#1 Fashion Industry Event
The League to Save Lake Tahoe and Saks Fifth Avenue team up each summer for a lakeside presentation of the Oscar de la Renta resort collection. Guests enjoy lunch and fashion al fresco along the most picturesque runway in the state. Last year’s show drew more than 640 fashion lovers, raising $870,000. Next: August 5, 2017
#2 Fashion Industry Event
The future of fashion storms the runway each year at the professionally produced student presentation. Buyers, shop owners, press, and local personalities fill the front row at the invite-only event, which showcases more than 100 looks from some 30 apparel, accessory, and textile designers. Next: May 2018
#3 Fashion Industry Event
The whole city is invited to the annual graduation fashion show, which takes place on the back lot of the college’s campus. Newly reimagined in 2017, the program now takes a contemporary approach to customary runway shows by creating an interactive experience and using street-cast models who better represent the diverse people and places that contribute to fashion. The show itself is an hour-long presentation of professionally juried collections from 10 graduating designers. Next: May 2018
#4 Fashion Industry Event (new to the list)
The fashion show is the focal point of the Arthritis Foundation fund-raiser. Design and merchandising students from the local fashion schools volunteer each year at the event, which includes a runway presentation, luncheon, and auction at the Fairmont Hotel. Past featured designers include St. John, Karen Caldwell, and Carmen Marc Valvo, and the 2017 program highlights Tokyo Gamine. Next: October 20, 2017
#5 Fashion Industry Event (new to the list)
Northern California vintage collectors love the semi-annual bazaar—an offshoot of the world-famous Alameda Flea Market. It’s the biggest vintage fashion event in area, drawing more than 55 vintage-fashion dealers and 1,500 shoppers. The fall edition (typically held around Halloween) includes a vintage costume contest. Next: October 13-14, 2017
#6 Fashion Industry Event
Most fashion-centric fund-raisers include a presentation of looks from a designer’s latest collection. At Hotbed—the Drever Family Foundation’s glamorous event benefiting Sharon and Kelly Stone’s Planet Hope Foundation—a Bay Area designer shows an entire collection inspired by the event theme. For the last two years, Project Runway alum Jake Wall of JAKE has created original looks not only for the runway show, but also the hosts and celebrity guests. Next: June 2018
