Baubles, Bubbles and Beauties

There's more to shopping than just buying stuff. There's the pleasure of looking, touching and trying. Just because I love it, doesn't mean I have to own it. That's what I told myself as I ogled the diamonds, gems and jewels ranging in the 4, 5 and 6 digit range at Tiffany & Co. on Wednesday night. Usually, I'm a 2 to 3 digit girl. 

And there was more to see than jewels at this toast to the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art; the people watching was fabulous.

Beautiful women, Elizabeth Harker of SFMOMA with PR, social media and style consultant Khuyen Do.

I met and chatted with darling Jon who has worked at Tiffany's for over twenty years. He looked so dapper that I complimented him on the gold bee pin on his lapel. I learned it isn't just an accessory, it's a memory of his mother who was nicknamed Bee and had a collection of Tiffany bee pins that Jon had given her.

Even in the midst of the festive crowd, he had a hint of tear as he told me the story, so of course, I did too.

My photo does not do justice to the gorgeous sparkle of this Oscar de la Renta dress that Kamal Shah wears so well. And I love how her friend doesn't have a skimpy pocket square, but a full blown Pucci scarf in his pocket.

The San Francisco Tiffany's is under renovation right now and this is one of the new rooms. It's like being inside an elegant jewelry box.

Great style all around!

 Vanessa Getty with Gina Peterson, Event Chair for the SFMOMA Modern Ball this May.

Gorgeous richly embroidered and sequined coat on philanthrophist and art collector Norah Stone. 

I had a great time chatting with charming Alexandre Alesandrini in the Patek Philippe room. Our conversation went from luxury watches to classic race cars to bespoke shoes. He has George Cleverley shoes shipped from London. First I've heard of them and this needs further research. We also shared our passion for a well-shined shoe and he gave me such great info, I plan to do a post on shoe shining.

Alexandre let me try on a romantic Patek watch with a mother-of-pearl dial showing the phases of the moon. I didn't look at the price, I just enjoyed the moment with a sip of Veuve Clicquot.

It was a lovely event. But wait there's more!

Such a delicious evening of luxurious gorgeousness. Right next door to Tiffany's, Saks Fifth Avenue has their windows filled with Oscar de la Renta designs in honor of the retrospective at the de Young Museum. Look for a story on that soon!

Post Post-Modern Par-tay

On Wednesday night SFMOMA turned itself into a pumping, pulsating nightclub. At the Post Modern Party Matt and I danced to Canadian electrofunk duo Chromeo, ate delicious bites from a number of SF restaurants and food purveyors and drank cocktails until the pumpkin hour. But the best part of the Post Modern party was the people watching. Everyone was dressed UP. So fun to see the women and the men dressed in their sparkly best. Lots of short cocktail dresses, leggy legs and strappy heels. Here are a few:

This couple looked so fun and happy. When I asked if I could take their photo, he replied,
"Why, because we're the oldest people here?" I said "No, because you look great."

The VIP dining area with the theme "Picasso's Blue Period," with a model of his guitar as the centerpiece. Photo taken by my friend Shio-ying. 

The "Supper Club" area, more food, more drinks and places to relax.
(Photo taken by my friend Shio-ying.)

The food was either meats or sweets.  Tables served grass-fed beef sliders, lamb pops, sliced roast and one table actually had an electric meat slicer and served slivers of smoked pastrami. (Matt asked if I needed to even out my heels al la Elaine on Seinfeld.) And then tables of delicious chocolates and treats. But the above was the best. Beautifully packaged two-bites worth of delicious Italian gelato covered in great chocolate. "Bacetti". I highly recommend!

Matt is enjoying himself!
(Even though he complained that the art was hidden away.) 

Beautiful embroidery. 

Yo quiero mucho!

Whew! We stayed till the end and headed home after midnight. 
I'm happy after a bounty of glamour and fun on a Wednesday night.