Tatiana Sorokko and Nordstrom hosted a lavish dinner for Parisian fashion designer Andrew Gn, who was in town to meet clients and show his Fall/Winter collection. Last week’s visit marked Gn’s first trip to San Francisco – which he saw through Sorokko’s eyes, making it a truly memorable experience.

Andrew Gn with Tatiana Sorokko, wearing a gown he designed especially for the occasion after her most recent visit to his atelier in Paris, especially for the occasion.

Andrew Gn with models wearing his latest collection, available at Nordstrom

From several days of antiquing and a trip through the wine country complete with a tasting at The Napa Valley Reserve, to sumptuous meals out at Martini House, Quince, Zuni Café, Balboa, and a visit to AsiaSF…there was never a dull moment.

The 18^th Century ambiance of the dinner, held at the Serge Sorokko Gallery, was a totally unexpected experience for the guests. Nordstom’s team of designers worked with Sorokko to create a decadent, rich dining room atmosphere on the gallery’s first floor. Guests entered through the elevator, heading directly to the third floor, for champagne, exquisite hors d’oeuvres and informal fashion show, which were all continued on the second floor.

Andrew and Tatiana with Pete Nordstrom

For dinner, guests made their way to the “dining room” – with the walls completely draped in burgundy and gold brocade damask fabric, an enormously long gold-leafed table set with gold flatware, candelabras, and trumpet vases filled with peonies and lilacs – everyone was in total disbelief that it was actually the same contemporary art gallery.

Andrew and Tatiana with Jacqui Getty and Katya Sorokko

Tatiana’s toast to Gn had the room’s super fashionable crowd rolling with laughter when she explained how Gn had earlier referred to her as the Denise Poiret to his Paul Poiret. “Everyone knows there’s only one “Denise” in this town,” she said, looking wryly in Hale’s direction, “so I think it’s best that you call me simply Madame Poiret!”

Jennifer Siebel, Mayor Newsom, Tatiana Sorokko

Among the fifty guests were Gn’s partner, Erick Horlin, who traveled with him from Paris, Pete Nordstrom who flew that day from Seattle, Denise Hale, Julie and Joe Alioto-Veronese, the Honorable Willie Brown and Sonia Molodetskaya, Katya Sorokko and Jason Arnoldy, Mayor Newsom and fiancée Jennifer Siebel, Karen and Frank Caufield, Dr. Brunno and Urannia Ristow, Karen Caldwell, Zem and James Joaquin, Ken Moore (now of NYC – we miss you Ken!), Amber-Marie and Christopher Bently and Kimberly Bakker.

Zem Joaquin, Amber-Marie Bently

Katya Sorokko wearing Andrew Gn

Julie and Joe Alioto-Veronese

The L.A. contingent included the glamorous Jacqui Getty, Cartier collector Larissa Sabadash, Parisian leather accessories designer Michel Perrin and his ultra chic wife Sally, C Magazine’s Jennifer Smith-Hale, and Patrick Herning.

Jennifer Smith-Hale, Karen Caufield

Sally & Michel Perrin

Larissa Sabadash

Jennifer Siebel, Jacqui Getty, Denise Hale

Karen Caufield and Urannia Ristow

• Photos: Drew Altizer [drewaltizer.com]