Monday, July 27, 2009 at 9:29AM By: Cynthia Anderson Live from the San Francisco Fashion Awards
Models show off swimwear by Alexandria Von Brommsen/Photo S. WhittleInitial confusion, disorganization, and delays plagued the start of the San Francisco Fashion Awards on Sunday before the ceremony and runway show could get underway, but despite the setbacks fashion fans and local design enthusiasts filled the Phoenix Hotel to view the collections, sip cocktails, and celebrate San Francisco style.
model from Andrew Wedge's runway presentation/photo S. WhittleHigh points in the show included Andrew Wedge's collection and it's Kabuki-inspired styling , which gave the 1980's heavy event a fresh and modern feel through his playful shaping of skirts and draping blouses.
Andrew Wedge takes a lap around the pool with his models/photo S. Whittle
Unfortunately after an hour and a half delay, with no explanation, event producers moved the awards ceremony (with its excessively long list of categories) to be interwoven through the runway show, and slowed the pace of the day down. This on the back of multiple last minute changes, scheduling shifts, and a complete lack of program information left many in the audience grumbling. One attendee,who asked to remain anonymous told the Style Wylde team the show was "Complete amateur hour, I've seen better productions at FIDM."
However frustrating for the audience, the slow pace of the show did allow attendees the opportunity to shop the trunk show area featuring pieces from Miss Velvet Cream, Fifty Seven Thirty Three and many other local designers which put a positive spin on a somewhat disappointing event.
Reader Comments (2)
I totally agree. A few of us went to support our friend who was a model and we felt bad for her and the designers......we even witnessed the walk-throughs. such a shambles and such a shame for SF fashion. SF can do better and deserves better.
I read about the awards on another blog and my friend and I decided to check it out. What a mistake, it was boring, the venue was dirty and gross, and they held the entire audience in a weird bar with no seating for 2 hours while the models practiced walking around the pool. At one point two older women with suitcases walked through the middle of the "runway show" dragging suitcases and looking for their room. It was ridick.