Runway formation

Models danced down the runway, gave each other fist bumps, and hugged adoring fans.

Hammy would never fly during Fashion Week, where only the clothes are the center of attention, but it was exactly what stylist Renee Reese ordered when she asked Philadelphia Eagles players to star in her "Rip the Runway: Philly Style" show.

And ripped we saw.

Reese, who is married to former Eagles linebacker Ike Reese, presented 20 minutes of chic contemporary fashions Saturday night at G Lounge. The Center City nightspot is quickly becoming the go-to venue for tastemakers trying to amp up their fashion cred.

"I just wanted to do something different," said Reese, who was wearing a tiered, strapless banana-yellow dress by New York-based designer Walter Baker.

"Last year we did a show in Atlanta and the female models just weren't enough. So I asked the guys and they made it more exciting."

And it so worked. The players were energetic, not to mention easy on the eyes. Unlike agency models, the beefy men weren't shy about showing off their animated personalities and perfect smiles. The mostly female audience whooped, hollered and flashed digital cameras as the athletes confidently sashayed down the runway striking poses for the appreciative fans.

Lito Sheppard, dressed in an all-white outfit by Artful Dodger, received the loudest ovation.

The clothing was basic, of-the-moment menswear: Graphic T's fit snugly and shorts were mostly below the knee in denim and madras plaids. In all, 10 Eagles past and present, many of them first-time models, participated, including Sheppard, Correll Buckhalter, Jeremiah Trotter, Stewart Bradley, Reggie Brown, A.J. Feeley, Hank Baskett, Chris Gocong, Todd Herremans and, of course, Reese's husband, Ike. (Quarterback Donovan McNabb was getting ready for his annual "All-White Party" held that night.)

"It's different from being on the field because you are out there all by yourself," said Eagles wide receiver Baskett. Baskett dazzled the crowd in a green-hued graphic shirt and studded denim shorts by urban menswear line Parish.

"I was a little nervous, yes. But I had a good time. I love the clothes."

Left guard Herremans also enjoyed his off-the-field fashion foray.

"I liked playing on the runway, giving each other high fives," said Herremans, who lumbered down the runway in an Artful Dodger outfit.

Reese, 33, a self-proclaimed fashionista, started working as a stylist and professional closet organizer when living in Atlanta during Ike's stint with the Atlanta Falcons. Two years ago, Reese started the online boutique www.jadareneeboutique.com. There, shoppers can outfit themselves in more than two dozen contemporary lines, including Alice + Olivia, Hale Bob and Frankie B.

In October, the Reese family, which includes Michael, 16; Elijah, 4, and Jada, 2, moved to Clarksboro, Gloucester County. Ike Reese hosts a weeknight talk show on sports radio 610 WIP called Ike at Night.

Renee Reese decided to continue her fashion career here with an emphasis on styling and closet organizing. "Rip the Runway" was Reese's Philadelphia debut to show off her dressing skills. A percentage of the ticket proceeds from Saturday's show will be donated to the United Way of Camden County.

"We want our donation to directly go towards building strong families," Reese said.

On Saturday Reese dressed the women models in bold red, cobalt blue and gold fitted dresses. Many of the blousy shirts were off-the-shoulder, the jeans were straight-legged, and, true to fall fashion trends, there were lots of belts. Designer labels included Religion, Moon Katz, and Love by Ya Ya.

Reese accessorized models with oversized leather bags in berry shades. The models, who wore their hair in tight ponytails or blunt bob cuts, had all the celebrity chicness you see in NFL wives, which they weren't. Think CW Network's The Game.

"These were pre-fall looks that featured dramatic exits when the models were walking off," Reese said. "So we showed looks with racer backs, vests that were cut up high so you could see the lower back and thin straps. We wanted to show the back."

Reese specializes in women's clothing, so she turned to former Eagle cornerback Bobby Taylor to dress the men. Taylor pulled clothes from his Houston-based men's clothing boutique EndZone Fashions. The labels included well-known urbanwear lines LRG, Artful Dodger, Sean John and Cavi.

The comfort factor was a plus for cornerback Sheppard.

"I didn't expect it to be so many people," the 27-year-old player said backstage after the show. "But I had a great time and the music was great. It was fun."

And then he and the rest of the Eagles were off to McNabb's party.

So much fashion. So little time.