Leo Ketsing Silent Auction: GLS’s Tribute to Iconic 80s & 90s Fashion

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Walking into the Leo Ketsing Gallery this past Friday night, one might have thought they’d stumbled into a trendy fashion auction from twenty years ago. Event organizers Zia Ziprin and Raquel Griffin put together a night full of retro fashion and fun all for a good cause. Designers Issey Miyake, Claude Montana, and Theirry Mugler were showcased, although plenty of other labels prominent in this time could be found throughout the racks (we spotted some Chanel!) The clothes being bid on for the silent auction were bright, fun, and fabulous!

Interestingly, approximately 85% of the collection was obtained from a Manhattan Professor who was moving back across the pond to her home country in Germany. She contacted the lovely ladies at Girls Love Shoes, Inc to see if they’d be interested in absorbing her shoe collection. However, upon seeing the rest of her fantastic closet, the girls asked if they could do something with the gorgeous collection she’d accumulated over the past 30 years. She had been planning on giving the clothes away to goodwill but instead ended up being the inspiration of this silent auction.

Portions of the proceeds went to benefit Dress For Success, a non-profit that provides career development, training, interview suits and other essentials to low-income women. Brian Leo’s gallery on Washington Street in the West Village is a distinctive space. It boasts high ceilings, split levels, and a unique atmosphere. As the cocktails provided by Pama Liqueur were flowing, local artists who frequently show at the Leo Ketsing Gallery and fashionistas alike united to have a little fun and pay homage to 80s and early 90s fashion.