Diana Cavagnaro | Downtown News
Cool As Ever
The largest fashion show of the year is always Opening Day at the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club. The season started on July 17 with a crowd of over 40,000. Everyone arrived decked out in their best fashions, coming for the hats and the horses. It has been a tradition to wear hats on opening day s the track began in 1937. Bing Crosby brought his friends down, such as Dorothy Lamour and Ava Gardner, who in turn brought Hollywood glamour to the track.
Another tradition is now the annual One and Only Truly Fabulous Hats Contest. Contestants come not only from San Diego but also from all over the country to enter this fun contest. This year’s first prize for the Funniest/Most Outrageous category went to Katy Helen Stockinger. The Best Flowers category was won by Amber Thorne of Costa Mesa, the Most Glamorous went to Kayla Carnevale, Best Fascinator was Kristi Courtois, and the Best Racing Theme and Grand Prize winner went to Chris Banner. Banner received $300 and the top prize of two American Airlines travel vouchers good for travel anywhere in the continental United States.
As a hat designer, I have made beautiful hats for women to wear to the races for 20 years. This year Alexis Del Chiaro – who is Good Morning San Diego’s news anchor from KUSI – wore a different one of my hats every hour and had the viewer’s vote on which one was their favorite. The most popular was a luscious pink fascinator.
The Del Mar Thoroughbred Club’s season will run this year from Wednesday July 17 through Wednesday, Sept. 4. The track will be dark on Mondays (except Labor Day) and Tuesdays , leaving 37 racing days. For more information call: 858-755-1141 or visit dmtc.com.
Alexander Daas
Alexander Daas opened a new eyewear showroom Downtown. Daas is the new kid on the block in the Gaslamp Quarter featuring high-end optics and sunglasses. These eyeglasses are handmade in Japan with quality acetate for both men and women.
This upscale boutique opened in June and specializes in glasses for the petite or hard-to-fit face. Another specialty for clients is decorative hinges that are the signature of the collection. Two other unique items are a fold up eyeglass case which will lay flat and a hexagon cut-out at the end of each tip. Each client receives a chain and pendant to put their glasses on when they aren’t wearing them. This is a great way to keep them from falling off or being lost.
Another option is to attach the chain to the hexagonal holes and wear around your neck as an eyewear retainer.
Since releasing his first line in 2011, Alexander Daas has had many celebrities wearing these stylish eyeglasses. Some of his clients include Jenny McCarthy who is the new co-host for the View, Forest Whitaker, star of the new movie Enemy Way, Mark-Paul Gosselaar and Malcolm McCowell from the hit series, Franklin & Bash.
The store mascot is a cute pup named Czar Pupticion and a visit here is a must for all you fashionistas. Stop by at 431 J St. and say hi to Czar. Hours are Tues thru Fri, 11 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. and Sat & Sun 12:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Upcoming Events
Aug 11 – Health & Fitness for Models: Starting at 11 a.m. at the W Hotel at 421 West B St. and includes an advisory panel workshop with Chelsea Casey of Three Sisters Wellness. This panel is part of Fashion Week San Diego. RSVP to [email protected] to attend.
Aug 17 – Haute with Heart Fashion Show: Sophisticated Rhythms from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. at Hilton San Diego Bayfront. This event benefits programs at St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center. For more info call 619-442-5129.
Aug 25 – Go Red for Women Strut Fashion Show: This raises awareness of heart disease in women and will start at 12:30 p.m. at the San Diego Polo Club. For more info, call 858-410-3834.
Aug 29 – Blogging 101 Seminar: Presented by Fashion Group International at the San Diego History Center from 6:30 – 8: 30 p.m. RSVP: facebook.com/events/595464573827880/
Aug 30 – Kenneth Barlis Fashion Show: Featuring the 2014 spring/summer collection of Kenneth Barlis and several international designers, this fashion show will be presented at the Port Pavilion on Broadway Pier at 7:00 p.m. Tickets: kennethbarlisfashionshow.eventbrite.com/
Diana Cavagnaro is a nationally recognized hat designer and milliner, and has been in the fashion business for 30 years. The last 20 of those years she’s operated her business from Downtown San Diego’s historic Gaslamp Quarter, while moonlighting in the Fashion department at San Diego Mesa College. She can be reached at [email protected].
