ATLANTA — The 14th annual Jeffrey Fashion Cares benefit here turned out to be the hottest ever.
Citing cost concerns, Jeffrey Kalinsky, who started Fashion Cares 14 years ago as a small in-store show, moved it from the elegant Woodruff Arts Center downtown to a tent Monday night in the parking lot of Phipps Plaza mall in the Buckhead section. Temperatures were in the 90s and a late-afternoon downpour inundated the venue, but everything was cleaned up before showtime.
The event, which drew about 650 guests, raised an estimated $400,000 for AIDS and breast cancer charities. Sponsors included Nordstrom, which donated $25,000 and Manolo Blahnik, $15,000. Gucci and Jil Sander gave $10,000. Ticket prices ranged from $150 to as much as $5,000, and the benefit included an auction of goodies such as a trip to Las Vegas to see Elton John perform that drew bids as high as $10,000.
Kalinsky wanted to stage a “dignified and restrained” show of Sixties-inspired clean, tailored dresses and suits from Oscar de la Renta, Michael Kors, Gucci and Bill Blass, among others.
For the first time, the show highlighted designs from five students at Savannah College of Art and Design and awarded a “New Talent” award to Meghann Aubrey, who showed a bubble-shaped dress on the runway.