The late Joan Rivers, doyenne of TV’s “Fashion Police” and host of the 2012 Steve Chase Humanitarian Awards, famously inquired of the wardrobe of just about anyone on a red carpet just about anywhere: “Who are you wearing?”
That’s always a good question at “The Steve Chase”
where the creative-black-tie dress code can often get … well, creative and then some.
This year, gala attendees will have plenty of opportunities to plan future wardrobe choices at the silent auction. Donated silent auction choices include clothing by Bobby G’s, Kevan Hall, Lo
yd/Ford, nene, Seaplane Shirts, Tadashi Shoji, Wil Stiles, Trina Turk, and Nick Verreos; accessories by Paul Smith; and jewelry by Brighton, Hephaestus, Stephanie Lake Designs, Rick Mauery, Christopher Michaels, Michael J Porte, Joe Vilaiwan/Presage, and Laurie Weitz.
George Martin and Jim Watterson, as well as other members of the 2016 gala committee, worked overtime to help bring items like these – and artwork, unique dining experiences, restaurants and nightlife, home décor, and much more – to the silent auction of the 22ndAnnual Steve Chase Humanitarian Awards. Preview any of the Steve Chase g
ala silent auction items here, to get a head-start on your friends: https://www.biddingforgood.com/auction/auctionhome.action?vhost=scha&aalias=2016
Although design superstar Bob Mackie has a conflict with this year’s gala – he’s attended every Steve Chase since winning the Arts and Activism Award in 2010 – the fashion industry will be well-represented on the Steve Chase red carpet. The always-lovely and fashionableDonna Mills, another Steve Chase gala regular, was giving us an Instagram hint of what she’ll be there wearing … a design by Mark Zunino Atelier. Mills and Larry Gilman will be presenting the Pioneer Arts and Activism Award for 20
16 to Jim Casey who will be wearing an Isaia tuxedo and Christian Louboutin shoes, while his husband Anthony Pisano will be in Anthony Franco. D.A.P. board chair Barbara Keller, who co-chaired the gala from 2009-2015 with Casey, will be wearing Dolce & Gabbana while husband Jerry Keller will be in Armani. Annette Bloch will dazzle in a red original by Fe Zandi, while the always-beautifulDorothy Lefkowitz will be in Escada Couture, and Angie Gerber will dress-to-impress in a navy blue KaufmanFranco gown.
Local fashion icon Trina Turk and architect husband Jonathan Skow, who recently attended D.A.P.’s “Dancing with the Desert Stars,” and watched Bianca Rae triumph as the first Desert Dancing All Star, will also be walking the Steve Chase red carpet this year. Well-known to a social media audience that goes far beyond her fame as a local news anchor and reporter, Rae will be helping D.A.P. out at the gala as a live social media reporter.
Franck Ford, half the design team of Loyd/Ford whose label can be found in exclusive stores worldwide, like Montaigne Market in Paris, Maxfield in Los Angeles, Adonis in Monte Carlo, and Barney’s around the U.S., will be attending the Steve Chase with co-chair Patrick Jordan. Former professional figure skater and relatively new full-time residen
t of Palm Springs Michael Kuluva, the artist behind Tumbler & Tipsy who makes frequent appearances on “America’s Next Top Model” will also be walking the 2016 Steve Chase gala red carpet.
Whether on the red carpet or contributing to the gala’s silent auction, Desert AIDS Project salutes all these fashionistas – as well as its sponsors, attendees, and volunteers – for supporting their clients at the 22nd Annual Steve Chase Humanitarian Awards!