The roaring 1920s took over the Citizen Hotel’s rooftop terrace last Thursday night for Sacramento’s Holiday Fashion Affair. The Gatsby-style event, organized by Sacramento Fashion Week, the California Film Foundation and the Sacramento Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, highlighted five of Sacramento’s hottest designers who will show their full collections at Sacramento Fashion Week in late February.
More of a brief fashion preview than a full-on runway show, the event felt more like a holiday party to unite the fashionable folks around town than a spectator-based exhibition.
Guests dressed to the nines in their best flapper attire circulated the room while DJ Shaun Slaughter spinned swingy holiday jams. “Our inspiration from the era of the 1920’s turned out to be a glamorous alternative to just having a Christmas party,” said the Events Coordinator for the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Maria Serquen. “It’s a great fusion of the fashion, business, and film industries for one night of celebration.”
And what celebration is complete without cupcakes — adorable miniature ones at that. Guests enjoyed them and sipped on cocktails while the anticipation built for the models to strut out in their gowns. And strut they did. Donning sky-high bouffants and deep, vampy lips, the feel of the show seemed to be ‘more is more.’ Extra large earrings, long velvet gloves, a daring print on one dress, a structured flower on the bodice of another – all contributed to the daring sensibility. The gowns, designed by Nelli Rosh, Janelle Cardenas, Maisha Bahati, Michael Kouri, and Niv Elliott, provided the bold statement needed to make an impression with just one piece. “It’s a teaser,” said Will Rodriguez, the show’s creative director and co-producer. “We hand-selected five designs that were intriguing but wouldn’t show too much.”
When asked if there were certain Project Runway-type criteria he looks for when enlisting designers for the show, Rodriguez listed sensibly, “originality, marketability, and website construction.” The fashion professional, dressed in a stylish white suit, is on a mission to elevate Sacramento’s fashion week to one that rivals other cities. “We made it a point that everything be well-branded and presented. We shoot everything you see from the posters to the flyers. It’s all about presentation.” Rodriguez, staying true to his emphasis on presentation, explains the Fashion Week team likes to presents themselves well all year long when it comes to personal dress.
The planning for Fashion Week starts in June, but that’s not the only thing the team behind the show has on their plates. This year they created a monthly event called Fashion Affair which, according to Rodriguez, is “a way to unite the fashion industry and encourage people to work together.” Landing on the second Thursday of the month at Scandal Bar, it’s an excuse to dress up, connect with fellow fashion-forward peeps, and stimulate Sacramento fashion.
Phil Kemp’s photo journal for the event can be found here. If you missed the Holiday Fashion Affair, fret not, because Sacramento Fashion Week proper, spanning seven days, offering six parties, and three shows, struts into town February 24 – March 2. See you there!
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