With more than 100 outfits spanning fall, holiday, resort and evening wear occasions, Saks Fifth Avenue dished up a fashion feast to the audience of 875 attending last week’s Brass Ring Luncheon and Fashion Show to benefit the Barbara Davis Center for Childhood Diabetes.
In keeping with the event’s 30th anniversary, pearls were the accessory of the day. A long, beautiful strand was part of the auction, gifts of pearl necklaces were presented to past guild presidents, and models draped in ropes of white pearls and fur jackets highlighted an early segment of the show.
The runway parade featuring 20-plus models was introduced by Saks manager Kay Cline, who promised big discounts throughout the holiday season, given the poor state of retailing this year.
The show was held before the luncheon, which gave guests plenty to talk about after the runway cleared. A quilted bronze jacket and a black Magaschoni dress with big gold grommets caught Sharon Whiton Gelt’s eye. Guild president-elect Gail Johnson said she liked cocktail dresses with ruching on the sides. Other guests commented that they appreciated seeing “normal” clothes like jeans and cable knit sweaters.
Benefit fashion shows often highlight couture outfits from a single designer that can be worn — or afforded — by only a few, so this show was a nice change of pace, said Rachel Anger, a guild member and table hostess for the day.
The handful of male models and their outfits — from a leather jacket and jeans to velvet blazers and dress pants — got applause from the female-dominated audience, as did a trio of designer gowns flown in from New York specially for the show’s finale.
Hairstyles by Salon Posh were low chignons pulled to one side of a model’s neckline, and makeup from Giorgio Armani cosmetics completed the looks.
Suzanne S. Brown: 303-954-1697 or sbrown@denverpost.com
