Stephenie’s Boutique steps onto the runway for charity – Times Herald Online

Stephanie Hammond has spent more than a decade hosting fashion shows through her local business Stephanie’s Boutique. This weekend, she hopes to use her love of fashion to give back to the community.

“Rhythm and Runways,” at Vino Godfather Winery on Aug.17, is a partnership with Frazier Trager Presents. There will be a performance by pop/soul group Pride and Joy, artisan vendors, food and wine from the vineyard.

The main event, however, is the fashion, and Hammond is bringing in five to six different designers that cover a wide range of fashions including men’s sportswear, casual wear, and women’s everyday wear.

“We’ll have different designers come out and showcase what they have,” said Hammond. “Whether they have done the designs themselves or they have a brick-and-mortar.”

One of the designers standing out to Hammond is Sharlene Denise, who designs and creates clothing entirely out of crochet.

“Her stuff is fantastic,” says Hammond of Denise, who does all of her work by hand and can finish a garment in just a few hours.

In addition to the outside designers, Hammond is showing clothing and jewelry from her store. With fall just around the corner, the show will feature several new coats Hammond just got into her store from Canada. Although her style is self-described as “over the top,” often featuring large bling and bright colors, Hammond says she keeps the every day consumer in mind.

“Rhythm and Runways” was born out of Hammond’s dual desires to host a fashion show outdoors and to donate to a local organization in need, she says. With those goals in mind, she reached out to Jeff Trager with Frazier Trager Presents.

This is the first fashion show that Frazier and Trager have presented, and Trager says they are more than up to the challenge. After conversations about where to donate the proceeds from the fashion show, together, they came up with Vallejo City Unified School District.

“God knows they need it,” he says.

Hammond has been in conversation with the superintendent to determine the best use of the funds, she says. “I always like to give back and support. I’m for the underdog, always.” Hammond hopes to host more fundraising shows in the future, she says.

In past fashion shows Hammond has hosted, she usually sells around 120 tickets. However, she often sees an increase in demand at the last minute when space is no longer available. By having the show outdoors at Vino Godfather, they are able to accommodate a larger audience, she says.

A week and a half out from the show, they had sold around 100 tickets.

Frazier Trager Presents was also responsible for bringing in Pride and Joy for the event, a group that has been performing in the Bay Area for decades.

“They’re one of the top bands out there and they’ve consistently been that way for 40 years,” says Trager.

Although Frazier Trager Presents has helped in the organizing of the event, Trager says it’s Hammond’s brainchild.

“I’m just there to help her and to guide her and she’s been great to work with,” he says. “She’s got really good entertainment and the most important thing is people are going to get their money’s worth.”

Learn more and purchase tickets for “Rhythm and Runways” at ftpresents.com. Tickets are $75 in advance and $85 at the door.

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