Fashionable Fun: San Francisco: A Night of Magic at Macy's Passport Presents Glamorama

Orpheum Theatre, site of Glamorama. Photo by Ed Jay.

The Macy's Passport Presents Glamorama 2010 fashion tour came to the Orpheum Theatre in San Francisco on September 24th, 2010, bringing an evening of "Fashion. Fantasy. Music. Magic" with all proceeds benefiting Bay Area charities. The evening held the excitement reminiscent of an awards ceremony with audiences cheering the models as they strutted down the short stage runway. The event featured collections of Tommy Hilfiger, Calvin Klein, Tracy Reese, Versace Collection, Material Girl, INC International Collection, Just Cavalli, Marc by Marc Jacobs, Felina/Jezebel and 2(x)ist, which were segmented with performances by dancers and singers Eric Hutchinson and Macy Gray.

Stage view of the opening performance. Photo by David Yu.

This event is a combination of two of Macy's iconic fashion events, Passport which has been held in San Francisco and Los Angeles in the past, and Glamorama, which has been held in Minneapolis and Chicago. Macy's brought together the creative teams from San Francisco and the Midwest to produce a hybrid event with the best elements from both shows. While the Passport events have typically included runway fashion shows, Glamorama presentations take place on a proscenium stage which has been adopted for this year's event. This setting allows a theatrical change in scenery within seconds between fashion presentations. This adds to the magic of the event.

Xbox 360 dance performance. Photo by Ed Jay.

At this year's show, the evening opened with a theatrical fantasy created by designer Chris March of Project Runway Season 4. Designer Tracy Reese made a special appearance at the end of her collection. Singer-songwriter Eric Hutchinson performed a couple songs. Dancers appeared in front of a screen that showcased video-game characters doing the same steps, promoting the Xbox 360 which hits stores in November. A high-energy dance number followed, accompanied by a presentation of the new Material Girl clothing line. Male models in 2(x)ist underwear and angel wings showcased the final collection with a female model dressed as an angel gracefully floating high above the stage. Macy Gray closed the evening with a performance as confetti showered the audience, signaling the end of the show and the beginning of the after-party festivities at the Asian Art Museum.

Macy Gray entertaining the audience. Photo by Michael Vu.

The event showcased fall-winter 2010 fashion trends that are available at Macy's. A quick synopsis of the collections presented:

Tommy Hilfiger collection. Photo by Ed Jay.

Tommy Hilfiger celebrating twenty-five years of classic, cool, American apparel, showcased a collection that retrofits its preppy heritage with conventional Ivy League looks.

Calvin Klein collection. Photo by Ed Jay.

Calvin Klein delivered classic American style, ranging from clothes for the office to a night in the city.

Tracy Reese collection. Photo by Ed Jay.

Tracy Reese showcased beautifully structured evening wear that combine modern craftsmanship with vintage flair.

Versace Collection. Photo by Ed Jay.

Versace Collection does menswear right with its sleek tailoring and range of luxurious fabrics.

Dancers performing in the Material Girl collection. Photo by Ed Jay.

Material Girl offers modern day teenagers classic-retro Madonna styles, ideally to be infused in one's wardrobe and not worn literally as presented.

INC International Collection. Photo by Ed Jay.

INC International Collection offers accessible trendy style for those with an eye for catwalk glamour and contemporary cool.

Just Cavalli collection. Photo by Ed Jay.

Just Cavalli's Strawberry Field presentation of floppy hats, embellished bell-bottoms lacy tops and sleek evening wear. This collection also featured a memorable kiss of the evening.

Marc by Marc Jacobs collection. Photo by David Yu.

Models entered and left through the Marc Jacobs embossed doorway wearing items from the Marc by Marc Jacobs collection. Classic, conservative items in a smoky grey palette highlighted with pops of vibrant colors.

Felina and Jezebel lingerie collections. Photo by David Yu.

The Felina and Jezebel lingerie collections against a backdrop of Hell is the preferred style of dress in hot places. Felina's beautiful embroideries and laces translate into elegant silhouettes and a palette of rich hues. Jezebel's collection is playful and chic with flirty detailing.

2(x)ist collection. Photo by David Yu.

The finale collection 2(x)ist "defining sexy through fit" shows that the best accessories for underwear is a six-pack and matching wings.

Finale performance by Macy Gray with confetti falling from the ceiling. Photo by David Yu.

The audience response after the show was mixed. There were those people who missed the long catwalk of the Passport runway shows and those who loved the entertainment infused fashion presentation of the Glamorama event. Overall, Macy's delivered a memorable innovative fashion experience and made an impact on the San Francisco community by raising close to a million dollars for Bay Area charities. When the curtains fell, there was no doubt that everyone experienced fashion, fantasy and music, leaving people experiencing the magic of Macy's.