Fendi Hosts Festive Bash To Celebrate SF Boutique

Barbara Brown, Ken Fulk and Mary Beth Shimmon
Barbara Brown, Ken Ful,k and Mary Beth Shimmon

Photo Credit: Devlin Shand for Drew Altizer Photography

Although the new Fendi flagship in downtown San Francisco opened its doors to the public in July, the luxe Italian fashion brand didn’t host its official inauguration party until Wednesday night. And what a celebration it was! All of SF’s brightest fashion stars were at the event. There was Mary Gonsalves Kinney, in vintage black fur, chatting with Kaitlyn Krieger and Becca Prowda. Lisa Zabelle and Sonya Molodetskaya looked wildly chic in Fendi’s furs, Zabelle in a mod short-sleeved white number, and Molodetskaya in a stole that draped over her shoulders elegantly. Chrisa Pappas, the newest fashion powerhouse on the social scene, tried on an assortment of Fendi’s posh fur coats for her husband, the dapper Dean Sioukas.

Sobia Shaikh poses with Meatball
Sobia Shaikh poses with Meatball

Photo Credit: Drew Altizer

Farah Makras, in a yellow and black Major Obsessions silk dress wished her gal pal, Sobia Shaikh, a happy birthday. Shaikh didn’t look a day over 36 in her formfitting white strapless dress and Fendi’s thigh high red boots. The star of the show, however, was the most adorable white Pomeranian puppy named Meatball. A cuddly mascot to one of the guests who everyone wanted to hold.

Inside the Obsession Room
Inside the Obsession Room

Photo Credit: Drew Altizer

Besides Meatball, the other thing that everyone was gushing about? The Obsession Room. An installation art piece and photo booth set up just outside the boutique. Inside the box, guests were delighted to find a mirrored room with almost 200 hanging Fendi bag charms. These furry characters, colorful little fur balls in hot pink, purple, yellow, blue, and black were created by Silvia Venturini Fendi to showcase the fun side of the family-run fashion house. The psychedelic jungle of hanging fur balls and glittering mirrors proved to be the ultimate Instagram background—because after all, these days for a party to be truly successful, there must be something fabulous that everyone wants to Instagram. Fans of Fendi should note that the Obsession Room will be in town all weekend and is open to the public today through Sunday, October 22. Get yourself down to Grant Street and snap a photo!

DJ twins Simi and Haze
DJ twins Simi and Haze

Photo Credit: Drew Altizer

Twins and it girls Simi and Haze Khadra provided the tunes for the night. The DJs, better known as SimiHaze, run in the Gigi Hadid, Kendell Jenner, Selena Gomez crowd, and played a lively mix of old favorites like TLC’s Creep with newer electronic beets. Glasses of Veuve Clicquot were never half empty and passed appetizers included delicious bites of crab salad on brioche, mini potatoes filled with creme fraiche and caviar, and toast with burrata. After the event, a select group of players, grand dame hostess Allison Speer’s A-list—including the chairs of the FOG Design + Art Fair (Fendi is the fashion sponsor for the event), donors, and top clients—headed to a dinner hosted by Fendi at Cotogna.

Fendi's customizable sneakers
Fendi’s customizable sneakers

It’s an all Fendi all the time sort of weekend with Saks Fifth Avenue also getting in on the brand fun. Saks is hosting the fourth and final Fendi customizable sneaker event through Sunday. Customers have the chance to design their own sneakers by choosing the main color, front/toungue of the sneaker, and sneaker heel color. There are at total of 45 different combinations for the Fendi Rockoko click sneakers, so if you’re in the market for something different you know where to find it.