The fashion pack was out in force Saturday night, with shows spotlighting motorcycle chic and spring designer collections drawing distinct crowds in two locales near downtown.
First up, Tai and John Beldock of Erico Motorsports transformed their Walnut Street showroom into a nightclub setting with go-go dancers, bartenders serving Peronis and a runway brimming with biker guys and scooter gals modeling the latest in leathers, T-shirts and accessories from Ducati, Triumph and Vespa, plus a little Paul Frank thrown in for fun..
Down the street a few blocks at Tracks, retailer Max Martinez staged his annual benefit fashion show for a sell-out crowd of 700. For this veteran store owner, the holidays are all about giving back to the community. Each December he presents spring designs from such top companies as Missoni, Chloe and Narciso Rodriguez, while raising thousands of dollars in ticket sales and silent auction proceeds to benefit the Volunteers of America.
Event chairs were Gary Wagner and his wife Aimee, who worked at Max as a teenager and while in law school. The couple was happy to report that sponsorships, ticket sales and auction proceeds for the evening were expected to bring in $150,000 for VOA’s Brandon Center, a shelter for homeless women and their children. Auctioneer was “Survivor” alum Ami Cusack who got patrons to bid on such items as a trip to Las Vegas, a Cartier tank watch and a shearling coat.
The show was full of print dresses, pleated chiffon and other feminine looks for spring.
“I love that all the models are not stick-thin” one observer said of the curvaceous models. Martinez even threw in a couple of guys in suits, jeans and shorts to keep things interesting.
Among the supporters on hand were Jim White and Michael James of VOA, Andi Smith, John Tobey, KC and Kristina Veio, David Hintgen and John Moinzad, Pauline Herrera, Joanne and Ron Katz, Michael Moore, Linda Christie-Horn, Jesse Moreale and Brent and Denise Snyder.
