With
temperatures in the low 70s and blooms on the azaleas,
Charlestonians were out and about in full force last week ? not
even a thunderstorm or two could keep folks from flitting about
town.
On Thursday, the Fourth Annual "It's In the Bag" purse
auction was held at The City Gallery at Waterfront Park. A
chic and soigné selection of 100 handcrafted bags adorned the
walls in a simple and highly effective presentation, while
hundreds of excited women populated the three-hour event, which
raised $21,000 thanks in large part to people like Pamela
Rooney, who purchased six purses with a matching donation from
Wachovia.
The single highest bid ($300) was on Scenic Chic, a colorful
clutch credited to Claire Kramer. President of the Center
for Women Laura Bright and CFW board member Ronda Dean engaged
in the evening's most heated bidding war (Laura prevailed). Bedie
Holland, who created a bag with the help of her daughter Bridget
Smoak, split time between watching bids rise on their creation
and bidding upon her favorites - she walked away with two bags at
auction's end.
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Midway
through the event, an excited ripple spread through the crowd as
guests dashed to the giant windows and craned their necks skyward
to catch a glimpse of the glimmering rainbow that stretched across
the heavens. A torrential downpour that afternoon had threatened
to dampen attendance, but a record-setting crowd showed up anyway.
Fashion ran the gamut: from Kelly Love Johnson in blue jean
chic to Debbie Barbarer in a dramatic feathered hat. Heather
Rodrick sported a striking blue necklace. Miss Black Teen
Charleston Candice Mack was there with her crown and sash, and
a smattering of girls including Amanda Bunting Comen and Leigh
Ann Szteiter looked fly in official black Center for Women
T-shirts.
Equally as colorful were the bags themselves. Among those with
fiercely guarded bid sheets were Zink by Samantha Baturin and
Lucinda Race, Like a Butterfly by Chi Wade, Shake
Your Tail Feather by Nina Davis Whorton, On The Rocks by Lisa
Thomas, and Trophy Wife by Curry Hagerty. Buzz of the
event has spread regionally, as a darling girl visiting from
Atlanta purchased Bee-u-ti-ful by Edith Lucas. |
