James Frank, Claiborne Swanson Frank, Elizabeth Swanson, Clarke Swanson
“Ah! Vanitas Vanitatum! Which of us is happy in this world? Which of us has his desire or, having it, is satisfied?” The famous last lines of Thackeray’s masterpiece, “Vanity Fair” are not often answerable – but I recently spoke to a young woman who actually exuded such rare contentment. Claiborne Swanson Frank.
Elizabeth Swanson, Veronica Swanson Beard, Claiborne Swanson Frank, Alexis Traina -Lauren Santo Domingo, Claiborne Swanson Frank, Veronica Swanson Beard
“I feel like I’m living my dream,” Swanson Frank said, when we chatted at a recent party in Pacific Heights celebrating the publication of her first book. Published by Assouline, “American Beauty,” is a portfolio of photographs she has taken over the past few years. Surrounded by her family, friends and well-wishers, she was the absolute image of happiness, with an easy warmth and radiant smile that drew everyone in the room to her. And after reading her book, one isn’t surprised she’s so pleased by her accomplishment – it’s gorgeous!
Claiborne Swanson Frank, Lauren Santo Domingo, Vanessa Getty
Moda Operandi, founded by Claiborne’s dear friend in New York, Lauren Santo Domingo, was the host of the party. And in speaking to Ashley Bryan, the company’s Chief Marketing Officer, I was pleased to hear how much progress it has made since I was first introduced to them last October — it has shown a quick growth that should be capturing the nervous attention of luxury behemoths like netaporter.com and gilt.com!
Moda Operandi’s Ashley Bryan and Roopal Patel with Vogue’s Lauren Howell
Lauren Santo Domingo, incidentally, is featured in one of the books most strikingly beautiful images — she’s one of several young women in the book poised to be known among the truly outstanding women of our era, if they are not already. Women like Google’s Marissa Mayer, CNN’s Alina Cho and Erin Burnett, Barneys’ Amanda Brooks, philanthropists Vanessa Getty and Lauren Bush Lauren, Modewalk.com’s Indre Rockefeller, designer Erin Fetherston, and Claiborne’s sisters Alexis Swanson Traina and Veronica Swanson Beard.
Mariam Naficy, Allison Speer, Alison Pincus, Claudia Ceniceros
You can see a preview of “American Beauty” and buy copies at Assouline.com.
Allison Speer, Jacqueline Sacks – Mariam Naficy, Lara Deam, Alison Pincus
Indre Rockefeller, Justin Rockefeller – Jorge Maumer, Victoria Yeager
Patrick Devlin, Elizabeth Cordry, Brian Solon – Jocelyn Sandler, Brooke Read
Tags: Alexis Traina, Ali Pincus, Alina Cho, Allison Speer, Amanda Brooks, Ashley Bryan, Brian Solon, Brooke Read, Claiborne Swanson Frank, Clarke Swanson, Claudia Ceniceros, Elizabeth Cordry, Elizabeth Swanson, Erin Burnett, Erin Fetherston, Indre Rockefeller, Jacqueline Sacks, James Frank, Jocelyn Sandler, Jorge Maumer, Lara Deam, Lauren Bush Lauren, Lauren Howell, Lauren Santo Domingo, Mariam Naficy, Marissa Mayer, Patrick Devlin, Roopal Patel, Vanessa Getty, Veronica Swanson Beard, Victoria Yeager
We’re delighted to see that the Alex Chases Salon, run by the renowned hairstylist Alex Chases, has recently moved into a larger space at Rosewood Sand Hill’s Sense spa.
Designer Cedric Charlier recently visited San Francisco from Paris, to present his Spring 2013 collection at Barneys.
With Sloan and Roger Barnett, Sabrina Buell and Yves Behar, Jean-Pierre Conte, and Alison and Mark Pincus, Gucci recently hosted a private cocktail party at the San Francisco store to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the loafer, and the new 1953 collection for men and women.
Catherine Kwong’s living room, inspired by Mick Jagger and Bianca Jagger, is one of the highlights of the 2013 San Francisco Decorator Showcase, taking place at 2800 Pacific Avenue.
Saks Fifth Avenue and San Francisco Ballet Auxiliary are presenting Zac Posen as this year’s guest designer at the 32nd San Francisco Ballet Auxiliary Fashion Show, benefiting San Francisco Ballet.
Michael S. Smith was recently honored at Hedge Gallery in San Francisco at a party hosted by Alison Pincus, Vanessa Getty and Allison Speer. His design work for a Palladian Villa in Malibu is being put up for auction at Christie’s in New York. Nicolas Berggruen, Princess Tatiana Galitzine, Dede Wilsey, and Sabrina Buell were among the guests.
Deepa Pakianathan and Phil Pemberton recently hosted a reception for the San Francisco Conservatory of Music in anticipation of its upcoming Gala on April 20, 2013, which pays tribute to legendary opera baritone and Conservatory Advisory Board member Thomas Hampson.
