Macy’s was back on Friday with its 30-year-old "Passport Presents Glamorama" fashion show fund-raiser that had a right-on-trend British theme, in light of the attention on England after the Olympics, the Queen's Jubilee, and a certain royal wedding that's still top of mind around the world.
The "British Invasion: The Music Then. The Fashion Now!" theme, brought a high-energy, colorful stage spectacle headed by Macy's Mike Gansmoe to the historic Orpheum Theatre downtown. Musical performances came from headliner Robin Thicke and Karmin, who took the mic on stage alongside fall fashion from Calvin Klein, Bar III, Material Girl, Tallia Orange, Rachel Rachel Roy, Diesel, and the runway debut of Macy's limited-edition Nicole Richie for Impulse collection.
After the program wrapped amid a hail of Union Jack confetti, the crowd strolled through the warm late-summer night a few blocks to the California Market Center, where the British theme continued. Street signs bearing the names of London locales like Hyde Park lined the entryway, and staffers handed out bars from sponsor Luna in front of a Union Jack-emblazoned wall. The British flag motif repeated throughout the venue, where Along Came Mary catered treats inspired by English fare.
Since its beginning, the charity event has raised more than $30 million for H.I.V./AIDS charities, organizations, and research projects in Los Angeles and San Francisco. This year’s event once again benefited AIDS Project Los Angeles and Project Angel Food, whose work was showcased in videos that kicked off the show.
