San Francisco Chronicle - October 28, 2009
Aaron Britt

Mehcad Brooks from HBO's vampire romp "True Blood" won screams of approval from the more than 2,000 attendees as he stood in a leather jacket, shirtless and stiff, in the final moments with three red rhinestones glistening from his lower lip as the lights went to black.

It was a charged ending for the show that began with a subdued introduction from the dapper Bryan Batt, who plays the debonair Salvatore Romano on AMC's "Mad Men" and offered an array of practical, wearable looks from the store's biggest and most popular labels.

There were showcases from Levi's, American Rag, Rachel Roy, Calvin Klein, Tallia Orange, but it was Hugo Boss that served up the most sophisticated segment of the evening, starting with a set of monochrome suits and dresses with austere lines. Then came the high-concept looks, including a navy blue and white men's shirt with low front pockets that seemed better suited for a tortoise and a fitted white windowpane overcoat that seemed more camp than couture.

The assortment of entertainment was more eclectic than usual, ranging from Cirque du Soleil-esque acrobatic acts and operatic interludes to slam poetry readings. But it was Gwen Stefani's Harajuku Girls who practically stole the show with their precision stomping routine and Tokyo street punk flair.

Event organizers added a twist to this year's ever-popular underwear portion of the evening by having the models walk through a curtain of rain. Their skin damp with droplets, the female models trekked down the catwalk in skivvies from Wacoal's B.Tempt'd line wearing vines and flowers fashioned like wings and other assorted headpieces made of foliage. The well-toned, glistening gentlemen, in trunks from Papi, strutted to the strains of campy disco and the delight of the audience. The models smirked, winked and generally reveled in the adulation of their waxed, toned and tanned glory, especially the one who posed with the albino python.

The event, which has raised nearly $30 million to fight HIV/AIDS since its inception, was reminder to all that fashion can be as fun as it is functional.

"I love classic lines, with a little twist," said Batt, whose attire on "Mad Men" could be described the same way. Whether "an amazing alpaca sweater I have from my father," or a more buttoned-up look, Batt advocates spicing up your look with a splash of color. "What's wrong with a little color?" he wants to know. "What did it ever do to you?"

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