Tokyo Gamine Launches Capsule Collection With Dance Performance

Photo Credit: Drew Altizer

Yuka Uehara has done it again! The creative genius has launched her latest Tokyo Gamine collection, a capsule of couture-like ready-to-wear pieces, with a thrilling event that left everyone in the San Francisco society scene speechless. On Tuesday night, Uehara invited the who’s who of San Francisco—including Joel Goodrich, Rada Katz, Emily Wheeler, and Navid Armstrong—to Dirty Habit for a special fashion presentation.

Photo Credit: Drew Altizer

The suspense was thick in the air as the stylish crowd sipped Cava and nibbled tuna tartare, wondering what was up Uehara’s sleeve. Dance has always played an important role in Tokyo Gamine’s fashion shows and this event was no different. In fact, it was more exciting because there was a surprise vocalist. As a pianist delighted the crowd with melodic tunes, ballerinas Terrin Kelly and Leigh Collins danced in billowing oversized white colored shirts adorned with Gamine’s signature ripples of fabric.

Photo Credit: Drew Altizer

A male voice was heard singing, but the singer could not be seen. As the dancers continued, two doors opened and the singer was revealed. It was none other than Devlin Shand, the handsome red-headed society photographer, dressed in a gorgeous T-back gown. Uehara’s muses, Chantelle Pianetta and Mathilde Froustey (who is a principal dancer at the San Francisco Ballet) performed a moving duet while Shand sang.

Photo Credit: Drew Altizer

It was a spectacular show that proved creativity is not dead in San Francisco. After a trio of dances and songs, Tokyo Gamine’s signature models (Uehara always hires the same girls) sashayed down the makeshift catwalk in the new collection. Looks included supple wide-legged pants, crisp white shirt dresses, and hand-painted black leather jackets. Dubbed the Superstar Collection, the pieces are now available on Tokyo Gamine’s website.

Photo Credit: Drew Altizer

The evening also marked the debut of a new wardrobe accent for staff at Dirty Habit and the Hotel Zelos. Uehara designed a silk scarf specifically for the property that can be worn a variety of different ways—as a pocket square, around the neck, or braided into the hair.

Photo Credit: Drew Altizer

Photo Credit: Drew Altizer

Photo Credit: Drew Altizer

Photo Credit: Drew Altizer

Photo Credit: Drew Altizer

Photo Credit: Drew Altizer

Photo Credit: Drew Altizer

Photo Credit: Drew Altizer

Photo Credit: Drew Altizer

Photo Credit: Drew Altizer

Photo Credit: Drew Altizer

Photo Credit: Drew Altizer

Photo Credit: Drew Altizer