The Country Friends’ 58th annual ‘Art of Fashion’ event in Rancho Santa Fe promises a blend of old favorites and new delights
All proceeds from the event, which is held at The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe, benefit 30 local charities, such as the Burn Institute, Rancho Santa Fe Seniors and YWCA’s Becky’s House for victims of domestic abuse.
The show under the tent on the lawn will feature the latest trends from the fall/winter collections of Barbara Bui, Canali, Donna Karan, MaxMara, Escada, Saks Fifth Avenue, Versace and Salvatore Ferragamo.
“We are delighted to have such an incredible lineup of designers taking part in this year’s show,” said event chair Anna Waite. “We look forward to a fabulous day of philanthropy and fashion.”
The event starts at 10 a.m. with boutique shopping featuring South Coast Plaza retailers, such as Escada, Jo Malone, TOD’s and Versace. The shops will remain open until 5 p.m.
The show will begin at 11:30 a.m. and Waite said they are hoping for cooler weather than last year The Inn’s Morada restaurant’s executive chef Todd Allison will serve up a gourmet luncheon after the show at 12:45 p.m.
At the 2:30 p.m. Apres Affaire, Falkner Winery will pour its wines and Manzanita Brewing will host the first-ever beer garden. There will be treats from The Lemon Twist and Allure Chocolate, as well as live entertainment from Grammy Award-winning musician Lenny “Fuzzy” Rankins and his jazz quartet.
This year’s event will honor RSF residents Jere and Joyce Oren.
“We are recognizing the Orens for their philanthropy and commitment to helping the San Diego community,” Waite said.
The Orens have generously supported organizations such as the Encinitas YMCA, the Village Presbyterian Church and R. Roger Rowe School. Joyce has also been a long-standing member of The Country Friends and both Orens volunteer in the village consignment shop.
Valet service will be available and guests can park at First Church of Christ Scientist on La Flecha or The Village Presbyterian Church on Paseo Delicias.
Waite would like to thank the sponsors for this year’s event, including DJO Global, Hoehn Jaguar and Land Rover, Integral Communities, Torrey Pines Bank, Sheraton Carlsbad Resort, Alaska Airlines, Beverly Gepfer Foundation, Joan Waitt, Wells Fargo Bank and John and Mary Rainsford Charitable Foundation.
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Donors for this year’s event include JPC Restoration, Adam Rosenberg and Company, Kiwi Audio Visual, Terri Bartz-MD Barn Master, Gene and Maxine Rosenfeld Family Foundation, Capella Hotels and Resorts, Vintage Cellars, Mitchell’s Floor Coverings, Garde Robe Luxury Storage by Margaret’s Cleaners, Del Mar Country Club, Black Mountain Ranch/Del Sur, Sean Barry-Mutual of Omaha Bank, Between the Sheets, Fuscoe Engineering, Peterson and Price Law Firm, Gunder and Millie Creager.
Members of the Art of Fashion Runway Show Committee include:
Donna Ahlstrom, Dave Baker, Tamara Banks, Ana Maria McBrayer, Betty Jo Billick, Linda Black, Maggie Bobileff, Sabrina Cadini, Marci Cavanaugh, Martha Cavanaugh, Terri Chivetta, Ariel Cowan, Deb Cross, Pam Devaney, Chris Epstein, Sharon Ferges, Rebecca Franks, Kathy Gash, Arline Genis, Michele Grust, Amber Hodges, Karen Hoehn, Alex Johnson, Betsy Jones, Erika Kao, Jo Ann Kilty, Steve Knight, Elaine Leach, Kay Liebowitz, Yvette Letourneau, Jeanne Lucia, Lauren Mandler, Gordon Mac Mitchell, Ana Maria McBrayer, Patricia Mogul, Ellen Nakamura, Andrea Naversen, Jean Newman, Suzanne Newman, Pearl Padovano, Martha Parkou, Erin Regan, Tina Rappaport, Esther Rodriguez, Stacey Rosenblatt, Cheri Salyers, Donna Schempp, Jolynn Shapiro, Machel Shull, Mia Stefanko, Heidi Timlake, Rhonda Tryon, Jean Waters, Anna Waite, and Shana Witkin.