Halestorm photo room & blindfolded David bust

The portrait room at Ken Fulk’s masked ball “Halestorm” (which was covered for SFLuxe.com) was no ordinary photo booth, and guests certainly came “dressed to kill”, as instructed. Let me share some of the great portraits and atmospheric shots of the night.

Stephanie Oshana, Tyler Mitchell, Michael Polenske, Kimberly Miller

Nelson Bloncourt & James Clausen

Claudia Juestel & Matthew Turner

Jorge Maumer & Clara Shayevich

Carolyne Zinko & Dan Dieguez

Clarissa Nicosia, Sascha Eisner, Gabriela Sarlo, Tony Rodriguez

Mark Lopez

Jean Charles Boisset, Gina Gallo, Francoise Skurman, Andrew Skurman

Paul Warrin & Kara Warrin

Aaron Perlstein

Jeremy Kueffner

Carol Solfanelli & Michael Needham

Heather Hutchinson & Bear Sawtelle

Daryl Serrett & Philip Buscemi

Tiffany Emerson & Michael Burg

Gene Ogden & Marta Benson

Bob Wilms, Devon Elizabeth Butler, Tiffany Emerson

Sabrina Riddle, Chloe Harris Frankeny, Frankie Frankeny

Corinne Levy, Paul Ziller, L Ron Hubby

Chris Palumbo, Seth Seidel, Natalia Seidel, Jason Mitchell

Fauxnique

Ian Raz, Jennifer Raiser, Kevin Nord, Suzy Kellems Dominic

Priscilla Guimarais & Lindsey Shook

Michael Pittman, Rahul Pathare, Amberlyn Nelson, Joe Kowalski

Randy Arczynski

Anna Muravitskaya

Gib Bolton, Dorothy Parker Buckley, Pavel Sirotine

Kevin Nord & Ian Raz

Nadine Weil & Daniel Kraft

Steven Schwager & Megan Van Linda

Stephen Suzman & Andrew Hollingsworth

Mindi Steiner & Danielle Bernheisel

Troy Anicete

Kenin Herber, Wayne David Hand, Jane Richardson Mack

Joseph Tuohy & Benjamin Dhong

Tyler Moore, Geralyn Markatos, Peter Markatos

Maggie Rizer, Jenna Hunt

Marlowe hosted a private launch party to celebrate the opening of their West Coast flagship store in San Francisco.

An exclusive group of the Bay Area’s most style savvy influencers gathered at the womenswear boutique, located at 231 Grant Avenue, to enjoy cocktails and Italian fare while shopping Marlowe’s sophisticated selection of fine Itatlian cashmere and wool fashions.

Hosted by Jenna and Bryan Hunt, along with Maggie Rizer and Alex Mehran, proceeds from the evening’s sales benefited amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research.

Larry Block, Larry Lloyd, Nick Walker

Sobia Shaikh, Jenna Hunt, Susan Dunlevy

Jenny Georges, Fati Farmanfarmaian

Joy Bianchi, Claudia Ross

Sarah Pe, Charleston Pierce, Ali Grosslight

Taqui Keshishyan, Victoria Najjar

Elizabeth Miner and Friend

Patrick Perigaud, Lisa Alexander

David Mast, Shaun Saunders

Ken Fulk, Denise Hale

Stefanie Roumeliotes, Maggie Rizer

Lance Edmonds, Jorja Gaskins

Stefanie Roumeliotes, John Costouros

Bethany Pifer, Lauren Fletcher

Denise Hale, Ken Fulk and Ann Getty

When Ken Fulk throws a party you know it is bound to be great from the moment you get a “a save the date” notice, which this time came in form of an email with a black mask and a link to a teaser where Truman Capote spoke of his legendary 1966 masked ball, Duffy recited “Mercy” while “CELEBRATE AN ICON” and a photo of Denise Hale appeared.

The invitation and the reminder were no less intriguing.   The former came large and in letter press with an actual black mask for those who may realize last minute that their busy lives let them forget to get the appropriate disguise, and the latter in form of another email with the title “A NOT SO GENTLE REMINDER” had Chris Isaak crooning “Baby Did A Bad Bad Thing” while the words HALE and FULK, “BABY IS ABOUT TO DO A BAD THING…” and “DRESS TO KILL” appeared consecutively in big red letters on a black background.

Well, Ken Fulk and his creative director at large Nelson Bloncourt did the kind of bad thing that is a really good thing.

