By Diana Cavagnaro

Street Style

The Art Institute of California-San Diego presented Street Style at The Horton Grand Hotel on March 27. This fashion event was held to give dogs a second chance. The marketing students of the Art Institute of California-San Diego organized the production with a theme of street style fashions.

Everyone was encouraged to arrive “dressed to impress,” showing off a style with a funky edge. Designer Andre Soriano was emcee for the evening while getting the festivities started. Soriano is a celebrity fashion designer and reality star of “Styled to Rock.” The fashion show showcased designs by Limited Edition Eccoci Collection, which can be found at the Viejas Outlet in Alpine. The styles are casual chic with a European flair and moderately priced. The runway went through the audience giving them an up close look as the models strutted their stuff.

Proceeds for the evening went to Second Chance Dog Rescue, a nonprofit dedicated to rescuing dogs, though they don’t have a central shelter; they puts all the dogs in private volunteer foster homes. Their events help raise funds for the dogs and give awareness to the community. For more information visit SecondChanceDogRescue.org.

Pawzapalooza

Stephen Fishwick’s Fine Art Collection presented an event with art and pets on April 25 at his studio at The Centre in Escondido. The event had a fun fashion show with all the furry creatures decked out in their favorite outfits. The winners were Lambchop, a Bedlington Terrier, who won Best in Show, Lola won the ‘Awe’ Award for the cutest dog, and Copper, a Shichon, for the most creative. A sampling of Stephen Fishwick’s Fine Art surrounded the event demonstrating his love of animals.

Award-winning artist Nate Kapnicky of “littlebeasties” was on hand to draw your pet. The San Diego Humane Society benefitted with 50 percent of the proceeds going to them. They are a nonprofit shelter that provides adoption, veterinarian services and obedience training classes for dogs. For more information visit sdhumane.org.

C –Pardo

Carolyn Pardo Moore presented Sensual Sadness Art & Fashion show on April 25 at La Bodega Gallery. The evening combined fashion, art, and music to partner with a charity to help victims of sexual abuse. The proceeds benefit the sexual abuse prevention charity Manos Entrelazadas. As a victim herself, Pardo has shown how you can turn a negative childhood experience into a positive by creating awareness and much-needed funds.

Guests arrived to mix and mingle surrounded by Pardo’s artwork while the band Luneaux entertained the crowd. Pardo is an established artist who also showed her talent in music by singing two songs with the band. The night finished up with a fashion show featuring the debut of Pardo’s first clothing collection. G-Star RAW provided the undergarments for the models. The fashion show presented clever segments in which six models came out on the runway and posed with two models on chairs. The models then turned 180 degrees to have their backsides showing to the audience. After pausing for a minute they turned and left the runway for a unique approach to presenting a fashion show.

La Bodega Gallery is a historic building that opened as an art space in January. This was a vacant warehouse that was converted into a gallery and artist studios. David Gough Hart was in his Planet Mercury Studio/Gallery to show visitors his artwork with alchemical properties. La Bodega Gallery & Studios is located at 2196 Logan Ave. Call for hours 619-255-7036.

Upcoming Events

May 8 | Golden Scissors — a fashion and awards show at the Sheraton San Diego Hotel and Marina at 5:30 p.m. hosted by San Diego Mesa College. Tickets at sdmesagoldenscissors.eventbrite.com.

May 12 | Globes Guilders “Celebrating Couture” — a luncheon and fashion show presented by Neiman Marcus featuring the designer Naeem Khan at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront. Proceeds benefit The Old Globe. Reservations at globeguilders.org/fashionshow.

May 15 | “Couture & Cocktails” — Annual Lizz Russell Collection Fashion Show at the Westgate Hotel in the Versailles Ballroom beginning at 6:30 p.m. A portion of the proceeds to benefit The GBS/CIDP Foundation International. Reservations at westgatehotel.tix.com.

—Diana Cavagnaro is an internationally renowned couture milliner based in the Historic Gaslamp Quarter. Learn more about our hat designer, teacher and blogger at DianaCavagnaro.com