Pizzazz shoppers can browse exclusive boutiques, help charity at same time

Stylish Pittsburghers who love to shop have never had a better excuse for indulging in luxury: this week, they can do so for charity at the ninth annual Pizzazz shopping extravaganza.

Pizzazz, a fall ritual sponsored by the Garden Club of Allegheny County, will gather 30 boutiques from across the country -- many of which are purveyors of high fashion -- at the Fox Chapel Golf Club for two and a half days of shopping that will send 15 percent of the proceeds to the club for its environmental beneficiaries. The vendors, which sell merchandise that is not available at local stores, will set up tables and include dressing rooms if they sell clothes, event officials say.

Shoppers can browse table upon table at the country club and find products sparkling with variety and, yes, pizazz: everything from purses to chic jackets and sweaters, to chocolates to toys and hand-painted pottery, says Karen Lally Meck, Pizzazz co-chairwoman and garden club member. Many patrons look forward to Pizzazz as a convenient, early, one-stop Christmas shopping sweep.

"Our feeling is whether you browse or buy, there's something to appeal to everyone on your gift list," Meck says. "That's always been our goal -- that when people come, they'll find the perfect gift, whether to give or to keep.

"They can enjoy the luxury of early shopping at some of the nation's most divine shops under one roof at the Fox Chapel Country Club," Meck says. "We hope they'll make their lists and check them twice, for gifts with style, sparkle and spice."

Atlanta-based Queen Bee, which has made predominantly upscale jackets that are either limited-edition or one of a kind since 1998, is planning on bringing its style, sparkle and spice to Pittsburgh for the first time this year via Pizzazz.

Patricia Garrett, Queen Bee's owner and designer, plans to bring jackets and vests to Pizzazz, and has a special collection of off-white linen jackets with vintage pieces of embroidery from around the world, such as tablecloth and napkin pieces from the 1920s, hand-stitched on the garment. Retail prices for jackets range from $450 to $1,500.

"I think it's great having all of these people involved," says Garrett, of Atlanta, who previously has shown her collection on her own and looks forward to comparing Pittsburgh women's tastes in jackets to preferences in other regions of the country. "The charitable aspect is great. I can't wait."

Money from Pizzazz admission and speaker fees, along with the 15 percent cut from all sales, go into a charitable pot for the Garden Club of Allegheny County, which supports the following: Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy, Student Conservation Association, Horticultural Society of Western Pennsylvania Botanic Garden and the Joan Kilner Hunt and Rachel M. Hunt Garden Club of America Summer Scholarship.

"We cannot imagine a more rewarding shopping experience," Meck says. "It sort of completes the circle of the spirit of giving."

Alease Fisher, a fashion designer from Greenwich, Conn., says the charitable aspect of Pizzazz makes the gala all the more appealing for her company, Alease Fisher Designs, which started in 1999 and uses the same factories as Oscar de la Renta.

"Designing clothes is fun, but it warms my heart more knowing that some of what we do goes back to charity," says Fisher, a Virginia native whose clothes have been available in Pittsburgh only during a trunk show or two at Saks Fifth Avenue.

Fisher is known mostly for elegant evening clothes, such as cocktail dresses, that you would wear "when you want to look your most stunning best," she says. She plans to bring a collection of jackets cut to help women look tall and thin, along with skirts, pants, dresses and blouses. Prices are reduced significantly because the clothes are not sold in retail stores, and many are samples and have been made for Pizzazz: jackets, for instance, that usually are $1,200 are $450, and $500 skirts are $200.

Pizzazz organizers intentionally chose unique boutiques that are not local rather than Pittsburgh stores or major national retailers, because exclusivity is a key factor in its success as a fund-raiser.

"There are wonderful stores everywhere, but we wanted to bring in stores with merchandise you can't find anywhere else," Meck says.

Some previous Pizzazz patrons were so enamored with the stores they bought from that they continued to make purchases by mail, or even visited the merchant out of state. This was the case with Slight Indulgence, a fine jewelry store on Hilton Head Island, S.C. Managers kept a mailing list of its Pittsburgh base, and many Pizzazz shoppers bought from their catalog and visited the store in person on vacation.

After several years of involvement with Pizzazz, Slight Indulgence is returning this year with a lineup including rings, earrings, elegant pearls and diamond bracelets. Prices range from $300 for gold earrings to several thousand for elaborate pearl collections.

"We're just always very impressed with the great taste that the people here have and their appreciation for our jewelry," says Beverly Serral, assistant to the designer. "It's a very good show for us."

Among the 30 boutiques of Pizzazz, you can find more than just new fashions. More than 10 of the exhibitors sell non-clothing gifts -- including confections, home decorations, flowers, toys and even needlepoint dog collars.

Bailey's Botanical Art of Palm Beach, Fla., for instance, will sell fancy orchids and floral arrangements crafted to be art pieces in the home. Caroline's Cakes of Annapolis, Md., will sell delectable treats including seven-layer caramel cakes, chocolate cakes and South Carolina pecans.

A vendor from Petosky, Mich., Great Turtle Toys, will bring playthings and games for children of all ages, including interactive toys, novelties, flying toys, kites and more. Jubilee Chocolates, a Philadelphian boutique that Gourmet magazine showcased as its favorite on the cover of the February 2003 issue, will bring an array of its sweet treats for Pizzazz shoppers.

Some Pizzazz vendors, such as Katherine Houston Porcelain of North Andover, Mass., will showcase handmade creations -- in this case, handsculpted, handpainted figures created by an American artist using the Imperial Chinese porcelain artists' technique.

Additional Information:

Details

Pizzazz

What : A collection of unique, exclusive shopping boutiques from around the country

When : Wednesday through Friday. Preview Party Gala from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday. Shops are open 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday and 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday.

Admission : $5 general admission Thursday and Friday

$50 to $250 for Preview Party Gala, reservations suggested.

$20 for buffet lunch 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday, and $20 for cocktails and hors d'oeuvres from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday.

$15 per session for special speaker engagements at varying times throughout each day. The speakers are Bunny Williams, an interior designer, presenting 'Classic Designs Across America'; Katherine Houston, an artist, presenting 'Porcelains, Myths and Mystiques'; Renny Reynolds, a landscape architect, presenting 'My Garden My Dream.'

Where : Fox Chapel Golf Club, 426 Fox Chapel Road, Fox Chapel

Details : (412) 963-6296 or (412) 782-3518