Approximately 600 of San Francisco’s creative and society crowds descended on Ken’s Soma loft in tuxedos, gowns and elaborate masks.   When it comes to design, Ken and Nelson are known for their attention to detail, wit, drama, thought-provoking juxtapositons and a bit of mischief.  Their events are no exception, and so “Halestorm” unfolded, as Ken and his partner Kurt Wootton celebrated Denise Hale’s birthday with a private dinner followed by a masked ball for the Denise Hale Fund to benefit the SPCA.

Guests seated at the pre-party dinner

Denise Hale with Senator Mark Leno and friends

Outside guests in their fineries were greeted by a slew of handsome bare-chested men in black leather harnesses and pants, harkening back to the building’s history as the home of Mr. S. Leather.

Nelson Bloncourt instructing the Guard

Performer in display window

Performers in provocative turn-of-the-century garb inside the building’s display windows added to the unique welcome.

Ricky Serbin and Jennifer Raiser

Tatiana Sorokko and Andre Spearman

Jorge Maumer and Clara Shayevich

Dorka Keehn

Priscilla Guimarais and Lindsey Shook

Among the illustrious party goers were Senator Mark Leno, California Supreme Court Justice Ron George and wife Barabara, Jennifer Siebel Newson & Gavin Newsom, Michael Tilson Thomas, Chief of Police George Gascon, Ann Getty, Vanessa Getty, Amy Tan, Joy Bianchi, Sloan and Roger Barnett, Tatiana Sorokko, Angelique and Troy Griepp, Jo Schuman Silver, Gary Friedman, Suzie Kellems Dominik, Olympian Dan Veatch, Elizabeth Touw, Betty Kay Coakley, Alyson Jackson and Brad Harrington, Nirav Tolia, Kate Harbin, Clara Shayevich, Joel Goodrich, Mark Calvano, Jorge Maumer, Marta Benson, Tyler Mitchell and Stephanie Oshana, Kimberly Miller and Michael Polenske, Holly Baxter, and Mark Bussacca.

Vanessa Getty

Alyson Jackson and Brad Harrington

Nirav Tolia and Sarah Leary

Roger Barnett

And of course many of my fellow designers came out, such as Roger Thomas, VP of Design for Wynn Design & Development, Paul Wiseman, David Oldroid who spent four and a half hours creating a stunning rhinestone skullcap for his partner Ronnie Genotti, Steven Miller, Benjamin Dhong, Stephen Shubel, Charles de Lisle, Steven Volpe, Candra Scott and her team with dog masks they made themselves to honor the SPCA, and Myra Hoefer who is recovering from a severe back injury, but who would not let a wheelchair stop her from coming to a ball.

Denise Hale and Ann Getty

Ann Getty

Daniel Kraft and Nadine Weil

Allison Speer and Susan Niven

Dan Veatch and Elizabeth Touw

Brian Orisek and Ed Hardy

Lawanna Endonino, Stacy Weiss, Holly Baxter

Vanessa Getty and Steven Volpe

Also joining the celebration were the San Francisco Decorator Showcase’s newest stars Brian Dittmar and Matthew Turner, architect Andrew Skurman and his lovely wife Francoise, landscape architects Stephen Suzman and Todd Cole who are featured in this month’s California Homes Magazine, columnists Jennifer Raiser and Carolyne Zinko, authors and editors Diane Dorrans Saeks and Zahid Sardar, California Home & Design’s editor Sarah Lynch, and antique dealers Candace Barnes, Ed Hardy, Gabriela Sarlo, and Tod Donobedian.

David Oldroyd, Ronnie Genotto, Ralph Dennis

Kenneth Wingard, Michael Gotham, Charles De Lisle

Mary Bess Willard, Joel Goodrich, Cindy Osbourne, Michelle Cheatham

Betty Kay Coakley

Leslie Sullivan, Ian Murray, Candra Scott, Carol Thosath

Jacob Sills and Shannon Bavaro

The also party was not short on libations from various local vineyards, plus the popular Halestorm cocktail, and hearty bites provided by Paula LeDuc. Neither was it lacking in entertainment.

James Clausen and Jennifer Raiser Antoinette

A DJ planted under the hosts’ bed canopy pumped dance music from all decades throughout the third floor, while life performances by actress and singer Connie Champagne, jazz vocalist Paula West and drag queen Fauxnique delighted guests on the 2nd floor. Throughout the evening also numerous performers appeared here and there including dancers in Ken’s and Kurt’s personal shower and the whole cast of “Pearls Over Shanghai” in full regalia.

