The 2026 Pittsburgh Opera Fashion Show, “It’s About Time”

By Madison Walloch

Photo courtesy of Alaina Titchen

On Monday, March 23, CDR members attended the 2026 Pittsburgh Opera Fashion Show, titled “It’s About Time,” at the Bitz Opera Factory. The show was curated by Richard Parsakian, and served as his final show after a 45-year long career in events. Parsakian is also the owner of Eons Fashion Antique, which is focused on costume design for film, TV, dance, and theatre. The store will be celebrating 40 years in business this July.

Parsakian is the former curator of the annual Ecolution fashion gala, which centers sustainability, and he has created events for venues such as the Andy Warhol Museum. In 2023, he was honored by the Three Rivers Business Alliance as the LGBTQIA+ Leader of the Year, and in 2024, he served as the Grand Marshal of Pittsburgh Pride. Parsakian made his Pittsburgh Opera debut in 2016 as a costume designer for Ricky Ian Gordon’s "Twenty-Seven," which highlighted the story of American writer Gertrude Stein and her partner, Alice B. Toklas.

The hair and makeup for "It's About Time" were both done by Studio Booth in Pittsburgh. The show's theme was fashion though time, letting the audience experience a blend of vintage fashion, dancers, and opera singers—Parsakian called the show a “Fashion Theatre.” Additionally, the show featured themes of pride and promoting peace. The fashion show featured decades of style, live opera to enjoy, light hors d'oeuvres from Aviva Catering, and custom drinks created by Mindful Hospitality Group, as well as jewelry auctions. 

The show had a packed audience, with attendees of various ages. Videos were displayed behind the runway, most of which were exciting music videos that set the pace for the models. Overall, the show had fun choreography for the models on the runaway, unique interactions between the performers, high energy, beautiful opera to listen to, and a great, impactful message behind it all.