The opening display captured some of Diana Vreeland’s accomplishments. I and others used it as the backdrop for photos.
I don’t often get into conversations about fundraising auction decor because there are other, more critical elements to discuss that are tied directly to raising money. Yet for many committee members, decor is the “fun part” of the auction; it’s what keeps them engaged.
For that reason alone, I think it’s worthy of discussion here.
And specifically, I want to give a few ideas on how — if you have an honoree or award winner — you can honor their presence or their memory by ensuring the decor showcases their personality.
Volunteers in Medicine, or VIM, is a primary care medical clinic for low-income, underserved adults who can’t afford health care coverage. The first VIM started in South Carolina and now the VIM model can be found in 26 states. All VIM’s are loosely affiliated through the VIM Alliance.
I was the fundraising auctioneer at a recent event benefiting a local VIM clinic.
Over the years, the all-volunteer committee has created a strong brand around this luncheon auction. They use the tagline “Shopping is good medicine,” and guests have come to expect fun merchandise in the silent auction.
A privacy screen was decorated like a bulletin board, showing images of Diana Vreeland’s perfume, magazines, and other products.
Though this event didn’t honor a person, the committee did honor a muse through their decorations.
The Committee Chair selected Diana Vreeland to serve as the fashion icon to guide this year’s branding and auction decor.
(Last year’s inspiration was Coco Chanel.)
For 20 years, Diana Vreeland wrote a highly regarded column for Harper’s Bazaar called “Why Don’t You.”
During most of the 1960s (1963 to 1971), she served as editor-in-chief of Vogue magazine.
She finished her career as a special consultant at the Costume Institute of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Diana’s favorite color was red — all shades. She had great enthusiasm. She helped popularize blue jeans and the bikini. She told great stories (exaggerating at times).
Since her death in 1989, she’s had a documentary made about her life (“The Eye Has to Travel”), released in 2011. And just last year (2018), new perfumes were introduced to the market bearing her name.
Vreeland’s favorite color was red.
The VIM committee used Vreeland’s legacy as a backdrop to designing the benefit auction.
Similarly you can use these ideas to pay tribute to your honoree.
Below are some ideas.
Look to the photos for how they played out onsite.
========================
Opening decor statement pieces
The first decor element guests saw at the luncheon was a tribute table showing photos and memorabilia tied to Vreeland.
A fizzy red drink welcomed guests.
A secondary piece — a privacy screen — was decorated as Vreeland herself might organize her own scrapbook.
Both served as photo backdrops for guests.
How to use this at your event
Collect photos and props representative of your honoree.
She likes tennis? A racket should be part of the table.
He has a family? Photos should figure into the display.
========================
Favorite color
Vreeland’s favorite color was prominent throughout the event. “Vreeland red” is a deeper red, more blue than yellow. It was found on the tablecloths, the program, the signature cocktail, and the auction bid cards.
Quotes attributed to Diana Vreeland were throughout the silent auction.
How to use this at your event
Most people have a favorite color. Ask your honoree what his is and use it as part of the decor.
========================
Sayings
As a columnist and editor, Vreeland had a way with words.
When she spoke, everything seemed punctuated with an exclamation point. It wasn’t just good, it was SPECTACULAR!
Each guest received a pad of paper inscribed with one of Vreeland’s sayings, “Simply divine!”
For instance …
- “Devastatingly chic!”
- “Outrageously vibrant!”
- “Smashingly brilliant!”
- “She was just puttin’ on the Ritz!”
- “Unshined shoes are the end of civilization!”
At the luncheon, many of Vreeland’s sayings were displayed on cards scattered throughout the silent auction displays.
In addition, each guest received a pad of paper with a pen as a gift. The pad was inscribed with one of Vreeland’s comments, “Simply divine!”
How to use this at your event
Does your honoree have a catch phrase?
Is she known for using “big words” or colloquialisms?
Does he have an accent or an unusual way with regional words (pop versus soda)?
Use those!
Or like VIM, incorporate a phrase into a simple guest gift, like the pads of paper given to guests at the luncheon.
This basket held all things Diana Vreeland.
========================
A few of her favorite things assembled into a basket
A huge basket of Vreeland merchandise was used as a prize at the luncheon auction.
Given her status and ongoing legacy, the basket held branded merchandise from her company. The documentary of her life, perfume, books, an art print, chocolates, and more.
How to use this at your event
Your honoree might not be a known quantity outside your community like Vreeland, but everybody has their favorites.
If your honoree is a foodie, a big food basket would suffice.
Is she into technology? Maybe it’s filled with cool tech gadgets.
Ask your honoree what they love and build the basket accordingly. It could be sold in the silent auction, live auction, or as a prize for a raffle or drawing.
========================
Touches in the decor can make the honoree feel special, and it gives the decor committee a common focus that is more meaningful.
Leave a Reply