Connie Champagne and Birdie Bob Watt

Michael Phillis, Jeff Valentine

At the bewitching hour the elegant guests finally unmasked and then continued to dance into the wee hours, alongside many colorful creatures of the night. We finally made our way down to the exit by 1:30am, but were delayed by a huge table filled with chocolate delights on the second floor. A few indulgences later we reached the door and were sent out into the night with a Halestorm CD, comprised of musical selections from the evening, and a collection of clever cards from the fine letter press printer Studio Mendocino.

Russell Blackwood, Jeff Valentine, Eric Wertz

A dancer performing in the host’s shower

A lively dance floor

Oh, don’t let me forget the waxed paper bag with a black mask printed on it, which contained a breakfast sandwich that put McDonalds’ Egg McMuffin to shame, of course, and kept us very happy while we were waiting for the valet to return our car.

Ken and his team did not miss a single detail!

Denise Hale and Jean Franco

Carmen Marc Valvo and Charlotte Jude

Maitri recently held its 23rd Annual Gala and Auction fundraiser “BLISS 2010″ at the prestigious Golden Gate Club located in the Presidio.

“Maitri,” pronounced “MY-tree,” is a Sanskrit word that means “compassionate friendship.” Since 1987, Maitri has been providing hospice and 24-hour care to men and women living with AIDS. The organization’s mission is to provide the type of care each person would like to receive at the end of their lives – care that is dignified, non-judgmental, unconditional. Notably, Maitri is the only AIDS-specific residential care facility in the San Francisco Bay Area.

At the height of the U.S. HIV/AIDS epidemic in the early 1990s, San Francisco had five AIDS hospices. Now, only Maitri remains and – with only 15 beds – there is a constant waiting list. BLISS 2010 helped raise essential funds for Maitri’s program of compassionate care to people living with late-stage AIDS.

The yearly event is a wonderful gathering of Maitri’s friends and supporters, and past participants included the late Allen Ginsberg, as well as Third Eye Blind frontman and Bay Area native Stephan Jenkins. This year’s Gala featured actress and comedienne Sandra Bernhard, San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, and celebrity designer Carmen Marc Valvo.

Carmen Marc Valvo (seated) with Jimmy Markee, Joel Goodrich and Thomas Farrell

Carmen Marc Valvo, John Capizzi of Neiman Marcus, Karen Tamblyn, Christian Knaust

As a special Maitri kickoff and honoring of Cameron Marc Valvo, Joel Goodrich of TRI Coldwell Banker & hosted an elegant Sunday afternoon luncheon for 60 friends and supporters at Neiman Marcus just prior to the Bliss 2010 Gala, several of whom traveled from New York to pay respect to Maitri’s ongoing legacy of care. Carmen was joined by his longtime partner of twenty years Christian Knaust and entrepreneur Jimmy Markee, among others.

Joel Goodrich, Afsaneh Akhtari, Carmen Marc Valvo

Isha Abdullah and Carmen Marc Valvo

Carmen began his professional career as ready-to-wear designer for Nina Ricci in Paris, and later spent time at Christian Dior. In 1989 he launched his own label, putting together a collection to show at the fall market in New York with only a few thousand dollars. His sportswear was a success among department stores, but his evening wear sparked interest in buyers at Saks and Neimans, two stores at which he regularly sells today.

In response to demand from celebrity and VIP clientele, Valvo launched his Couture collection in 1998. Carmen is involved with many charitable organizations, but until recently has given most of his time to promoting awareness and encouraging the discussion of colorectal cancer, as he is a survivor himself.

