Celebs, Socialites and Tech Titans Heat Up San Francisco’s Mid-Winter Gala

Photo Credit: Drew Altizer Photography

Trevor Traina said it best when he took the stage at the 2015 Mid-Winter Gala presented by Dior and stated, “It’s neither mid-winter nor wintery, but it is a gala!” Indeed it was quite the gala as socialites, Hollywood celebrities and tech titans donned their finest fashions at the hautest event of the season, held March 27 at the Legion of Honor in San Francisco. Haute Living was on the scene and takes you inside.

Kudos to Traina and Vanessa Getty, the event’s honorary co-chairs, and event chairs Kathryn Lasater and Allison Speer, all of whom masterfully handled their duties. This spectacular extravaganza, hosted by the Junior Committee of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, is one of San Francisco’s premiere fundraising and social events of the year, supporting the cultural and educational activities of the museums. All proceeds will support the Fine Arts Museum of San Francisco – the de Young and the Legion of Honor.

Some of the guests, including Getty, Lasater, Sonya Molodetskya, Kate Bosworth, Kate Mara, Suki Waterhouse, Pamela Baxter, Alexandra Richards, Anne Vyalitsyna, Michael Polish and John Mara wore Dior and Dior Homme.

Notables in attendance also included Willie Brown, Alexis Traina, Todd and Katie Traina, Ken Fulk, Jordana Brewster, Heather Ive, Jenny and Roman Coppola, Roger and Sloan Barnett, Douglas Friedman, Victoire and Owsley Brown, Paul Deneve and Anne Sophie Deneve, Summer Walker, Damian Smith, Vandy Boudreau, Stanlee Gatti, Jeremy Stoppelman and Kelcey Morton, Adam Cahan, Michael and Xochi Birch, Charlot D. Malin, who wore a haute leather and lace Valentino frock, and Gregory Malin and more.

Veuve Clicquot flowed non-stop at the two-hour cocktail reception before the black-tie crowd sashayed into a tent for a three-course meal prepared by McCalls, paired with Hess wines, and served on Christian Dior plates from in from Paris just for the occasions. Baccarat water glasses provided even more elegance on the beautifully-decorated tables. Dinner was followed by a live auction and dancing to tunes spun by Richards until after midnight.

Lydia Fenst of Christie’s handled the auction of three lots: Dior—champagne lunch for six at the new Dior women’s boutique, scheduled to open in downtown San Francisco in the fall, and a $4,000 gift certificate; a private tour of the Hess Collection Art Museum for up to eight, lunch at the winery and an accompanied tasting of Hess Collection wines; and a Night at the Museum for 10 people at the de Young or Legion of Honor during one of the two highly-anticipated upcoming exhibitions, the retrospective or Oscar de la renta or Pierre Bonnard: Painting in Arcadia, with a private guided tour with a curator and scrumptious dinner by McCalls.

Photo Credit: Drew Altizer Photography

Actress Kate Bosworth and her film director husband Michael Polish were most adorable when they shimmied to music together on their way out of the door. Her dress was so haute, it deserves a second look:

Photo Credit: Drew Altizer Photography

Photo Credit: Drew Altizer Photography

Kate Mara, hot off her trip to Disneyland and who you may know best as the intrepid journalist Zoe Barnes in House of Cards, looked lovely.

Photo Credit: Kelly E. Carter

Sonya Molodetskaya wore Dior from head to toe and Willie Brown on her arm.

Photo Credit: Kelly E. Carter

Carolyn Chandler wore a one-of-a-kind Dior quilted silk gown with visage embroidered filo flowers. The high-low frock featured “a train that everybody is stepping on,” Chandler said, adding, “but that’s OK. We’re here to have a good time. No one cares about a train.”

Photo Credit: Kelly E. Carter

Leyla Alhosseini shined in Oscar de la Renta

Photo Credit: Drew Altizer Photography
Ken Downing, fashion director and senior vice president of Neiman Marcus stores, shows why he carries the title he does.

Photo Credit: Drew Altizer Photography

Kelcey Morton, in Monique Lhullier, Yelp founder and CEO Jeremy Stoppelman, who trimmed his signature hair.

Photo Credit: Drew Altizer Photography

Jordana Brewster makes beauty look effortless.

Photo Credit: Drew Altizer Photography

Anne Vyalitsyna certainly caught the attention of Ken Fulk and everyone else.

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Photo Credit: Drew Altizer Photography

Jenny Coppola and Roman Coppola added grace to the event.

Photo Credit: Drew Altizer Photography

Famed photographer Doug Friedman, who is used to being on the other side of the camera, was dashing.

Photo Credit: Drew Altizer Photography

Suki Waterhouse dazzled.

Photo Credit: Drew Altizer Photography

Sloan Barnett not only wore Rubin Singer but brought the designer, known for creating outfits for Beyoncé, Alicia Keys and Shakira, with her to the event. How ever did Sloan, who also rocked a stunning Bulgari serpenti necklace, get that gown in the car? “I came in a Cinderella carriage,” she said with a laugh, adding, “I squished myself like a marshmallow (into the car) and then popped out.”

Photo Credit: Kelly E. Carter

A good time was had by all as you can see on the faces of Jorge Maumer, Brenda Zarate, Afsaneh Akhtari, Navid Armstrong and Carolyn Chandler.

Photo Credit: Drew Altizer Photography

Tech gurus Xochi Birch and Michael Birch, also owners of San Francisco’s hautest private club, The Battery. Michael paired his  graphite steel Dior tuxedo with matte black sneakers from the luxury brand.

Photo Credit: Drew Altizer Photograhy
San Francisco arts philanthropist Stephanie Marver is known for her glamorous party dresses and doesn’t disappoint here.

Photo Credit: Drew Altizer Photography

Red looks good on Pamela Baxter, President/CEO Perfumes and cosmetics Americas at LVMH and President Christian Dior Couture, who also carried her classy Lady Dior purse.

Photo Credit: Drew Altizer Photography

Mary Beth Shimmon had plenty of reason to smile.

Photo Credit: Drew Altizer Photography

Ken Fulk sported this “In Between Visions” jacket, the only one of its kind in the U.S. It pays homage to Mr. Dior and when he had his gallery before he entered the couture world.

Photo Credit: Drew Altizer Photography

Men in Black, Colin Bailey and Willie Brown

Photo Credit: Drew Altizer Photography

Power couple Alexis Traina and Trevor Traina always look smashing together and this evening was no different.

Photo Credit: Drew Altizer Photography

Kate Harbin Clammer is pretty in pink.

Photo Credit: Kelly E. Carter

Loree Erlick glowed, and no wonder considering her dashing gentlemen bookends of Joel Goodrich and Jorge Maumer.

Photo Credit: Drew Altizer Photography

Alexandra Richards, the daughter of Patti Hansen and Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards, deejayed to perfection to keep the dance floor full.

Photo Credit: Kelly E. Carter

Christian Dior plates were flown in from Paris for the occasion. After a first course of lobster and beet root, guest dined on grilled filet of beef with truffled potato purée and garden vegetables followed by chocolate hazelnut entremets.