SFBayStyle

Change Starts With I: Local Jewelry Designer Stacey Lorinczi Designs The Irma Bracelet

When San Francisco jewelry designer Stacey Lorinczi was asked to create a bracelet as a fundraiser for the documentary film, Recovering Irma, she immediately thought of the yellow Lance Armstrong  bracelets. Although Stacey is not a fan of the ubiquitous rubber bands she recognizes the positive impact they have made. "I started wondering how can we design something that is an essential marketing tool and make it fantastic piece of jewelry."

Fantastic it is. A simple black band of leather with a sterling silver "I" stylishly says, I take a stand against domestic violence.

Actress and Animal Rights Activist Tippi Hedren Visits San Francisco

An excited crowd recently gathered at the Barry Barsamian Hollywood Legends Exhibit in the Metreon waiting for the arrival of movie star Tippi Hedren. Known for her roles in Alfred Hitchcock’s classic films The Birds and Marnie, Ms. Hedren has more recently turned her attentions to animal rights legislation and her wild cat sanctuary, Shambala.

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Local notables such as Wilkes Bashford, Natalie Wood’s older sister, Olga and Kathy Garver (co-star in the 60s television show Family Affair) were among the crowd of 100 who toured the exhibit while enjoying champagne. Ms. Hedren arrived donning a long black gown with a short Edith Head jacket accessorized with a birds-in-flight brooch made of seed pearls set in gold. Petite and still a stunner, Ms. Hedren addressed the crowd sharing stories of how she was cast in The Birds and her passion for wild animals.

(Pictured above: Tippi Hedren with Barry Barasamian. Photo by Carole Chang)

The Fashion Event of the Year - Discarded to Divine

One of the most popular Bay Area fashion events of the year, Discarded to Divine is coming up this Thursday, April 29 at Saint Mary's Cathedral in San Francisco. Guest designer is Project Runway contestant, Jay Nicolas Sario.

A major fundraiser for the San Francisco St. Vincent De Paul, Discarded to Divine invites local designers and fashion design students to reconstruct discarded clothing into one-of-a-kind pieces for fashion and home decor worthy of bringing in big bucks. This year's lineup of designers includes East Bay artist Anandamayi Arnold. Ms. Arnold usually works with paper, creating paper dresses and small paper sculptures available in the Berkeley store, Tail of the Yak. For this year's Discarded to Divine, Ms. Arnold is working with her mother, a professional dressmaker. The mother-daughter team are keeping their design top secret until the day of the event, but word is it will include handmade ribbon pansies.

Discarded to Divine, Thursday April 29, Saint Mary's Cathedral, 1111 Gough Street, SF. VIP reception at 5pm. General reception and silent auction at 6pm. Live auction and runway show at 8pm. For more information call 415-977-1270.

Raphael House Gala Roars with the Twenties

Saturday night, the Bimbo's 365 Club came to life in North Beach, transporting guests back in time with its gorgeous nightclub atmosphere, a big band, lounge singers and loads of once prohibited bubbly. Celebrating 39 years as what many call the best shelter for families in San Francisco, the gala aimed to continue successes of previous years, raising nearly 20% of the funds for Raphael House's annual budget.

Entering the main hall, guests were greeted with a glistening presentation by the Richard Olson Orchestra - including a horns section, three singers and a grand piano. With a dress code of "flapper and dapper," men sported fedoras with their tuxes, and ladies came in roaring twenties fringed frocks, complete with pearls, headbands, furs and feathers. The silent auction included a vast array of packages from eco friendly children's items to expensive vacations.

SF Ballet Presents Exclusive Michael Kors Fashion Show Next Week

A handful of fashion shows in the Bay Area make the list of the best every year. Sitting at the top of the list is the San Francisco Ballet Auxiliary Fashion Show. Partnered with Saks Fifth Avenue, they always showcase a fall designer collection fresh from the New York runway. This year, Michael Kors was selected.

Wednesday the 28th, the fashion show, previously a luncheon event, will move to cocktail hour at the Westin St. Francis on Union Square. Beginning at 5:30pm, cocktails, live auction and the fashion show (featuring professional models) will show items in the Michael Kors collection that are available for purchase for fall/winter 2010.

In terms of philanthropic bang for your fashion show buck, this is one of the best deals around. Tickets start at $175 and $100 of that is deductible, going straight to the SF Ballet. Limited seats are still available.

Special Jimmy Choo Launch for a Cause

Thursday evening, our friends at Vivanista and Saks Fifth Avenue are hosting a fabulous shopping event with Wine, Women and Shoes. Featuring the new Choo 24:7 collection by Jimmy Choo, a percentage of purchases from the evening's purchases will go to Children of Shelters, a San Francisco based community organization.

Let's be clear: this isn't just any other shoe shopping event. Wine, Women and Shoes was founded by Napa Valley vintner, Elaine Honig with the express purpose of showcasing unique designer collections paired with exquisite wines. Their special events have collectively raised over $4 Million in funds for women's and children's charities.