Mireille Schwartz and Damion Matthews

Joy Bianchi and Ricky Serbin

Arsen Ari Kalfayan, Jenna Liddell Hunt and Christopher Beaucage

Justin Fichelson, Marcy Carmack, Ye-Hui Lu, Samantha Chandler, Kevin Whittaker

Jorge Maumer, Beth Schnitzer, Maria Barrios Ehmer and SpritzPR’s Raghu Shivaram

Claudia Juestel, Victoria Yeager Sawyer, Afsaneh Akhtari

Brenda Zarate of Christian Dior

Maria Ehmer, Melodie Johnson, Jeannie Taylor

Neiman Marcus’s Ye-Hui Lu and John Capizzi with Elisabeth Laurence of TV’s Lives of Style

Joel Goodrich and Isha Abdullah

Designer Lisa Alexander and stylist Marcy Carmack

Damion Matthews and designer Rosalina Lydster

John Capizzi and Jenna Liddell Hunt

Linda Cannon and Gail Glasser

Mark Calvano, Roberta Sherman and Heide Betz

Mark Calvano, Natalia Urrutia and Damion Matthews

Joel Goodrich and ABC 7’s Audrey Mansfield

Victoria Yeager Sawyer, Jorge Maumer and Patricia Sprincin

Jimmy Markee and Eli Zepeda

Moanalani Jeffrey and Mark Rhoades

Heide Betz, Joel Goodrich and Robin Collins

Maitri would not be able to operate successfully without volunteer support. Volunteers embody the spirit of generosity and compassionate friendship, and are integrally woven into the fabric of everyday life at Maitri. For further information on the wide range of volunteer opportunities please check out the website at www.maitrisf.org or contact Jim Piechota at (415) 558-3011.

Ralph Rucci, Suzy Kellems Dominik

The highlight of the evening was a candid interview, hosted by Carolyne Zinko of The San Francisco Chronicle, with topics that ranged from Rucci’s views on the current fashion world to which book he is reading.

Doug Davis, Betty O'Shaughnessy

Guests that came out for this exclusive event included Ken Paige, Dorothy Paige, Denise Hale, Serge Sorokko, Tatiana Sorokko, Michael McDonald, Patrick McDonald (visiting form New York), Joel Goodrich, Jesse Garza, Suzy Dominik, Clara Shayevich and Sobia Shaikh.

Betty O'Shaughnessy, Diana Kissil

Leah Wade, Lauren Maita

Lauren Maita

Clara Shayevich, Ralph Rucci

Michael McDonald, David Nash, Ralph Rucci, Tatiana Sorokko, Patrick McDonald

Vicki Winston, Sobia Shaikh

Ricky Serbin, Lucy Buchanan

Lauren Maita, Leah Wade

Denise Hale, Ralph Rucci

Fred Levin, Susan McBaine, Nancy Livingston, Pat McBaine

Ruba Nadda

Patricia Clarkson

John Waters

James Schamus

Patricia Clarkson

Jeanne Tripplehorn

Serge Sorokko, Tatiana Sorokko

James Caan, Robert Duvall

John Waters, Pasha Thornton

Pasha Thornton

Walter Salles, Roman Coppola

Robert Duvall

Todd Traina, Jeanne Tripplehorn, Jackie Moss, Katie Traina, Leland Orser

Roman Coppola

Robert Mailer Anderson, Nicola Miner, Pam Baer, Larry Baer, and friends

James Caan, Robert Duvall

John Waters

James Caan, Graham Leggat

Robert Duvall

Walter Salles, Roman Coppola

OJ Shansby

The guests of honor at FSAN were recipients of three Festival awards: Walter Salles, received the Founder’s Directing Award; Robert Duvall received the Peter J. Owens Award for acting; and James Schamus received the Kanbar Award for excellence in screenwriting. Carla Emil and Rich Silverstein were chairs of this year’s Film Society Awards Night, and Penelope Wong and Timothy Kochis were the honorary chairs.

Steve Massocca, Anne Marie Massocca, Larry Hashbarger, Victoria Yeager Sawyer

As one of the premier fundraising events in San Francisco, it has raised millions of dollars for San Francisco and surrounding communities. This year marked the eighty-fourth year that the JLSF has held this special event, making it the longest-running event of its kind in the nation.

Runway

Approximately 1,500 guests attended the Lunch and Dinner Fashion Shows. Guests included community and civic leaders, corporate benefactors, individual patrons, celebrities, JLSF members and other supporters.

Candice Macario, Emily Dumitrescu

Runway

Courtney Bocci, Michelle Curtis

K.C. Waldron, Seta Arabian, Michelle Curtis

Runway

Runway

Runway

Runway

Models

Alex Skillman, Kelly Grimes

Kelly O'Reilly, Kimberly Hooker

Runway

Courtney Bocci, Nick Bocci

Runway

Junior League Sustainers

Shannon Hvidt, Maria Sullivan, Candice Macario

Runway

Jennifer Marples, Alex Skillman, Wendy Simon Armstrong, Michelle Curtis, Karen Stinton, Layne Gray, Sarah Lewis

Runway

Runway

Runway

Runway

Runway

Runway

Runway

Gail deMartini, Ron Haan

Runway

Runway

Runway

Junior League of San Francisco’s Mission Statement: The Junior League of San Francisco, Inc. is an organization of women committed to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women, and improving communities through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. Its purpose is exclusively educational and charitable.

