The hottest place to be last Saturday in San Andreas was the Seaside Soiree. The event, hosted to benefit Tortuga Marine Conservatory, was the best place to spot trends in spring fashion.

“Our main mission is to be a free source of education for all things marine-related in San Andreas,” said host Harlow Greene. The mission includes “making sure people are safe and responsible when visiting our ocean, beaches, and other local bodies of water.”

The Soiree is not the only social event hosted by Tortuga, although it is the most fashionable by far. “We host regular beach/dive cleanups open to the public,” said Greene. “A lot of the funds will also go back into smaller events we host throughout the year to continue to create a space where people can continue to learn about the importance of marine conservation.

Attendants danced and partied to the sweet sounds a star-studded roster of performers, including DJ Mugsy Banks. Harlow Greene, the event’s organizer, Ari’s Deli provided catering for the night. The dance floor was flooded with all shades of blue, which is appropriate for a party at the pier. Not only was there a wash of blues, from vibrant cyans to dark royals, but there were some gorgeous gowns on display. The current fashion definitely trends towards big, dramatic dresses. Some designers pushed the silhouette even further by including bows, flairs, trains, and other architectural elements. If the soiree’s fashion choices are any indication, we can expect style to trend towards big statements and away from subtle flairs.

The other trend of the night was a strong streak of pink and other floral hues. While there were some shorter hemlines and leg-revealing pieces on the dance floor, they were often paired with big statement heels or chunky jewelry pieces to make up for the shortage in skirts.

Pearl’s was packed to capacity for the Seaside Soiree, which when combined with a car raffle, raised a total of $115,000. “As a not-for-profit in the state, donations are our only source of income,” says Greene. “I’m very grateful for the support we’ve received from the community to have afforded us the ability exist for the last year and five months, and I’m looking forward to future projects we can share with our community.”