Charitable

Models showcased Joshua Kane's Dandy Rebels collection. Thom McCorkle, Julie Smith

ATLANTA FASHION GIVES

Joanne Hayes welcomes guests while WSB's Karyn Greer looks on.

STORY: H.M. Cauley PHOTOS: Monica Farber, Hello Fancy Media

Simply Buckhead hosted its inaugural Atlanta Fashion Gives event in April at Flourish by Legendary Events. The gala evening, emceed by Atlanta’s WSB-TV news anchor Karyn Greer, featured the U.S. debut of British bespoke designer Joshua Kane’s The Dandy Rebels collection. Forty-five models showcased Kane’s unique take on suits, waistcoats, jackets, ties, dress shirts, dinner jackets and tailcoats. The independent fashion house is noted for its quality and detail from fabric and linings to buttons and trims.

“Unlike a traditional fashion show, this was a couture level event,” says Simply Buckhead Publisher, CEO and Founder Joanne Hayes. “The outfits were so intricate that they could only put on one outfit per model.”

The immersive runway show, set against the high-tech visuals of a video game, was produced by Fathom7 Digital Studios; 26TH Letter Productions, noted for the “Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition”; and Catwalk Productions, led by Randi Layne. Guests included Josh Murray of “The Bachelor,” and actors Rob Riley and Eliza Bennett of CW’s “Dynasty.” Actors Griffin Matthews of “The Flight Attendant,” Harrison Osterfield of “The Irregulars” and Alex Vlahos of “Outlander” made runway appearances.

Along with the exquisite display of clothes, guests at sponsor tables dined on short ribs and citrus sea bass, and bid on a silent auction that included a Jimi Hendrix painting by artist Raymond Pickens, a basketball autographed by the Hawks’ Trae Young and a trip to the King and Prince Resort on St. Simons Island. Auction proceeds, ticket sales and sponsorships raised almost $100,000 for CURE Childhood Cancer.

“Nobody’s ever put on a couture fashion show in Atlanta with a European designer that was literally set inside a video game,” says Hayes. “It was groundbreaking for us and the start of something really special.”

Richie Arpino, Jenni Lubo, Blaiss Nowak, Lex Lauletta Anderson Smith, Jenna Jeffries, Dan Phipps, Sonny Hayes

Josh Murray, Lauren Murray, Jeff Michaud

Eric Wilson, Mali Wilson Brenda Wood, Joseph Frasier

Sonny Hayes, Joanne Hayes

Neal Maziar, Saba Long, Keith Pepper, Tuere Butler, Craig Bass, Meredith Bass, Hilary Nelson, Stuart Nelson, Laura Simmons, Ben Unger Janine Morris-Meggett, Tamara Hamm, Tanya Sam, Trenika FieldsSmith, Uyo Okebie-Eichelberger, Jennifer Hrabowski

MOURNING GLORY GALA

Onyeka Okongwu, Lisa Aman, Kate Atwood

Craig Clark (second from right) with his wife, Kathy, and friends.

STORY: H.M. Cauley

The Mourning Glory Gala, an annual fundraiser for Kate’s Club, drew more than 300 corporate, professional and community leaders to the Loews Atlanta Hotel in May in support of the nonprofit’s mission to empower children dealing with the death of a parent, sibling or caregiver. Guests enjoyed a cocktail reception, dinner, live entertainment by Atlanta Beat Band and dancing. Bids on live and silent auction items of lunch with Braves legend John Smoltz and trips to Tuscany and Antigua contributed to the event raising more than $300,000.

This year’s event honored Atlanta Hawks forward Onyeka Okongwu, who lost his older brother in a skateboarding accident, so his partnership with Kate’s Club is close to his heart. Okongwu has also worked to build a legacy to his sibling and has focused his energies off the court to serving young people and honoring nurses.

Jordan Campbell

Erik Vincent, Danny Vincent, Amanda Kay Seals, Zac Toy

Kate's Club member family April and Jaiden Caldwell (third and fourth from left) with family and friends at the event.