Valextra is my new favorite handbag line. They are beautifully crafted, logo free, lightweight and very chic. I had the pleasure of lunching with Valextra C.E.O. Massimo Suppancig the other day at the Mansion on Turtle Creek. Brooke Hortenstine from PaperCity invited some local bag snobs to meet Massimo and have a look at his incredible line of bags, gloves and luggage - available only at Barney's here in Dallas. Some of the lucky women in attendance - I say lucky because everyone received a white travel wallet - were Joyce Goss, Jacquelin Sewell, Deborah Scott, Lynn McBee, Myrna Schlegel, Kim Whitman and Amy Turner Carreker.
Donatella Versace was recently awarded the Rodeo Drive Walk of Style Award, so Versace decided to celebrate by throwing parties around the country. Galleria Versace store manager, Rocky Ommen, held the fête at the Apartment on Oak Lawn. Stacie Henderson, Marketing & Events Director for Versace, flew in from New York with her team to set up the cocktail party and fashion show. It was a dark and stormy night, but even so, over 200 people showed up to drink champagne and see the fabulous spring collection. Stylish types like Gavin Smith, Jay Billingsley, Doss Alexander, Erin Matthews, Tayler Carson, Connie Harkins, Douglas Newby, Kim Matthews and Ricardo Fernandez braved the storms. The best part was that Versace donated 10% of sales from the Galleria store to The Fashionistas for one week before and one week after the event!
Lance Avery Morgan started Brilliant Magazine a couple years ago and he is, in a word, brilliant. Lance recently partnered with Women That Soar, a company that helps women grow both professionally and personally. Together they are planning an awards gala called Brilliantly You that will be held at the Ritz on September 14. Award recipients are: Moi, Texas' First Lady Anita Perry, Ebby Halliday, Kim Askew, Carolyn Farab, Nancy Lieberman, Ann Williams, Gloria Compos, Myrna Schlegel, Kim Whitman, Krystal Schlegel, Kari Schlegel, and Rene Syler. I flew down to Austin to have lunch with Lance, Anita, Gina Grant, founder of Women That Soar, Suzanne Bock, Brilliantly You event chair, and 50 or so other supporters of the gala.
Lance Avery Morgan & Texas First Lady Anita Perry
When we got to our table, I was all excited because a nice piece of cheesecake was at everyone's place. When Anita saw her piece she said, "Oh, I can't eat this cheesecake!” so I said, "I'll eat it", and she gave me her piece. I nibbled at the salad and chicken fried chicken, looking forward to my dessert. Anita is a former health care professional and is very passionate about women's health issues. During her talk she admonished women to take better care of themselves - exercise, don't forget to have your mammograms, eat healthier and don't have that second piece of cake! I know she wasn't really talking about me.
Kevin Charles, Edyta Sliwinska and Cheryl Burke
We love Kevin Charles because he is the best hair stylist in Dallas. We also love him because he coifs the best heads in Hollywood, which makes sitting in his chair pretty interesting! Recently Kevin helped his buddies Tommy Hilfiger and Nancy Davis, co-chairs for the 14th Annual Race to Erase MS which was called "Dance to Erase MS", by donating his time and creative touch. The event featured an exclusive celebrity fashion show featuring one-of-a-kind designs by Tommy Hilfiger. Professional dancers from Dancing with the Stars kicked the show into high gear. Some of Tommy's celebrity friends, Nicki Hilton, Nicole Richie, Aly & AJ, Stacy Keibler, Drew Lachey, Nick Lachey, Tia Carrera, Lisa Rinna, Apolo Anton Ohno, Ina Ziering, Michelle Rodriguez, Tara Reid, and Andrea Bowen (to name just a few), helped model his designs. The Goo Goo Dolls and Earth, Wind, & Fire took the stage and there was even a surprise performance by Donna Summers! The Nancy Davis Foundation for Multiple Sclerosis, founded in 1993, is dedicated to the treatment and ultimate cure for MS. They are hoping to raise $2.7 million from this year's event.
Chicago playing at Greenhill Gala
When our son got accepted to Greenhill School two years ago, my husband and I were thrilled because we thought it was the best place for our creative boy. Little did we know that they also throw the most fab galas of any school around. Last Saturday night Chicago, one of my favorite bands from high school days, rocked the Hilton Anatole for all the Greenhill carpool moms and dads. Two years ago Don Henley and the Eagles played - Don and Sharon's kids go to Greenhill and Don is good friends with the guys in Chicago, so that's how it all came about. After the first couple of songs, people got into the groove and started to dance, even though there wasn't really a dance floor. Bill and I, of course, danced like maniacs. Before the music started, there was a live auction with items like at trip to Disneyland and a pizza party with Hanna Montana, who I hadn't heard of until that night, but a lot of people had because the package went for $20,000! As a rule, Greenhill moms aren't the most fashionable, but Joyce Goss was a real standout in her Lanvin dress and Dr. Vinita Schroeder looked amazing in a skintight Dolce and Gabbana leopard print dress. Emmitt and Pat Smith were there, but I didn't see them dancing!