It's okay to browse too! Just RSVP to events(at)vivanista.com.

Raphael House is Puttin’ on the Ritz: One Home, Many Hearts 2010 Benefit Gala

The Raphael House One Home, Many Hearts 2010 Benefit Gala is set for April 17 and promises to be the cat’s pajamas with a 1920s themed affair at San Francisco’s historic Bimbo's 365 Club in North Beach. Since 1971 Raphael House has been helping at risk families find stable housing and achieve financial independence. In the past 39 years of service to the San Francisco community, Raphael House has sheltered more than 17,000 children and their parents with help and support from foundations, corporations, businesses, civic groups, churches and synagogues, and individuals like you.

“Now more than ever, there will be a need to support our families in crisis and we hope to continue to successfully raise the vital funds in order to do just that,” says Claudia Ross, Chairman of the Board. “The Gala is our single most important fund-raiser for the year – the revenue generated from this event is critical to our programs and services for our families.”

Included in this year’s swanky Gala are gambling tables, plenty of hooch, dinner prepared by Taste Catering, tunes provided by The Richard Olsen Orchestra and some swell vocals by jazz singer and former Raphael House resident Amanda King. A silent auction and a live auction will offer ample opportunities to part with your dough - for a good cause. And this is no baloney - complimentary valet parking for your jalopy.

So get a wiggle on and plan your flapper and dapper glad rags (black tie) for Raphael House One Home, Many Hearts 2010 Benefit Gala, Saturday, April 17, 2010, 6PM, Bimbo’s 365 Club, 1025 Columbus Avenue, San Francisco. For tickets contact Flavia Henrique, fhenrique@raphaelhouse.org or 415.345.7262

Mireille Schwartz dons her own Creation at the Mid-Winter Gala

This year’s Mid-Winter Gala, hosted by the Fine Arts Museums' Junior Committee was a smash hit, raising a record $400,000 for the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco and attracting an array of well-clad attendees. Alexis Swanson Traina was spotted in Dolce & Gabbana, Committe Chairman Allison Speer was wearing Oscar de la Renta, and Committee Benefactor Mireille Schwartz was looking tres chic in … Mireille Schwartz.

Mireille has become part of the hot new DIY design trend. Inspired by her good friend Karen Caldwell, who just started her own line, Karen Caldwell Design, Mireille decided this year she would create her own look. “The process began when I was shopping for the Gala and couldn't find the "right" dress,” explains Mireille. “I kept identifying a beautiful gown, but not in my size, or a fabulous fit but the gown wasn't my style.” Mireille soon realized that she didn’t have to sacrifice a thing; she could have exactly what she was looking for by designing her own gown. Why not? She sketched some ideas, keeping in mind jewel-tones, classic lines, and glamour Hollywood draping. Her daughter helped choose the fabric and color and a local seamstress, whom Mireille calls her new Fairy Godmother, whipped it all up.

The result is a lovely red silk chiffon one-shoulder gown with rosette accents. “The seven hand-tooled rosettes on my dress signify life, vitality, and most of all whimsical fun,” says Mireille. “I try and not take myself too seriously; there are festive moments in fashion if you're willing to have a giggle with or at yourself.”

Well done, Mireille. We hope to see more of your designs in the future.

(Photo by Drew Altizer)

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!

Kiehl's Helps Old Dogs Find New Homes

Last Saturday, Kiehl's on Fillmore Street hosted a unique pet adoption and fund raising event for Muttville Senior Dog Rescue, an organization that helps find homes for older dogs and provides hospice services for them. Throughout the week, every shopper who donated over $10 to Muttville took home complimentary Kiehl's samples.

As Kiehl's has a mission to improve the quality of the community in addition to providing fabulous skin and hair care products, the event helped raise over $1200 for Muttville Senior Dog Rescue, funds that will be much needed for food, shelter and veterinary care.

Slide into the Speakeasy for Raphael House

Raphael House, a San Francisco organization dedicated to combating family homelessness, made themselves quite at home at Slide recently to kick-off the promotion of their annual "One Home, Many Hearts" gala to be taking place April 17 at Bimbo's 365 Club in North Beach. The pre-party was "password required" and guests came decked in roaring twenties threads to celebrate.

Claudia Ross, founder of CrossMarketing PR continues to produce fabulous events to raise funds for worthy organizations and as Chairman of the Board of Raphael House, she's dedicated to making the benefit gala at Bimbo's one to remember. “The Gala is our single most important fundraiser for the year – the revenue generated from this event is critical to our programs and services for our families.” This is no joke - Raphael House has housed over 17,000 children during its 38 years of service.

Ready to buy a ticket? They range from $100 to join in the festivities in April. There will be jazz, gambling and "prohibition-era libations." See you there!

(Pictured above left: Carolyn Bojanowski, Caleb Krasnor, John Warren, Stephanie Warren; right: Claudia Ross. Photos by Drew Altizer Photography.)

Move Over Access Hollywood. Here's Red Carpet Bay Area!

