Fashion Boston launched its third annual Best-Dressed Bostonians list last week with a rock-themed party at the Hard Rock Cafe. Dubbed “Rockin’ Fashion for Shade,” the event drew 200 guests and raised nearly $5,000 for the Shade Foundation, Shonda Schilling’s nonprofit aimed at raising funds for melanoma research.
This was the first partnership between Fashion Boston and the foundation, though Shade has worked with the Hard Rock for about four years on other events. What set this event apart from past Shade parties was the younger audience, according to foundation executive director Sue Gorham. “[The demographic] is very fashion forward and conscious,” she said.
She also noted that holding a fund-raiser at a lower price point was a change. Tickets cost $10; V.I.P. entry cost $40. “The goal of the event was to raise funds and awareness for Shade SunWise programs in a fun way and bring skin cancer issues to new groups: fashionistas and rockers,” Gorham said.
The event, and a pre-party V.I.P. reception, were held in the Hard Rock’s back room, where guests sampled food from sponsors Bricco, Haven, La Morra, and Poe’s Kitchen at the Rattlesnake and sipped Svedka cocktails from a cash bar. Near the entrance, I Soci Salon hosted a touch-up station to get primped before stepping onto the red carpet for photos in front of the Shade-branded step-and-repeat.
Inside, decor was minimal, with small votives and copies of Fashion Boston serving as centerpieces atop cocktail tables covered in cobalt blue linens. Video from the Best Dressed photo shoot played on flat-panel TVs.
Live entertainment followed, with a performance by Hard Rock’s battle of the bands finalist, Kingston 530.
