -to-access HERE — examines the dazzling artistry of Western-wear designers whose couture fashions helped to create an indelible image for country music.

Voting was open to the community. The public was invited to choose their three favorite exhibit-inspired designs based on quality, creativity, and originality from the eight finalists selected from all submissions by voting at NashvilleFashionWeek.com through Friday, October 1st. The three designers or creators with the most votes had the opportunity to showcase their finished design at the NFW and Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum Suiting The Sound Panel Discussion on Tuesday, October 12. The winning designer received two VIP passes for Nashville Fashion Week 2022 and a one-year family membership to the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. 

(Please read Each Designer’s Interpretation and Vision of Country Music Stage Wear Below)

Look 1

The inspiration came from my long-term relationship with my Reflections of Old California. After watching iconic artists from film to stage and then being asked for something I had never done before to seeing the light at the end of a tunnel. This helped me in putting this piece together. At a point in time where I had been in the unknown, this piece made me come together for all great reasons. Something old, something new, something iconic! The white represents life and the various reds represent the passion flowing through us. Everything is precious. 

Look 2

I was inspired by the timelessness of denim. I cut up old farm jeans from my grandpa to patchwork the jacket and jeans. Adding the photos that I printed on fabric was to show the faces of some of the greatest designers of all time and some of the artists who have helped shaped country music into what it is today.I used a classic design found on cowboy boots for the black and white top.

Look 3

This jacket was designed to represent the core commitment to country music performers who have supported the genre over the years with flashy embroidered clothes and rhinestones. The butterflies represent transformation, hope and positivity so often brought to life by performers on the grand ole stage and the jacket chain stitch technique is complemented by Swarovski Crystals to give it the magnificent pop needed for a country star to Suit the Sound.

Look 4

The Afton jumpsuit was inspired by the works of Nudie Cohn and Jamie Castaneda. I loved how both designers incorporated Western style into their designs. I added rhinestone fringe to the front yoke, back yoke, and along both sides of the pants to keep with the tradition of country stage wear being flashy. My goal with the Afton jumpsuit was to combine Western style with glamour, while injecting my own chic and sleek aesthetic.

Look 5

My love of sparkly embroidered stage wear goes back many years, so when my son asked me to make his wedding jacket, I knew exactly what I was going to design. Inspired by Amish hex signs, Nudie’s ‘Pill’ and Manuel’s ‘State’ jackets I embroidered pot leaves, love birds, hearts, favorite music arrangements, and the couple’s initials joined together as a brand, all outlined with crystal rhinestones, to create a garment worthy of center stage.   

Look 6

Inspired by the Country Music Hall of Fame “Suiting The Sound”, I designed a two-piece suit for a Nashville woman of today. She is everything: boho, western, and a whole “lotta” country. Instead of embellishing with jewels or embroidery, I decided to use intricate pattern pieces and a mix of printed fabrics. Fringe, patchwork, and extended shoulder pads give this look the extra touch that truly embodies my vision of country music stage wear.  

Look 7

The gray denim and plaid suit pays homage to the traditional bright colors and chain stitch embroidery of Nudie Cohn. Our modern twist on the performance wear suit adds hombre and vibrant chain stitching with the birds and vines inspired by classic Americana. Gray denim and purple wool plaid are the modern reflection of textiles. Country music is an original art form, and the sparkle and flare of our suit is synonymous with the music.

Look 8

I wanted to do a contemporary version of western wear for my Nashvegas collection which was a bit of Liberace and Elvis with a nod to Nudie and Manuel. By creating a hand-beaded fabric covering the whole surface and making it a desert theme plus applying it to a Lilac woman's suit I feel I achieved my goal. A flood-length flare made it even more contemporary though the model had super long legs!