Conservatory mezzo-soprano Catherine Cook directs and stars in a program featuring special performances by Hampson with Conservatory students, faculty and guest artists. Teresa Medearis and Barbara Walkowski co-chair the event, with catering by McCall’s Catering and Events and decor by Blueprint Studios.
Tickets for this very special occasion can be purchased at www.sfcm.edu
UCSF Partners in Care recently held its 2013 kick-off membership event at Reed & Greenough. Membership co-Chairs Schuyler Hudak and Libby Leffler hosted the launch party and kicked off the well-attended evening with brief remarks, followed by UCSF Partners in Care President Katie Budge, who spoke about the services that the auxiliary organization provides to the hospital.
UCSF Partners in Care works with UCSF hospital staff to fund programs that provide comfort and well-being to patients and their families while visiting the UCSF medical center.
Guests enjoyed spirited greyhounds nicknamed “Doctor’s Orders,” and a “Members Only” wine special while noshing on sweet treats from Kara’s Cupakes, and savory sliders and arancini from Cedar Hill Kitchen and Smokehouse.
Please visit www.ucsfpartnersincare.org for more information about this important organization.
Renowned European designer Ms. Madeline Pauw recently made an appearance at a delightful luncheon at Saks Fifth Avenue in San Francisco, where her Spring 2013 collection was presented.
The Pauw collection is designed by Madeleine Pauw, daughter of the original founders. Pauw is known for its luxurious fabrics and soft touches of femininity while integrating just a splash of masculine undertones, but always keeping the fit and style in mind for the female physique. The company has been in business for over 50 years, and originally was created in the Netherlands where it currently has 29 stores.
You can purchase pieces from Pauw at Saks Fifth Avenue at 384 Post Street, San Francisco, or online at Saks Fifth Avenue
Neiman Marcus and Vanity Fair, with writer Amy Fine Collins, recently hosted a luncheon in celebration of Vanity Fair’s 2013 International Best Dressed List. Guests included some of the West Coast’s best dressed women, such as Vanessa Getty, Pamela Joyner, and Sobia Shaikh. It also provided an opportunity to meet Alan Morell, the new general manager for Neiman Marcus’s Union Square store, following the move of our beloved John Capizzi to Bergdorf Goodman in New York.
ModeWalk recently unveiled its newest service for their clients, a first-of-its-kind, by-appointment showroom in San Francisco called Boudoir, located on the 7th Floor of 391 Sutter Street in Union Square.
Betty Lin, the chic Presidio Heights boutique, recently celebrated the launch of the new Maiyet collection with a party hosted by Alexis Traina, Alison Pincus, Nina Stanford, and Seth Miller.
HBO recently presented the premiere of Game of Thrones Season 3 with a VIP screening at the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco, attended by cast and creators, and VIP guests.
After the screening there was an on-stage discussion with Executive Producers D.B. Weiss, David Benioff and Co-Executive Producer George R.R. Martin, moderated by Kara Swisher and Walt Mossberg, Co-Executive Editor’s at All Things D.
The Mid Winter Gala for 2013 honored the exhibit, “Girl with a Pearl Earring: Dutch Paintings from the Mauritshuis” with a chic winter wonderland that raised over $400k. Marissa Mayer, Jonathan Ive, Alison Pincus, Vanessa Getty, Dick Costolo, Stephan Jenkins, Connie Nielsen, Lori Levine, Evgenia Peretz, Jeremy Stoppelman, Trevor Traina, Allison Speer and Kathryn Lasater were among the 380 who attended.
Stephanie Phair, the managing director of Outnet.com, recently visited from London to host a luncheon previewing Oscar de la Renta’s new limited edition collection designed exclusively for The Outnet.
The Italian artist, Paolo Troilo, recently debuted his first U.S. exhibit at Coup d’Etat, the most exceptional designer space in San Francisco.
Sponsored by Testa Vineyards, the event brought together San Francisco tastemakers such as Jack Calhoun, Stephen Brady, Gary Friedman, Joy Bianchi, Anna Weinberg, Ken Fulk, and Jamie Finegold, among others.
The exhibit will run at Coup d’Etat until May 2013.
Visit Coup d’Etat at 111 Rhode Island, or online at coupdetatsf.com
Larkin Street Youth Services’ eleventh annual fund-raising gala benefit, Paving the Way, hosted over nearly 400 community leaders and philanthropists at the Four Seasons Hotel San Francisco on March 8, 2013. Hosted by special guests, Mark Buell, Chair of the America’s Cup Organizing Committee and Jimmy Spithill, Skipper and Helmsman for ORACLE Team USA, the benefit event raised over $725,000 in support of Larkin Street’s programs for homeless, runaway and at-risk youth in San Francisco. Over eighty percent of all funds raised by Larkin Street go directly to supporting the organization’s programs.
