Atop Nob Hill at the historic Fairmont Hotel, San Francisco’s high society gathered on March 20 to celebrate L’Atelier, The Junior League of San Francisco’s 89th annual fashion show in partnership with Wilkes Bashford. With Lillian Phan as this year’s chair, the fashion show drew inspiration from the Parisian “workshop” and history of high fashion, hosting a silent auction, luncheon, cocktail reception and a black-tie gala later that evening.
The runway show, held in The Fairmont’s Grand Ballroom, featured designs from Valentino and Victoria Beckham to Missoni and Brunello Cucinelli. Broken up in to 12 different color stories such as “Yin & Yang, Black and White” and “Make You Blush”—the latter tied in nicely with the girlish decor of glimmering fuchsia table cloths and rose-hued floral arrangements—the models who donned the high-end garments were all members of the organization (and their beaus who took the runway for the “Suits Him” segment), hand chosen for the show by Wilkes Bashford himself. Patrons and their guests enjoyed the fashionable event from circular, sequin adorned tables paired with plush, white banquets while sipping chilled glasses of champagne. For the evening’s festivities, the pops of pink were subdued to accent napkins atop dramatic black table cloths of the same sparkling variety.
The JLSF Fashion Show is the longest-running fundraiser of its kind in the nation, dating back to the 1920s. The 2015 L’Atelier provided glamour, delightful fashions found in both the guests and the runway and the opportunity to bid on one-of-a-kind auction items. Some of the haute items up for bid at the day-long event included a set of six Diptyque candles, mosaic drop earrings from Alexis Bittar, custom art work from Laura Bell Papier and a variety of wines and tastings. In keeping with the charitable nature of the famed women’s organization, the proceeds of the event and silent auction will go to support La Cocina, Raphael House, SMART, Pomeroy Recreation and Rehabilitation Center and the San Francisco Child Abuse Prevention Center. With its stunningly SF location, beautiful garments, impressive guest list and above all, focus on philanthropy, L’Atelier was praised by all in attendance as the ideal excuse to take a Friday afternoon off of work.
