No one defies a winter that overstays its welcome like the fashion crowd. For its 17th annual fundraiser Saturday night, DIVA turned International Market Square into a nightclub to raise money for HIV/AIDS-related organizations. Highlights included Kevin Aviance's performance of "I Will Survive," two "Project Runway" contestants in the audience, and Minnesotans bringing their anything-goes sense of style. Here are some standouts.
KITTIE FAHEY MINNEAPOLIS

Wearing: Katherine Gerdes dress (designed 27 hours before the event and picked up three hours before), Valentino shoes, Robyne Robinson cross necklace.

Her date: "Project Runway" dropout Jack Mackenroth. She bid to be at his table.

Never leaves the house without: MAC's Viva Glam IV lipstick.


GULED "GIGI" ABDULLAHI ST. PAUL

Day job: Server/model.

Wearing: Vintage Dior vest, G-Star shirt and True Religion jeans from Macy's and a belt from a friend.

GiGi? "It's my name since I was seven, from my grandmother. Her favorite musical was 'Gigi'. "

Favorite part of DIVA: "I really liked the after-party, the club feel. DJ Eve played a lot of the music that we like."


NANCY BAUER MINNEAPOLIS

Day job: Floral designer at Arts & Flowers in St. Louis Park

Other job: Lead singer of the Dixie Cups, a country band that plays "Loretta, Tammy and Dolly."

Wearing: A vinyl-sequin extravaganza. Bauer did the "surface design" herself.


DUDLEY VOIGT ST. PAUL

Day job: Art and education consultant

Wearing: Dress designed by Mary Anna Culligan (costume designer for the Children's Theatre Company), children's hat from Savers (stuffed with tissue paper), and poodle purse from a friend.

Inspiration for her look: Gothic Lolita. "It's a fashion thing in Japan, except I don't really have enough of the goth."


BEHTSEE Millman ST. LOUIS PARK

Day job: Salesperson at Anthropologie and "fashion designer-in-training" at Minneapolis Community and Technical College.

Wearing: Betsey Johnson tea dress, French Connection coat, Hobo International clutch, and Lumiani boots.

Hairstyle secret: "I'm dyehard Manic Panic. I've been doing it six or seven years."

How long does it take? "Two and a half or three hours, every five months."


STEVEN WARD ST. LOUIS PARK

Day job: Floral designer at Arts & Flowers in St. Louis Park

Wearing: Vintage hat from Value Village, jacket from Target, vintage shirt from Tatters, Seven for All Mankind jeans, Harley Davidson boots and obi from Ragstock.

Inspiration for his look: "Russian folk dancer."

Best part of DIVA: "People watching."

Favorite dance song of all-time: "Dancing Queen" by Abbacadabra. "They play covers of Abba songs that are faster."


MATS SEXTON MINNEAPOLIS

Day job: Acupuncturist

Wearing: Jacket from ARC, Triple Five Soul pants and GBX shoes.

Who should have won "Project Runway"? Sweet P. "I didn't watch it very much, but I liked her name."

Favorite dance song: "Big Time Sensuality" by Bjork

Most important thing he did to get ready for DIVA: "Hit the ATM!"

Doesn't leave home without: "My wits."


Sara Glassman is a Minneapolis-based fashion writer.