San Francisco Chronicle - September 13, 2009
Carolyne Zinko, Chronicle Staff Writer

This year's nail-biter is the economy. The show, one of the longest-running fundraisers for HIV/AIDS research, prevention, treatment and care programs in the nation, is normally a three-day event but has been pared down to two days and combined with another Macy's cause to do double duty. Passport would seem to be too important to be canceled: It has raised more than $28 million for AIDS-related research and other good works since 1988.

This year's "Fashion + Compassion" shows, sponsored by American Express, take place Wednesday and Thursday nights at Fort Mason Center with Debbie Bocci and Layne Gray as gala night co-chairs, Monterey-area native Rachel Roy as the featured fashion designer and the Harajuku Girls - backup dancers for pop star Gwen Stefani - as performers.

Roy's new Rachel Rachel Roy line, exclusively for Macy's, is sure to draw interest from the younger crowd on the event's first night, when 2,000 students ages 13 to 18 will attend Fashion Inform: HIV Prevention 101. The educational night also includes the famous runway show. The second night features a cocktail mixer and fashion show with the latest fall looks from Roy, Hugo Boss, Calvin Klein, American Rag, Levi's, Tallia, Papi and B.tempt'd by Wacoal, and is open to the public.

Roy's designer collection of American sportswear appeals to executive and cosmopolitan women; her younger line is edgier, with a streetwise sensibility, but can be worn by anyone willing to be daring, she said in a phone interview from New York.

"The customer is the same woman as my designer collection, but at a different point in her life," Roy said. "She's quicker with the fashion, edgier. When you're younger, you have different needs - parties or a first interview, versus formal office wear and cocktail wear."

Roy, who is of mixed race and grew up near Monterey Bay, said she enjoys Northern California's openness to art and culture, and to people of all races. When she went to college on the East Coast, she experienced segregationist attitudes for the first time, she said. As a result, she wants to empower young women to be comfortable looking unique and different.

"That's a starting point in confidence for young girls," Roy said. "I like mixing odd colors and prints. I personally find a strength in that, a chicness in that. I want to help women being creative and push fashion in that."

Passport will work with Macy's Come Together campaign against hunger, and Passport beneficiaries such as Project Open Hand will serve food during cocktail hour, while Glide Memorial Church will display vegetables grown by the Children's Center in its roof garden, among other things.

Macy's Passport

Fashion + Compassion. 5 p.m. reception, 7 p.m. fashion show Sept. 17. Fort Mason Center, San Francisco. Tickets: $150-$1,000. www.blueroomevents.com/passport.

E-mail Carolyne Zinko at czinko@sfchronicle.com.

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