Macy’s Passport

Macy’s Passport is a fashion show and an overall AIDS awareness/​prevention event. The pavilion is filled with health professionals, volunteers, professionals and etc.
I first came here when in sophomore year of high school. My teacher told me that this was a very exciting event to go to but there were only a limited number of seats on the bus that could take us. Luckily, I was one of the lucky and quick few that got the field trip slip signed and turned in.
The day of I hopped on the bus and was really excited to get going and see a fashion show! When we got there, we were met with wristbands and a pavilion with lots of people, food to eat, drinks to consume, free things that were given out and games to play. If you play the games you get play money and if you rack up enough play money you can redeem it for stuff at the front. In the back there are people that answer questions about sex and AIDS.
After the fun and games comes the serious stuff. The gorgeous models, the gorgeous clothing and etc. Definitely a must see! I’ve come here a total of 3 times and I’m looking forward to seeing the show again. They always go out with a bang. They’ve have had real horses on the runway to go with the equestrian look and they claimed they had Jabbawokeez on the stage as well.

This was my 2^nd year in a row volunteering for this and it’s always a fantastic show! Along with being a great show the cause and meaning behind the show is preventing HIV & AIDS.
San Francisco is such a great place to host this event with a nice venue at Fort Mason. A very high class, PERFECT show with current music, sexy models, and jaw-​dropping acts.
THIS IS A MUST SEE SHOW!

I’ve been to many Macy’s Passport shows and this one by far was the very best! The production, the entertainment, the props — I can’t wait to see the movie!

5 stars for «Fashion and Compassion». I’ve been volunteering as an usher for Macy’s Passport since 2001, and even in my 8^th year, it never gets tiring. I can’t imagine not attending this every year. And what a show. It’s an honor to do my small part in the fight against HIV/​AIDS, and kudos to Macy’s for leading the fight for the past 26 years. What started in the employee cafeteria has now grown into an amazing event. The clothes are always interesting, the models superhot, and the music is top-​notch (thanks to co-​producer Natalie Smith). And did I mention the underwear? In 2001 they featured RIPS. This year they featured 2xist with XLA technology (and a little bit of Calvin Klein). The first night in SF and the last night in LA are always reserved for teen nights, where local high school teens are bussed in for a night of HIV/​AIDS education and prevention, and a whole lot of shouting as the models strut their stuff with and without clothes. Wednesday night in SF is AMEX night (another sponsor). And the last night in SF and the first night in LA is the Gala evening, preceded by a live auction. It’s a great night (all 5 of them), and a great cause!
For the first time, the show can be seen in theaters in select cities such as Honolulu, Boston and Orlando for one night on Oct. 23. Go to
for ticket information.