Designer Lyn Devon in one of her designs

New York-based fashion designer Lyn Devon recently debuted her ready-to-wear collection in San Francisco at a private event co-hosted by Heidi Castelein, Kathryn Lasater and Katie Schwab at Hilary McInerney’s elegant art-filled home.

Hilary McInerney, Kathryn Lasater, Heidi Castelein, Designer Lyn Devon and Katie Schwab

“I’m so excited to finally be bringing my collection to San Francisco,” says Devon. “The women here are modern and have an effortless chic and practicality, while always looking polished and luxurious”.

The Lyn Devon collection — which has been worn this year by Katherine Heigl, Sarah Jessica Parker, Lake Bell, and other celebrities — was a big hit with the ladies who stopped by for the trunk show.

Alexandra Tyndall, Designer Lyn Devon and Hilary McInerney all in Lyn Devon

Covered in the pages of Vogue, W, Harpers Bazaar and the Financial Times, Lyn Devon is the fresh young voice of true American luxury sportswear.   After studying at Parsons, and while designing for Ralph Lauren, she began designing and producing custom clothing for a small private clientele, allowing her to bring the customer needs to the forefront of her creative process. This design philosophy has stuck with her. “I love creating investment pieces that women will wear all the time and have in their closets forever.”

Karen Jeffords in Lyn Devon dress

Upon launching her label in September 2005, Lyn was quickly named Women’s Design “Rising Star” by the Fashion Group International. Following the debut of her Fall/Winter 2008 collection, style.com called her one of “The Season’s 10 Most Promising Talents.”  Soon after she was awarded the prestigious Ecco Domani Fashion Foundation Award, and most recently, she was accepted into the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA).

Katie Schwab

Heidi Castelein and Karen Jeffords

Renee Gold and Melissa Cope

For Fall/Winter 2010, the theme is “Beatnik Ballet” starting with a “beatnik uniform of a black skintight turtleneck and slim pant as the foundation for easy dressing and carefree chic, softened with layers of dance-inspired tie-tops, bias-cut skirts, pretty prints, soft sweaters and wrap coats and vests in seasonless fabrics like cashmere jersey and hand knits.”

“There is a lot of movement…dresses that float,” says Devon of her latest Fall 2010 collection. “I’ve mixed a bit of softness and femininity in with my intrinsic sporty elements of clean lines and a bold spirited color palette.”

Renee Gold in a Lyn Devon dress

With an expansive group of loyal private clients and select specialty stores, it seems fitting that Lyn is partnering with Elizabeth Charles, the chic boutique on Fillmore Street known for finding highly coveted pieces that are not readily available in the US, where the collection will be available this Fall.

Elizabeth Charles and Christine Lowndes

Designer Lyn Devon with Karen Tamblyn

Diego with mom Karen Tamblyn

The McInerney family home, with its wide-ranging, colorful collection of art, was the perfect setting for the collection, which is perfectly suited to women like Mrs. McInerney and her friends — a woman wants an effortless way to dress colorfully, comfortably and with flair without wearing a big designer label on her chest.  The collection has the versatility of being wearable whether picking the kids up from school, or dashing off to a cocktail party at night.

Lisa Zanze

Elizabeth Thieriot in Lyn Devon

Elizabeth Thieriot tries on another Lyn Devon design

Julie Whitlock

Julie Whitlock, Karen Jeffords and Lyn Devon

Stylist Karen Tamblyn attended the event and was impressed by the collection. She remarked that Elizabeth Thieriot looked “absolutely fantastic” in the pieces she tried on. She especially liked Lyn Devon’s belted suit looks.

