SFBayStyle

84 Years of Fashion for Charity

Friday, the Junior League of San Francisco staged two elaborate back-to-back fashion shows as an effort to raise funds for local programs including Compass Community Services, the International Rescue Committee, the San Francisco Child Abuse Prevention Center and Support for Families of Children with Disabilities. These fashion shows have raised millions of dollars over their 84 years, and this year's did not disappoint.

As always, the children stole the show, but the jovial atmosphere between friends lit the room. It was my first time attending the evening dinner gala show; in previous years I always attended the afternoon luncheon. I now see why it's one of the big San Francisco events people talk about all year long. The festive decor brought to life a world of life sized cards and chess pieces, reminiscent of "Alice in Wonderland."

Revelers began the evening in the Penthouse of the Fairmont Hotel (see image of Courtney Bocci, fashion show chair, right) and ended it there, participating in the silent auction before the live auction and dinner fashion show in the ballroom. Double Funk Crunch played on as guests danced following the show.

The League's largest annual fundraiser, some of the city's top volunteers work tirelessly for years to make these events happen. As a result, the organization gives back to those who put in their time and money to providing the community with both memorable philanthropic events and funds for important causes. The past show chairs (shown below) continue to be recognized over the years and there's a camaraderie built between the women who work on these committees.

Partnering with Macy's now for 22 years, the department store has always been an active participant in the show and guests were able to purchase what they saw on the runway. Other major sponsors included Exquisite Cultural and Wildlife Adventures, Epi Center MedSpa, KPMG and SHOPHAUS, but the list of major donor organizations and individuals was a mile long, published in a magazine to showcase how gigantic the project of producing this event is each year.

Next year marks the Junior League of San Francisco's 100 year anniversary, so the expectations will be set high for the show to make another mark on our community.

See also: more of my favorite images from the night. (All photos by Drew Altizer Photography.)

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Sarah Granger is the Founder of SFBayStyle. She is also on the Board of the Junior League of Palo Alto/Mid-Peninsula.

Favorite Photos - JLSF Fashion Show 2010

Some events, it's not enough to just write an article and post a pair of photos. There are just too many good ones to share. So here - after a few hours of pouring through a few hundred images from Drew Altizer Photography - are my favorites from Friday's Junior League of San Francisco Fashion Show:

(Note: For some images, we do not yet have all of the names, but we're working on adding them.)

Model getting ready pre-show.

Child model in make-up.

Junior League Fashion Show This Friday: Through the Looking Glass

For 84 years, the Junior League of San Francisco has produced a fashion show run by volunteers and benefiting community organizations. Partnering with the Fairmont Hotel and Macy's, this Friday will be the 84th annual show. I've been lucky enough to attend several of their shows over the past decade and it has become one of my favorite annual events.

Models are members of the Junior League and their families, and the clothes showcased are for women, men and children. (Spoiler alert: the adorable kids always steal the show!) It's a fun way to support great causes including Compass Community Services, the International Rescue Committee, San Francisco Child Abuse Prevention Center, and Support for Families of Children with Disabilities.

This year there are two shows - one champagne luncheon with a reception beginning at 10:30am on Friday. Then the black tie dinner gala begins at 6pm. Both are part of the San Francisco social calendar every year and are not to be missed. Tickets are still on sale - get yours before they sell out!

SF Bay Meet Golden Gauge

Some people say San Francisco has no style, but Ezra Miranda is out to prove them wrong.  Miranda and journalist Jackson Boren are the shutterbug and scribe behind Golden Gauge, a popular San Francisco fashion photo blog.

Wardrobe Consultant at Ralph Lauren by day and fashion photo blogger by night, Miranda searches the streets of our city snapping shots of anyone who is well dressed and expresses individual style.  "I look for people who care about what they're wearing," says Miranda. "People who have paid attention to the details."  Like ties and pocket squares accessorizing men and color coordinated outfits on women. " I notice men in particular are on top of their game and I want other cities to see that."

Fashionable Entrepreneur

It’s not everyday that I get to peek inside the closet of a fashionable millionaire, but recently I did just that while visiting entrepreneur, Gurbaksh Chahal - better known as G - at his SoMa penthouse. We were talking fashion, more specifically his fashion, and one thing led to another and I asked, “How big is your closet?” and he said, “Do you want to see it?”

