$50,000 auction bid wins shopping spree at South Coast

October 7th, 2008, 2:00 pm · Post a Comment · posted by Candice Shih, Staff Writer

Eleven women from Rancho Santa Fe have won a shopping trip to South Coast Plaza that even Orange County residents would be envious of.

Their two-day extravaganza, which started today, resulted from a winning bid at a May auction benefiting the Rancho Santa Fe Community Center.

So what do they get for about $50,000? Here’s their agenda:

Day one starts with a visit to Gucci, then lunch at Marche Moderne, and is followed by stops at Oscar de la Renta, Harry Winston, Louis Vuitton and Escada.

They’ll pay for any items they want but will receive personal service and gift bags from the retailers.

At the end of the day, they’ll be whisked away by a limousine to dinner at Hush and then their accommodations at the Montage Resort, both in Laguna Beach.

Day two will be spent entirely at Bloomingdale’s at South Coast Plaza. A private breakfast at Charlie Palmer kicks it off, followed by a presentation by Pratesi home goods, a fall fashion trend show and a tour. Then lunch catered by Charlie Palmer, a lingerie show by Agent Provocateur, cosmetic presentations and mini facials.

The women will also have personal shoppers and private dressing rooms at Bloomingdale’s.

They’ll dine that evening at a private table at Studio at the Montage.

A gala and auction for the Rancho Santa Fe Community Center is held every year and always includes a shopping trip, said Director of Development Erin Leahey.

South Coast Plaza is the destination for that trip every other year. Last year’s winners went to San Francisco, and Miami is the tentative destination next year.

(Photo by Kevin Sullivan, The Orange County Register.)

More from the South Coast Plaza blog:

For more on South Coast Plaza, see list of links on right-hand side of this blog.

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