Elizabeth Thieriot in a belted Lyn Devon Suit

Wendy Tyndall tries on Lyn Devon jacket as Alexandra Tyndall looks on

Designer Lyn Devon styles Hilary McInerney

Elizabeth Charles and Bonnie Jeffery

Josephine Fischer and Nisreen Gardner

Elizabeth Everdell and Karen Jeffords

Photos: Moanalani Jeffrey, Exclusively for SFLuxe.com [moanalanijeffrey.com]
Further Information: Lyn Devon [lyndevon.com]

Lyn Devon Fall/Winter 2010

New York-based fashion designer Lyn Devon will be debuting her ready-to-wear collection in San Francisco this month in the home of Hilary McInerney, at a private event co-hosted with Heidi Castelein, Kathryn Lasater and Katie Schwab.

“I’m so excited to finally be bringing my collection to San Francisco,” says Devon. “The women here are modern and have an effortless chic and practicality, while always looking polished and luxurious”.

Sarah Jessica Parker in Lyn Devon

Covered in the pages of Vogue, W, Harpers Bazaar and the Financial Times, Lyn Devon is the fresh young voice of true American luxury sportswear. After studying at Parsons, and while designing for Ralph Lauren, she began designing and producing custom clothing for a small private clientele, allowing her to bring the customer needs to the forefront of her creative process. This design philosophy has stuck with her. “I love creating investment pieces that women will wear all the time and have in their closets forever.”

Lake Bell in Lyn Devon

Upon launching her label in September 2005, Lyn was quickly named Women’s Design “Rising Star” by the Fashion Group International. Following the debut of her Fall/Winter 2008 collection, style.com called her one of “The Season’s “10 Most Promising Talents”. Soon after she was awarded the prestigious Ecco Domani Fashion Foundation Award, and most recently, she was accepted into the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA).

Lyn Devon Fall/Winter 2010

For Fall/Winter 2010, the theme is “Beatnik Ballet” starting with a “beatnik uniform of a black skintight turtleneck and slim pant as the foundation for easy dressing and carefree chic, softened with layers of dance-inspired tie-tops, bias-cut skirts, pretty prints, soft sweaters and wrap coats and vests in seasonless fabrics like cashmere jersey and hand knits.

Lyn Devon Fall/Winter 2010

“There is a lot of movement…dresses that float,” says Devon of her latest Fall 2010 collection. “I’ve mixed a bit of softness and femininity in with my intrinsic sporty elements of clean lines and a bold spirited color palette.”

Lyn Devon Fall/Winter 2010

With an expansive group of loyal private clients and select specialty stores, it seems fitting that Lyn is partnering with Elizabeth Charles, the chic boutique on Fillmore Street known for finding highly coveted pieces that are not readily available in the US, where the collection will be available this Fall.

Further Information: Lynn Devon [lyndevon.com]

This month Gucci is celebrating its esteemed heritage by bringing its “Artisan Corner” presentation to San Francisco, the first stop in its American tour.

For the first time, this new unique event brings the craftsmanship of Gucci’s Florentine leather goods factory directly to its clientele. Throughout 2010, the House’s most skilled artisans are traveling around the world to select Gucci stores, where they will be stationed at custom-built workshops.

As they assemble some of Gucci’s most iconic handbags, like the stunning Bamboo bag or the New Pelham bag, customers can witness first-hand the meticulous attention to detail and superb craftsmanship that is involved in the production of every item in Gucci’s leather goods collection.

The ‘New Bamboo’ Large Top Handle Bag ($15,500 at Gucci)

The Artisan Corner tour will stay open for two days at Gucci San Francisco on Stockton Street, April 19 and 20th, 2010. After leaving San Francisco it will move to Beverly Hills, followed by Chicago, and then its final destination will be at the Gucci 5th Avenue Flagship in New York on April 29, 2010.

The Artisan Corner will debut with a special in-store event for VIP clients and will stay open to allow for public viewing on April 19th, 2010 from 11:00 am – 2:00 pm, 3:00 pm – 6:00 pm, and April 20th from 11:00 am – 5:00 pm.

Customers will be able to see craftsman as they hand-stitch handles, assemble bamboo tassels, prepare leather strips for woven stitching and hand emboss customer’s initials, offering a unique viewing of Gucci’s time honored traditions. In addition, each handbag will feature a special inside plaque embossed with the location and date of each event.

The Artisan Corner includes custom work tables, a sewing machine, a leather stand, and metal tools, as well as additional background materials which show the products’ evolution from mood board to sketches. An accompanying video display will show Gucci’s artisans at work over the years, also reflecting the fact that these skills are handed down through family generations.

Further Information: Gucci Artisan Corner [gucci.com]