Peace, film and fashion with Charlie Mack

EVEN WITH HIS CACHE of celebrity friends and Hollywood connections, Charles "Charlie Mack" Alston gives local artists the chance to showcase their talent during his annual star-studded charity events.

As part of the Party 4 Peace weekend, a handful of fashion designers did just that last night at the Highly Fashionated Fashion Show in West Philadelphia.

Models sashayed, stomped and soared down the runway wearing bold prints paired with zebra-imprinted tees and floral handbags. From skater-boy-meets-punk-rock fashion trends to African tribal prints, the collections were as varied as they were bold.

Actress-turned-fashion designer LisaRaye McCoy added more sass and glamour to the show's lineup of styles.

Dressed in her signature all-white with bejeweled strappy stilettos, McCoy strutted her stuff before sharing her own fashion mantra.

"Fashion is different, fashion is weird, fashion is daring," she said to the well-dressed crowd of more than 100, who erupted in raucous cheer. "It's all those things. Dare to be different and never blend in."

Earlier last night, more of Mack's celeb friends, including native son Will Smith and J.D. Williams from "The Wire," made an appearance at the screening of "Streets," an independent film produced by Mack and starring a group of local rappers.

Yesterday capped off the annual weekend, which also included a playground build Saturday and an asthma and basketball clinic yesterday.