Blue is the Color Du Jour

By the lake, by the lake, by the beautiful lake –

You and I, you and I, oh! how happy we’ll be..

A bit of lyrics changed from the original Mitch Miller and The Gang’s “By The Beautiful Sea” song, but that’s what I was humming along as the beautiful people from the Bay Area and beyond gathered among magnificent gardens at the sprawling grounds of Kern Schumacher’s 5-acre lakefront estate in Incline Village for an afternoon of elegance and luminous lifestyle by the stunning Lake Tahoe.

To be at the right place at the right time certainly worked for me as I vacationed by the beautiful Lake Tahoe. How lucky can one get when invited to join the philanthropic crowd of 600 who love fashion, sunshine, and champagne, and who share their desire to support the work of The League to Save Lake Tahoe.

This year’s event paid tribute to Diana Knowles (1917–2013), the first Fashion Show Committee in 1969 who brought high fashion to Lake Tahoe in an effort to raise the funds needed to keep Tahoe blue. Her dedication to this effort has helped to generate over $15 million to support the League’s efforts to protect and restore the splendor of the lake. Eyes on the Lake are a volunteer aquatic invasive species (AIS) monitoring program where water recreationists at Lake Tahoe are taught how to identify invasive aquatic plants and report sightings. AIS are one of the major causes of Lake Tahoe’s clarity loss.

With Keep Lake Tahoe Blue on everyone’s mind, the adoring fans were ready to toast Oscar de la Renta with Tahoe’s own Tahoe Blue Vodka and view the designer’s dazzling 2014 Resort Collection of his spectacular couture, worn and gracefully pirouetted by 19 gorgeous models. The crew of twenty dressers and Saks Fifth Avenue’s sophisticated hairdos and make-up, definitely made it an afternoon to remember and cherish.

Oscar de la Renta, famous for designing some of the most glamorous creations to ever hit the runways or the red carpet grand events, delighted the crowd by attending this year’s fashion show after an absence last year. His shows, presented by Saks Fifth Avenue, have raised millions to benefit The League.

Though he calls New York City his home, de la Renta clearly reaffirms his love and infatuation with Lake Tahoe’s beauty. “I realize it will be very difficult to look at my clothes when you are surrounded by such beauty,” he noted as he greeted the guests. And with his modest apology, “So if you please forgive the clothes,” the green light was on for the runway show to begin.

As I observed this spectacular event with awe and admiration, I realized I was in the company of three amazing legends in action: Oscar de la Renta, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Lake Tahoe. And if there ever were time for an article with less verbiage and more photos, this is the right time.

And as de la Renta’s grand finale message of “Let’s keep Tahoe Blue, one of the most magical places in the world,” I came to the conclusion that with the blue lake, blue sky, and blue painting by a very talented artist Natalie Tyaglo (whose impromptu painting of the fashion show was auctioned off to a lucky bidder), I came to conclusion that blue is my new favorite color.

For more information on League’s work visit www.keeptahoeblue.org. Natalie Tyaglo’s work can be viewed on www.nataliyatyaglo.com. All photos by Lina Broydo.

Lina Broydo immigrated from Russia, then the Soviet Union, to Israel where she was educated and got married. After working at the University in Birmingham, England she and her husband immigrated to the United States. She lives in Los Altos Hills, CA and writes about travel, art, style, entertainment, and sports. She hardly cooks or bakes, not the best of ‘‘balabostas’’ her beloved beautiful Mom, Dina, was hoping for. Therefore, she makes reservations and enjoys dining out.

By Lina Broydo