Caviar & Bananas transforms itself for Project Runway event

Last Thursday, Caviar & Bananas teamed with Charleston Magazine to throw one of the most fashionable events of the summer.

The Project Runway Sixth Season Premiere Party was held to watch two Charleston Fashion Week designers compete in the Lifetime series.

The event also served as a benefit, giving a portion of proceeds to Lowcountry AIDS Services.

The daytime market and cafe transformed itself for the evening. Culinary displays were removed in favor of transparent, Louis Ghost Armchair-inspired seating and plush white couches.

The absence of product revealed a modern, concrete space, highlighted with crisp white lighting. The ambiance changed from a cozy eatery to a sophisticated urban lounge.

Svelte servers clad in black delivered cocktails to the crowd while Spaced Invaders spun their trademark mix of funky, fun music. The red carpet was rolled out along the side of the building, offering guests a private entrance separate from the day-to-day entryway.

"The great thing about tonight is that almost everything here was donated," said Chain Breaking Public Relations founder Jonah Jeter. "The seating, cable service and projection equipment, drinks and raffle prizes. ... Almost everything was given to us. We wanted to make sure that this event could give as much money as possible to Lowcountry AIDS services."

Guests to the sold-out event mingled with a veritable who's who of the local fashion world.

In attendance was Style Swap founder Jess James and 2008 Emerging Designer Amanda Deleon.

During the cocktail hour, guests sipped Firefly cocktails and snacked on hor d'oeuvres. "Even the popcorn is stylish!" quipped Spaced Invaders' Alex Rosen, in regard to the truffle oil, parmesan and chive creation.

Brave new designers flocked to a Charleston Fashion Week 2010 Emerging Designer booth.

Young creatives received first-hand information about what it takes to enter and win this year's competition.

Raffle tickets were purchased in hopes of winning some seriously impressive gifts.

The "stylish prizes" (as they were called) included gifts such as a 50-minute massage at The Charleston Place, a private makeup party by Saks and Trish McEvoy and a $200 gift certificate from Halls.

Promptly at 10 p.m., everyone settled into their seats as the large projection screen lit up.

The crowd roared with delight at the first sight of Charleston's Carol Hannah Whitfield and Gordana Gehlhausen.

Scenes from Charleston Fashion Week were splashed across the screen when detailing the designers work.

At the end of the program, the buzzing crowd left, once again excited for the local spring fashion shows.