Designing Women Designer's Luncheon This was one of the few occasions where you could not buy your way in. Sorry ladies! Either you were invited or you weren't, and your hubby's checkbook had not necessarily anything to do with it (although it never hurts) The invitations were extended by the blond, bountiful and beautiful Valerie Biggs Sarofim, chair of the Alley's 2000 Spring Ball and committee member, the equally stunning Eliza Stedman. And Valerie knows how to do lunch, or should we say give lunch. She opened her stupendous home for the select few, as a "thank you" to the committee of the Alley Theater forthcoming Spring Ball Um Grande Ball Millenium and sweetened the deal by having the renowned New York Couturier W.S. Dugan, who gave a sneak preview of his 2000 couture collection. The swell guy that he is, the Maestro of Fashion donated a made to order ensemble (valued at $10,000) to the silent auction. Equally swell guy, noted Australian jeweler Tony White donated a piece of jewelry. Valerie, you are good. In the event, you're from another planet and you don't already posses a Dugan design (pity), know this; his many fashion accomplishments include twelve years as an Executive Design Director for Halston, designing for such Halston's clients as Liza Minnelli, Kay Thompson, Elizabeth Taylor, Lauren Bacall, Braniff Airlines, Avis and the Olympics. Presently, but a sample of his femme followers include Barbara Corcoran, Elsa Peretti, Adrienne Vittadini, Beth Rudin Pelligrino, Marissa Berenson and Barbara deKwiatkowski. And who are the Houston fans of the divine designer, take a guess, for here is but a partial list of the guests; Margaret Love, Judy Hushon, Louise Jamail, Lynn Wyatt with her mom Ann Sakowitz, Judy Allen, Yvonne Ziegler, Janet Shamlian, Courtney Hopson, Frances Marzio, Mary Gracely, Cindy Gracely, Pauline Bolton, Geannie Johnson, Shelby Hodge, Shayna Andrews, Delise Ward, Frank Ledgi with Tootsies (how did he get in there?). I would list them all, but I was too busy savoring the tomato bisque, oohing and aahing at the modeled designs and gawking at the who is who of everything. Grand Evening Simply everything was just grand. Grand home, grand guests, grand hosts, grand décor........all this of course for the Houston Grand Opera's Opera Ball 2000. This year the underwriter's dinner (and I use the term, dinner, loosely) was hosted by Jennifer and Mike Sullivan (GM of Mercedes Benz of Houston) and took place at the tremendous home of the Ball's chairs, Francie and Mike Willis. The evening was so beautifully presented, one with low social mileage on them, say a socialite-in-training, might have easily confused it with the actual main event. There was splendor, riches and opulence at every turn. Kudos to the young and obviously very talented Juan Manuel Miyar Laris, who magically created an ambience of old world "opera" elegance throughout. From the moment you pulled into the Willis' circular drive, to a draw-bridge, which was placed across the swimming pool (God forbid you had to walk around that huge thing) to a tented area, designated for dining and musical entertainment. The tent was erected over the tennis courts (mustn't disturb the Azaleas) and was larger than most people homes. But who are we kidding, there were no "most people" there. By candle light and a gentle breeze the gentle ladies and gentlemen feasted on Tony's....at Home fare, were serenaded to by K.T Sullivan and Mark Nadler and amused by a myriad of young people dressed in various period opera guise. Some of the costumes were so elaborate and ornate, I may just borrow one and wear it to the gala. I'll bet I would blend in with all the other ball gowns beautifully. And speaking of blending in beautifully, this dress rehearsal featured only the stars and no understudies needed apply. Shining in the evening light were; Rosanna and Myron Blalock, John Capizzi and jewelry designer Cynthia Bach, Linda and Dr. Fabian Worthing, Samuel and Omana Abraham, Louise Girard, Kelly Gale Amen, John Palmer, Margaret Alkek, Margaret Alkek Williams, Joe Peck, Jim Daniels, Richard Flowers and David Mumford, Karen Mayell, Terrie Hogan, Diane Lokey, Donna Josey, piano composer Michael Komkov, Dr. Randy Mitchell, Jeffrey Newport, Mark Stevens, Mark Hanna and Sissy Siegel, Christian and Vivianne Escudie, Karen Winston and Jim Brennan, Gil and Harriett Gertner, Nike' Luqman and Tom Furman, Anita Marchione, Francie's mom, Marsha Baker, John Walzel and Terry Jones, Pat Breen, Dr. Ronada Davis, Terry Chalmers and Fred Smith, and I could go on and on, but I won't. It wasn't always "in the bag" Next time you throw that Prada handbag over your shoulder ( you do own a Prada bag, don't you? I thought so), know that you are wearing a piece of history, if you will, the feminine movement, before it was a popular thing, and a success story which begun with the female gender being treated as a lesser species. Since the mid-1990's, there have been few status symbols as potent as the Prada embossed silver triangle. So it has been a long way for Miuccia Prada, considering, that women were forbidden by the family patriarch to come near the store. Ironic, isn't it, because Fratelli Prada owes his success largely to two women, Luisa and Miuccia. Fratelli Prada of Milan, Italy, a leather goods manufacturing company, was founded in 1913 by Mario Prada. His daughter Luisa, who was never allowed to enter the store because she was a woman, rejuvenated the business after her father's death during World War II. Prior to her retirement in 1979, Luisa encouraged her daughter, Miuccia, to take over the company. Although she never intended to join the family business, Miuccia offered ideas that were an instant success. She designed a handbag with a glitzy gold strap in military tent material. The Chanel look-a-like sold for $10. She also created nylon purses and a nylon trench coat that look like taffeta. In 1978, Miuccia Prada and her husband, Patrizio Bertelli reluctantly took control of the floundering business. Patrizio took charge of management while Miuccia, who had eschewed the family business to take a Ph.D degree in political science, designed collections. Now, over two decades later, they head an eight-hundred-million-dollar business. Now, you might say, it is in the proverbial bag. Fowl Lunch They call themselves the "Hot Chicks" and they are cool, they also have big hearts, big pocketbooks (not to mention big hair and big jewelry). It is a tradition that each year, during the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo, the Hot Chicks partake in the Chicken Auction. What that means to the rest of the world is that the ladies pool their money together and bid in the Fowl Auction. As a result of their participation (and others) many young boys and girls are afforded college scholarships. Yes, it is very commendable, admirable and worthy, but glamorous? No. Alas, not with this group. These Divas of benevolence don't do anything without glamour, pomp and circumstance. Besides, what a better excuse to take the limo for a spin, dust off the western garb, don a tiara upon the Stetson, and of course, do lunch. Bring out the Louis Roederer Cristal. So, having just popped $9,000 for a turkey, the auction winners had themselves driven to Anthony's restaurant for a bit of a celebration, let the hen party begin. Feathers were flying, beaks were chirping and the clucking noise level drowned out the continuous sound of Champagne cork popping. Who is the fun and frolicking bird brigade you ask? If you don't know them already, pity, because you should. Presenting, The Hot Chicks, 2000 Edition: Liz Jameson, Edna Mayer-Nelson, Melanie Johnson, Harriet Goodman, Rosemary Harrison, Sara White, Jeanette Ramming, Kelly Mudd, Susan Taylor, Diane Gant and Betty Qualls.
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