Salvation of old garb serves an Army cause
A mannequin wearing the sort of poufy pink prom dress one might find for a few bucks at a thrift store greeted guests arriving at the New Mart on a Saturday afternoon. There was not, however, any trace of fustiness, owing to the rose petals scattered on the floor for Vintage L.A. 2004, an annual fundraiser for Salvation Army Alegria, a 45-unit community in Silver Lake that houses and cares for homeless and low-income families living with HIV/AIDS.
“Everyone knows the Salvation Army for bell-ringing and thrift stores. No one knows we do HIV and AIDS work,” said Jeffrey Lane, executive director of Alegria, Spanish for “joy,” as several hundred guests noshed on smoked salmon canapes and pondered silent-auction items. “We decided to take what people know, and use it. It’s the perfect fit.”
This “perfect fit” entailed asking designers such as Betsey Johnson, Richard Tyler and Monah Li to scour their local Salvation Army stores and rework their finds into couture pieces, to be modeled during the April 24 fashion show. For those who preferred to buy off the rack, there were several rooms of what stylist Lisa Bojarski called “found treasures” -- argyle sweater vests and crocheted caftans, parachute pants and hostess dresses -- also culled from the thrift stores and all for sale.
“What Salvation Army did he go to?” Jennifer Nicholson wondered as she looked over Estevan Ramos’ finds, which included a Calvin Klein suit and a camel-hair coat. Nicholson had gone to a Salvation Army in Santa Monica, where the pickings were slim. “People have gotten more sophisticated about vintage,” said the designer, adding that there are “three categories of donating these days: thrift stores, vintage stores and EBay.”
“Alegria is a mile from where I live,” said Minnie Driver, the event’s host, who wore a clingy aqua sheath by participating designer Maria Bianca Nero. Proximity, however, was not the paramount reason for Driver’s involvement. “HIV has dropped from the radar -- we’re concerned with Iraq and reelections. Someone said to me, ‘You’ll never get anyone to pay attention ... because it isn’t sexy.’ So I thought, ‘You want me to make HIV/AIDS sexy? Fine, we’ll do it.’ ”
As DJ Pesce spun a set of Blondie, Duran Duran and Cyndi Lauper, a dozen Elite models with cyclonic hair paraded designs based on what one finds in today’s Salvation Army stores, namely, the ‘80s: yuppie bow blouses and New Wave military tops, “Dynasty” shoulder pads and the sort of dress meant to be slithered out of at Studio 54. And yet each piece had been redesigned -- tulle roses the size of babies’ heads affixed to a bodice, a bit of fur wrapped around a stiletto. Showstoppers included Nicholson’s diaphanous gown made from a wedding dress and a tablecloth, and a short polka-dot dress with a bustle of crinoline by Johnson.
“I love that,” Driver said. “I’m going to buy it.”
Sandra Lewis smiled as she watched guests make purchases of Salvation Army costume jewelry. “My husband is HIV-positive, and none of the facilities he was in would also take a family, so me and my daughter lived in his van,” said Lewis, who now lives at Alegria with her husband and 5-year-old daughter.
“They have all the facilities he needs, and it keeps me and my daughter safe. We don’t have to worry about anyone breaking into the car while we’re sleeping,” she said. “It’s been a godsend.”