Marian G. made it all possible for me and I thank her for (1) suggesting that I volunteer for this event and (2) providing me with the necessary event and contact information that made it all happen.
I’m not the type of person who follows the fashion scene much. I like loose fitting jeans and baggy t-​shirts for everyday wear and short shorts and technical tees when I’m running. That’s about all the fashion sense I have. Macy’s Passport is more than just a fashion event though; it’s an important cause. It’s about awareness for those suffering from HIV and AIDS, and that makes it a suitable project for me to support. Many people know that I am a volunteer junkie. That’s the way I was brought up. I enjoy helping people and causes in need.
So here was the deal. Volunteer for two or more 4 hour shifts in helping to put together the three shows that make up Macy’s Passport San Francisco and in return you get a free ticket to the Macy’s Passport show of your choice and you get to attend the post-​show cast and crew party on Thursday night. Both of my shifts consisted of setting up and skirting tables and chairs, moving components from point A to point B and loading and unloading equipment. It was pretty tedious work, but I met some great people along the way. Following the completion of my second shift the volunteer coordinator asked me which night I wanted to attend. I chose the Gala Night, and it was one fabulous night.
Volunteers didn’t get to attend the cocktail reception prior to the show, but I did walk over to the Herbst Pavilion to check out the public artwork being created by the students of the Academy of Art University.
The fashion show was delayed just a bit so that a live auction could take place. One of the auction packages included tickets to see Dame Edna’s new San Francisco show in November. Dame Edna made a special appearance tonight and brought the house down with a demonstration of her catwalk skills, a comedy skit involving Mayor Newsom and comedic comments aimed at Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin. Lots of money was raised for Macy’s Passport.
Once the actual fashion show got under way I was simply mesmerized by the hot models, the fashion, the dancers, the music, the lights, the colors, the sets, the special guests and all of that great energy that was generated on that stage. It was a night to remember.
The Cast and Crew After Party was a dessert lovers dream come true. Skyy Vodka provided the free-​flowing spirits and Wente Brothers brought out several of their red and white wines. There was ice cream in waffle cones from Cold Stone Creamery, delicious tiramisu from Joey & Eddie’s Italian Restaurant, four delicious gelatos from Ciao Bella, an assortment of delicious cookies from Tom’s Cookies, a decadent array of fancy cheesecake slices from The Cheesecake Factory, gourmet truffles from Shari’s Berries and KerryGold, designer cheeses from Jarlsberg Cheeses, breadsticks from Judy’s Breadsticks, assorted chocolates from See’s Candies, refreshing juices and teas from POM and Fiji water. There was a lot more than that too, but I was buzzed from all of that sugar, and I had to just call it a night. I did get a chance to meet some models at the party, and wow, not only are these ladies gorgeous, but they’re tall too. Made me feel like a dwarf! I hope to return again next year.
I’ve posted a few photos from the evening.

wow, that was amazing! anybody that didn’t go to the Macy’s Passport Fashion Show will forever be slightly be less cool than those of us that made it. :)
first, the cocktail hour was grand. they had restaurant vendors from all over handing out free tastes of all types of food. they had wine vendors and of course Skyy Vodka was handing out cocktails with various flavored and non-​flavored vodkas. the mingling areas was very large with tables to sit areas to just kind of chit-​chat with the other fashionistas… i of course felt very underdressed but that’s pretty much how i always feel, so nothing new.
once the sold-​out event started, they took the crowd into the 747 airplane hanger sized main room where just about all the seats seemed to have an excellent view. most of the designers came up with some sort of show. few of them just walked the models out — back and forth — with the clothes. Calvin Klein had the obligatory underwear show where the models came out in nothing (not even shoes) other than their underwear. things could be worse!
the DJ’s during the cocktail hour and during the show itself were awesome. the music was great, hitting the mark every time. the light show must have been a monumental effort right there. the models were stellar — not an amatuer show at all. from a coordination standpoint, i suppose you could say that the show peaked too early. i think the Alfani dance group, the kids that did a dance routine and the salsa dancers were probably the highlights and they were all more or less in the middle of the show.
even the after-​party at Apartment 24 lived up to the hype. we made a beeline for the party as soon as the show ended because we figured it would be jammed and it was. the models showed up and were all totally cool — although, yes, very tall and some of them were unhealthy type skinny. i like skinny but emaciated is not a good look. all in all, a fabulous way to spend $ 85 and a wednesday night. count me in for next year.

Fashion has never been San Francisco’s forte. Sure, you’ve got your boho, mod and hippie influences, but high fashion isn’t really on our minds quite so much as in LA and New York. Macy’s yearly Passport show is no exception. Rather than seeing Gucci and Vivian Westwood come down the runway, we get Levi’s and Ed Hardy.
Still, Macy’s Passport is one of those quintessential San Francisco events that’s not to be missed. Outrageously tall models make their way down an impossibly long runway, but the show is full of surprises. The Lovemakers performed for Tommy Hilfiger, the JabbaWockeeZ dance crew busted out with the moves and Calvin Klein had a hot underwear show.
I love that Macy’s Passport has been going on for 25 years. Since day one, the money has gone to people with HIV, and this fashion show rose to the occasion in the early 80s to help out before such fundraisers were fashionable.
For a hot minute, I thought I was in Bryant Park. *sigh*