G has lived a classic rags to riches story. He emigrated from India with his family at age four, watched his parents struggle to make ends meet and dropped out of high school to start an online ad network, which he sold for 40 million dollars at age 18. Now at 26, G has sold his second business, BlueLithium Inc., another online advertising agency to Yahoo!, and is the toast of San Francisco with a his memoir and a reality show both due out later this year. Beyond all that, the guy knows how to dress.

G says he wasn’t always fashion conscious. “We didn’t have a lot when I was growing up,” he said. “We shopped at Goodwill.” Focused on his work, G didn’t think much about style or clothing until after he sold his first business. “I realized I had become more visible and I needed to look better.” So G went to Men’s Wearhouse for his first suit, because, he thought, where else does one go for a suit?

Father's Day Bay Area Style

Father's Day is fast approaching, and I of course do not have a gift for my deserving husband. I have received numerous e-mails with Father's Day gift ideas, but nothing seems to fit him. The Sunday New York Times was loaded with ads for beautiful ties, cuff links and watches. That all seems too traditional for my husband, who takes "California Casual" to heart. He didn't even own a suit until a recent trip to China. Monogrammed BBQ tools seem like a good idea, but once again, just not his style. With a few days left, I am deciding between a few options.

Timbuk 2 makes great bags right here in San Francisco. I can visit the Hayes St. shop, or design my own bag online. Another design your own option is for a pair of Converse. (This is what my husband wears as dress shoes.)  If you are not feeling creative, S.F. based retailer, Gap, has an awesome collection of Product Red shirts  in the store right now. You can look cool, and help fight aids in Africa.

In the Swim with Vilebrequin

Ah, California! The weather has turned gorgeous, and the kids can't wait to go swimming. And I'm dreaming of beach vacation somewhere tropical...

As my mind wandered poolside the other day, I came across the most charming swim trunks by Vilebrequin over at Wilkes Bashford. Soft and nicely weathered-looking, they come in at least a dozen adorable retro/modern/whimsical prints, as well as a choice of lengths. It was almost too hard to pick just one pair, but I have to say it's easier for me to buy a swimsuit for someone other than myself!

If you're shopping online, Valebrequins are also at Neiman-Marcus - they even have matching father-son swim trunks - as well as the Vilebrequin online store. (Maybe because they're French, be sure to double-check the size chart before buying and plan to size up.)

Barneys Men - Hot Items for Spring in SF

San Francisco Bay Area men have the opportunity for a wide range of style - from luxe custom suits to uber casual. In fact, outside of Europe, I'd say men here have more flexibility in fashion than most of the U.S. While I've never seen a man in a fedora, tux shirt, plaid jacket, leather chaps and sneakers, it could happen. So we celebrate our variety in styles. When I glimpsed the new Barneys mens' catalog for spring, I thought it provided some great options for the new season.

Beginning with suits - Valentino, Armani, Lanvin, Dolce & Gabbana, Boss, Etro, Gucci, Ermenegildo Zegna, and Brioni, then covering some great sport coats and comfort casual by John Varvatos, Michael Kors, and Tod's - the catalog does a great job of highlighting some of the best of the men's collection at Barneys, a blend which you can't really find anywhere else. (Sure, if you shop at Harrods, Wilkes Bashford and Neiman Marcus/Bergdorf Goodman, you could piece most of it together, but not all.) So men, and ladies who shop for men, take a gander. Stop by the new SF store at 77 O'Farrell Street or oogle the wares online.

MNKYTHMP Salon and Spa Grand Opening

Instead of the usual red carpet, the MNKYTHMP grand opening had an orange carpet. In my studies, I learned that orange is a powerful color that stimulates enthusiasm and creativity. People who are fond of orange are usually thoughtful and sincere. After entering the fourth floor salon and spa, I found that Dave Bryant and Bruce Nelson, the founders, had indeed, thoughtfully created a space that embodied true enthusiasm and creativity.

When I walked into this ultra hip, modern new space with full length mirrors and treated concrete floors, I felt like I was back in New York again, not a stones throw from Union Square. This Redken elite salon was one-of-a-kind. Each stylist station had his/her own personal TV, piping in fashion shows. The signature cocktail of the night, the "Monkey Thump", (named for the MNKYTHMP Salon/Spa) provided by VeeV Vodka, was a delightfully light and delicious mix of ruby red grapefruit, vodka and nutrient-packed acai, which went well with the passed sushi and House music.