Upstairs on 7th hosts trunk show to benefit Ovarian Cancer National Alliance

Last Friday, as suited employees rushed out of their high-rise office building on 12th and F Street NW to start their weekend, a distinct group of women a la bohème streamed into Upstairs on 7th boutique, located ground-floor, to let loose while shopping for a cause.

Owner Ricki Peltzman hosted London fashion designer Ray Harris and local jewelry designer Sissy Yates in a two-day trunk show to benefit the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance. The event, plus a month-long donation drive, raised $2,000.

For his spring/summer 2011 collection, Ray Harris delved into our dreams and sorrows to reveal beauty in the search for personal meaning. How does that translate into ready-to-wear? A range of textured fabrics in a palette of vibrant colors molded into the form of a v-neck blouse, floor-length skirt, and button-less “coat.” His trademark technique – a perfected wrinkle – appeals to a tactile woman who appreciates an artistic point of view.


“I love so many of Ray's pieces that I cannot decide,” says Peltzman. “They all work so well for both dressy and casual situations just by adding a casual shoe or a different necklace, a belt, etc and they are so light weight, easy to travel with and care for. I just love the line!”

Peltzman is a Harris-convert. “I found him at a show in New York that represents like designers and I actually walked by and saw all this crinkle and kept walking. But then I saw a woman wearing one of his dresses and I ran right back there and bought the line,” she says. “I have been buying it ever since and he always is changing and doing new pieces in new materials.” His velvet crush garments sold out in the first three hours of the show.

A regular featured designer, Sissy Yates returned to the boutique to showcase her collection, which sold equally as well. However, Yates needs no introductions. The designer is a favorite among Washingtonian tastemakers for her selection of rare stones and gems fashioned into necklaces, bracelets and earrings. Yates’ counts Ms. Oprah Winfrey among her admirers with features in three recent O Magazine editions.

Andrea Glazer of the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance couldn’t resist trying on items from the designers’ collection herself. But she remained focused on her mission for the evening: to raise awareness about ovarian cancer. More than 21,000 women in the U.S. are diagnosed annually, making it the fifth leading cause of cancer-related death among women, and is the deadliest of gynecologic cancers, according to the Alliance.

To learn more about the Alliance and how you can get involved, contact Ms. Glazer at 202.331.1332.


This is article is dedicated to my Aunt Kennie - we love you!