Women for women at DVF

Nadine Kam photos
DVF Honolulu boutique manager Marilee Mattson welcomed Dr. Nancie Caraway and Gov. Neil Abercrombie to the store on March 8 for a presentation marking International Women's Day.

Hawaii's First Lady, Dr. Nancie Caraway hosted a cocktail event at the DVF boutique at Ala Moana Center March 8 to benefit The Women's Fund, a nonprofit that supports grassroots programs that empower women and girls in Hawaii.

The group believes that communities prosper when women thrive, and address factors that stand the way of women’s success, such as violence, adolescent pregnancies, low self-esteem, physical and mental health problems, substance abuse, prostitution, incarceration, immigrant status, inadequate childcare, sports inequities, reproductive rights, poverty, disabilities and more.

Ten percent of proceeds from sales that evening will support the group, while another 10 percent of sales from that day through this evening will support the Vital Voices organization.

DVF has long been a supporter of women's rights and empowerment, and her annual "Proud to Be Woman" campaign includes an array of "Proud to be Woman" logo items, from totes to a music play button, sales of which go to to women's programs.

Of course Caraway had her husband in tow, who read a proclamation in support of these efforts, timing his finale to the end of the video of DVF's New York Fashion Week show, saying, "Diane will be showing up soon." It took a while, but when she appeared on screen, all applauded, so it felt as if she were really in the house again!

Diane von Furstenberg's annual "Proud to be Woman" campaign reflects her long-term commitment to women’s empowerment, with fundraising events that benefit women's shelters and other women's organizations. This year's beneficiaries are Vital Voices and The Women's Fund.

Designer Sophia with Hifi's Melissa May White.

Soon-to-be-wed Sherri Vallejo, left, Lizette Chang-Zahn and I all decided to try on DVF's Fleurette chiffon dress with batwing sleeves, available every season in new colors. Yellow's coming, but Sherri and I decided to get the red, while Lizette holds out for a dramatic maxi.

Here I am again, back in the much more muted clothes I showed up in, with Chanel Wong, in gold sequin walking short she found at DVF's Las Vegas boutique. I love sequins but made the mistake of buying a couple items online, where you can't really determine the size, spacing, density and light-reflecting properties of the sequins. Too many variables to leave up to chance. Never again.

There were some men there, besides the governor. Finding space in a corner, away from the shopping frenzy, from left, are Joe Bock, James Owen, John Vavricka and Marilee's husband Alan Mattson.

Helen Nielson, board president of the Hawaii Islands Land Trust, right, with City Council member Tulsi Gabbard, who was there to introduce Abigail Nickell, executive Director at Women's Fund of Hawaii, beneficiary of 10 percent of the evening's sales proceeds.