Diana Cavagnaro | Downtown News
Leap into Fashion
Leonard Simpson presented Leap Into Fashion at the W Hotel San Diego on May 2. Working with Simpson to introduce this inaugural event was the founder Lee Anne Davis. Kristi Pieper Rossbacher was the event chair and Laura Martella accompanied with the darling Gentleman Norman as honorary chairs. Attire for the evening was canary yellow and bronze. The guests arrived all decked out in these colors to support Leap to Success, a charity that helps women overcome the trauma of domestic violence, homelessness, and other challenges.
Andrea Naverson was the Mistress of Ceremonies and began the festivities. Fashion Forward presented two fashion shows choreographed by Leonard Simpson during the evening. The models strutted their stuff on the catwalk located on the second floor and then paraded up and down the stairs as all the attendees watched from the first floor. The Resort Collection from Paul Hernandez was featured. The models came out in solid bright colors such as tango tangerine, lemon yellow, and fashion fuchsia. Each outfit was coordinated with matching wide-brimmed hats.
Some of the other standouts were the ELEVATION ONE 2013/14 collection from Qadir Hamidi. Hamidi pays close attention to detail with exquisite handwork and beading, and all his designs were adorned with jewelry by Juelerie.
Another crowd pleaser was the bowties from Lord Wallington and the hand painted art couture by Jordan. For more information visit: leaptosuccess.org.
Fashion Movement
San Diego Mesa College presented its 32 nd annual Golden Scissors Fashion & Awards Gala at the Sheraton San Diego on May 10, 2013. This event was coordinated entirely by the Mesa students. Program Director, Professor Susan Lazear, welcomed the crowd and got the festivities started. The theme for the evening was Fashion Movement and the runway was filled with it. There were unique sections such as the Un-fabric and the Retro-Redo sections. In one segment, the students designed outfits from silk donated by Marisa Baratelli. One of the crowd’s favorites is always the children’s dresses with a lot of oohs and aahs heard coming from the audience. The millinery segment was topped off with Mesa College deans modeling the student’s hats. The finale showed off the advanced student’s designs.
President Pamela T. Luster presented the awards to the deserving students: First Place winners were: Liz Davidson in Millinery, Mariah Oelke in Weekend Wear, Jennifer Altomare in Day/Career Wear, Stephanie Castro in Club Wear, Rita Grindle in Special Occasion Wear, Eva Cadena in Evening Wear, LeVar Johnson in Children’s Dresses, Arturo Ramirez in Retro Redo, Eva Cadena in Un-Fabric, and Anna Jamtash in Collections.
Two more awards were given for Best of Show. Anna Jamtash was given Best Workmanship, and Stephanie Castro was given Most Creative. Yin Yan was awarded the Rising Star Award, for showing the most promise of becoming an award-winning designer. For more information about the Mesa College Fashion Department, call 619-388-2205.
Upcoming Events
May 30 – San Diego’s Fifth Annual “IT” Fashion Show: Featuring fashion designs from students at The Art Institute of California–San Diego on the USS Midway from 6:30 – 9:00 p.m. For tickets: theitfashionshow.com
June 1 – WIBAC (Women in Business Aiding Community): Spring Fashion Show & Luncheon at the Handlery Hotel, 950 Hotel Circle North, San Diego 10:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Contact is [email protected].
June 7 thru Aug. 25 – Wearable artists & fashion designers: 24 different pieces have been submitted, constructed around the theme of “parts” of other garments and accessories. The opening reception takes place June 15,with a Walk & Talk with the Curator on July 20. Located at Vision Art Museum in Liberty Station, 2825 Dewey Rd., Suite 100. For more info call 619-546-4872.
June 15 – National Charity League’s “Be” Fashion-infused Dinner: Presented by Macy’s Fashion Valley and hosted by the Hyatt Aventine, 3777 La Jolla Village Dr. Contact 858-459-1685.
June 20 – San Diego / Kaleidoscope: A combination of art, film, fashion, music, makeup, hair, photography and performing arts, 7:00 – 11 p.m. Block No. 16 Downtown, 344 Seventh Ave. For information call 858-751-6956.
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].