Saturday night will be an exciting night for our friends at Red Carpet Bay Area. At 7:30, KRON4 is showing the first ever episode of their new show. Listed as a "brand new magazine-style program highlighting the region’s unique culture, personality and style," Marybeth La Motte, Mark Hamburg, Greg Marasso, Jan Mabry and Cory Miller bring us an inside look at some of the incredible events that take place around the Bay Area.

This week's episode will showcase Japantown, Charleston Pierce and a Silicon Valley benefit gala. For thirty minutes, viewers can explore new aspects of San Francisco Bay Area life. The show leads into Entertainment Tonight and each show includes six segments "exploring fun new places to dine and shop and explore as well as the local red carpet scene."

“We’ll present some amazing moments from a variety of red carpet gala events along with special visits to some of the region’s most unique attractions in a lively format that captures the essence of the Bay
Area,” says La Motte.

Please join us in congratulating Red Carpet Bay Area and enjoy the show!

It's A Good Idea to Vote for A Good Idea San Francisco

If charity is your game, A Good Idea San Francisco might be something you want to note. And fast! Round 2 of the Chase Community Giving campaign is in action. This program is giving the opportunity for a charity to win $1 Million to give back to the community, and A Good Idea San Francisco, a San Francisco-based nonprofit, has a good chance of winning.

A Good Idea San Francisco garnered enough Facebook votes to win $25,000 in Round 1 of the campaign, and if it keeps earning the most Facebook voters, it will win an additional $100,000 or $1 Million.

A vehicle for positive social change ideas that connect people in need with people who want to help, A Good Idea will be bringing a fully accredited residential high school for homeless teens to San Francisco called Hope Academy of Arts & Sciences (HAAS).

Help San Francisco's Good Idea & Vote Now!

A Masked Ball for Survivor Corps

 
Cleo Streets, Pamela Joyner, Russell Gatewood (Photo: Drew Altizer) 

In true festive spirit, guests of Pamela Joyner and Fred Giuffrida arrived bedecked and bejeweled for the third annual Masked Ball. Held on October 24 at Ms. Joyner's lovely Presidio Heights home, this popular event is a fundraiser for Survivor Corps.

Over $750,000 was raised to support Survivor Corps, an organization working to help survivors of armed conflict around the world. The gold and white theme sparked imaginative attire of flowing Grecian ball gowns, elegant wraps, and masks accented with jewels and feathers. Three other cities - Santa Monica, New York, and London joined the festivities in a simulcast.

 Rosalina Lydster, Deepa Pakianathan (Photo: Drew Altizer)

 

Union Square Ice Rink Opens Wednesday with Olympic Skaters

Wednesday, the Union Square ice rink opens again to entertain skaters throughout the season. This year is special since it's the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, so the U.S. Figure Skating Association, in conjunction with local skating clubs like the Skating Club of San Francisco, is putting together a series of events to highlight the opening this Wednesday, beginning at 10 a.m.

There will be a show at noon and another exhibition at 5 p.m. Guests can skate at other times of day, and the daytime event has a requested donation of $20.

Then at 6 p.m., there will be a special reception featuring Olympic Gold Medalist (and Dancing with the Stars champion) Kristi Yamaguchi and U.S. national champion Rudy Galindo across the street at the Westin St. Francis Hotel. Tickets for that are $100 and the money goes to the U.S. Olympic skaters.

To RSVP or ask questions, contact Susan Bonn (susanbonn(at)gmail(dot)com) or Stacey Marsh (smarsh(at)usfigureskating(dot)org).

Lily Samii Fashion Show for Arthritis Auxiliary

Next month, the Westin St. Francis will be showered with gorgeous designs by Lily Samii, possibly the most glamorous fashion designer in the Bay Area, in a show benefiting the Northern California Chapter and planned by the Bay Area Auxiliary. On Thursday, October 15, Look models will take the runway for the fashion show luncheon, following a reception and silent auction.

This should be one of the best fashion shows of the year and it will raise money to help fund programs and research supported by the Arthritis Foundation. To purchase tickets, call 415-356-5481.

More Photos from SF Symphony Gala

We're not the only ones showcasing some of the great looking ensembles from events, but that doesn't mean we don't know our readers like to see the photos too. Here are some of our favorites from this year's San Francisco Symphony Gala, to complement our full article. All photos provided by Drew Altizer Photography.

Pamela Joyner pictured left.

SF Symphony Opening Night Gala Sizzled with Style

Wednesday night's San Francisco Symphony Opening Gala introduced the new arts season with thoughtful music, fine delectables, and throngs of fetching gowns. As the sun set on the warm Bay Area, the event kept buzzing. Turning up the heat, the concert featured one of People magazine's "Sexiest Men Alive," Lang Lang, the 27 year-old piano virtuoso and a trio of dizzying waltzes conducted by Michael Tilson Thomas.

The evening began with cocktails and parallel dinner events organized by the San Francisco Symphony League and Symphonix, the young professional league. McCall's catered, and everything looked grand, beginning in the tent pavilion, City Hall, and of course Davies Symphony Hall where patrons flocked for the main event.