Oh! What a “Divine” night!
By Dino-Ray Ramos
Monday, April 28th, 2008 at 3:46 pm in Academy of Art University, Cari Borja, Clothes, Clothing, Colleen Quen, Designers, Discarded to Divine, Dresses, Events, Fashion, Fashion Labels, Gowns, Ian Hannula, Jackets, Jessica McClintock, Joe Haller, Men's, Models, Nice Collective, Runway, SF Bay Area, San Francisco, Style, Verrieres and Sako, Women's.
This “Nevelson Corset and Skirt” was posh building-block-esque gown created by Academy of Art University’s Sawanya Jomthepmala.
The second night of my fashion-filled weekend was the St. Vincent de Paul Society of San Francisco’s Discarded to Divine fashion show, also held at the Academy of Art graduation fashion show tent.
Like the previous night, it was hustling and bustling with high society stomping around the premises looking fabulous.
The evening included a silent auction, live auction, runway show and, my personal favorite, free food.
Okay, maybe the food is my second favorite, because the items presented on the runway that evening were garments I actually judged - how could you not know I was a part of the jury of this event. I’ve only said it like 50 times.
But the runway show was the centerpiece, with garments made of “discarded” pieces created by local designers as well as students from the Academy of Art University, FIDM and The City College of San Francisco.
There were also special guest designers (whose garments I did not judge) which included Cari Borja, Jessica McClintock, Colleen Quen and Joe Haller and Ian Hannula from the urban-fab men’s label Nice Collective.
After the runway show, the pieces came out again for an action-packed live auction led by the speed talkin’ Cecil Calban!
Well, actually the crowd was a little tough in the beginning when it came to bidding on some of these fabulous garments, but they eventually warmed up.
Click below to take a gander at some of the garments…
Two words: GOR-GEOUS! Constructed out of nylons, this intricate piece of work by Stephanie Verrieres & Kimie Sako of Verrieres and Sako resembles that of Galliano…and more recently, the “fierce” Christian Siriano of Pro-Run. But this is a one-of-a-kind masterpiece. I am still in awe.
Berkeley-based Cari Borja enhanced our senses with this sweet ruffly confection called “Cotton Candy Kelp.”
This ferociously dramatic “Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome” corset delight was one of the highlights of the evening. Created by Academy of Art University’s Kaiya Tyson, the garment was sold after a vicious bidding war for $1100!
Here’s another big moneymaker. Michael Boris’s Evening Kimono Jacket went for a whopping $2200!
Rob Curry and Milen Krastev sett their classical French guns on full blast to create these romantic denim delicacies (called Fragonard Lady and Groom), which stomped off the runway as a set for $1500.
Nice Collective’s snazzy urban jungle piece “The Forgotten Uniform Jacket” went for $700. I would’ve bid higher but I actually need to pay my rent this month.
Colleen Quen’s playful denim “Flower Power” dress.
The amazing intricacies of Academy of Art University Kyoung A Jo’s “Architectural Planes” strapless dress.
The drama of Miranda Caroligne’s “Recon Sculpture Cloak” constructed out of numerous women’s sweaters. I think I need a cloak. Do you think I can pull this off?
Jessica McClintock’s “Un Visage Romantique” is flawless, beautiful and true to McClintock form, floated down the runway with the sweetness.
Autie Carlisle’s “Ruffle Blouse and Suspender Skirt” had this avant garde flirtiness to it that charmed my sartorial senses.
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May 8th, 2008 at 11:50 am
Dear Dino, Thank you so much for your support this year, of Discarded to Divine! Hope to see you in 2009!…Blessings, Sally