It's About Time: Backstage at Richard Parsakian's Farewell Pittsburgh Opera Fashion Show

On March 23, 2026, the Bitz Opera Factory in the Strip District filled for the most anticipated edition yet of the Pittsburgh Opera Fashion Show — "It's About Time," curator Richard Parsakian's farewell after 45 years of shaping Pittsburgh's fashion scene. And as with every show since our founder Ron Booth helped create the first one in 2017, the hair and makeup came from Studio Booth.

Parsakian, whose Shadyside institution Eons Fashion Antique turned 40 this year, called the evening "Fashion Theatre" — vintage couture spanning the 1890s to the 1990s, brought to life by dancers, actors and icons of the city's arts community, with Pittsburgh Opera's Resident Artists both performing and walking the runway. It was also a farewell season for General Director Christopher Hahn, who dreamed up the very first show with Ron nearly a decade ago. An era closed on that runway — and our team had the honor of styling it.

Backstage with our stylists

A century of silhouettes means a century of hair: sculpted Gibson rolls, marcel-inspired waves, sleek sixties geometry, big nineties texture — each look period-true, camera-ready and built to survive quick changes under stage light. Here's the evening as our team lived it, from the prep tables to the finale bow. Photography by Dave Hochendoner.

Nine years on this runway

From the inaugural 2017 show through last year's Threads of Destiny, this collaboration is part of who we are — editorial styling built for the stage, brought back to our chairs in Bakery Square every day. The next chapter is already on the calendar: the 2027 show arrives March 15, 2027, celebrating International Women's Month.

Want runway-level styling for your own moment? Explore our bridal & event services, browse Our Work, or meet the team. And for tickets and event details, visit Pittsburgh Opera. We're at 6343 Penn Ave in Bakery Square — (412) 362-6684.