The Webster drew quite the VIP crowd to its grand opening on Monday.  With a caviar café and three floors of stunning clothes and accessories for women and men, the Webster inaugurated its permanent locale with a soiree that was more bash than boutique opening.  It seemed everyone we’ve ever met anywhere (with the exception of those traveling abroad) braved the elements to celebrate and marvel at the pricey designer duds. Guests experienced the first tastes of Caviar Kaspia, with passed hors d ‘oeuvres including Bilinis with Taram and Chives, Mini Creamer Twice Baked Potato, Crème Fraiche, Caviar, Foie Gras on Toast and Guerande Salt and Salmon Balik Lillipop, Lemon and Chive Aioli provided by the renowned Parisian institution located on the ground floor of The Webster.   The party was only supposed to go until nine, but was still hopping after ten o’clock, due perhaps to the free flowing Grey Goose and the “Webster Cocktails” (a mix of vodka, champagne, and Remy Cointreau violets and pearls), and the fact that it was actually indoors, where temperatures are actually bearable. Among the many notable guests at the Webster grand opening: Lennox Louis, Aaron Young, Louis Morais, Danny Santiago, Nathan Browning & Rebecca de Ravenel, Red Carter, Markus Ketty, Craig Robins, Iran Issa Khan, Sam Robin, Louis Aguirre, Michy & Leticia Grendene, Jonathan & Criselda Breene, Shareef Malnik, Ugo Colombo, Gary & Dana Shear, Robert Wennet & Mario Cader-Frech, Nicole Lozano, Michelle Areces-Zandy, Ariel Stein, Hernan Arriaga, Gigi Ganatra & Alex Duff, Tommy & Michelle Pooch, Donald & Lisa Pliner, Jillian Jacobsen-Altit, Alejandro Chaban, Cynthia Olavaria, Kevin & Rebecca Bruk, Tony Goldman, Mehmet Bayraktar, Ricardo Dunin & Stefanie de la O, Juan Carlos Arcila-Duque, Walid & Susie Wahab, Brooke Soffer, Andrea Aberegg,  Laura Bucellati, Alison & Mark Zhuk, Sanford Ziff, Hello Campos, Dr. Julio Gallo, and Kelly Gold.

Thursday, May 21, Norma A. Quintero, Julie Todaro, Karen Gottlieb, Nicole Lozano, Beth Tasca, and Marilyn Wagner hosted an exclusive luncheon and fashion show at Villa Vecchia to benefit Young Patronesses of the Opera.  After lunch, guests were treated to a runway presentation of the Luca Luca fall 2009 collection, wherein 1930′s styled, red-lipped, gorgeous models graced the catwalk. Raul Melgoza, Luca Luca’s new creative director made his first Florida appearance.  Many of the attendees then placed personal orders in which a portion of the proceeds will benefit the Young Patronesses of the Opera charity.

 Living in Miami gives us gals, and fellow shoe freaks, the excellent excuse to wear gorgeous sandals throughout the year and we have J&A Shoes to thank for providing the flirty footwear.    Based in Los Angeles, J&A Shoes have been worn and adored by the likes of Gwen Stefani, Smiley Miley Cyrus, Toni Colette, and Melissa George just to name a few.   J&A Shoes manufactures three popular shoe collections that combine classic style and comfort to any wardrobe, Athena Alexander, Callisto of California, and Lia Bijou.  These are sold in Nordstrom and local favorite Shoes To You boutique located in the Bird Road Art District.

Roberto Cavalli celebrated the grand re-opening of the Roberto Cavalli Boutique in Bal Harbour.  The largest and most lavish Roberto Cavalli boutique to date, the boutique spans a total 3,000 square feet, and holds men’s and women’s ready-to-wear, accessories, lingerie, pets, jewelry, time and eyewear collections. The boutique offers plenty of dramatic touches such as a special lingerie area hidden behind curtains of Swarovski crystals, and a private area where the décor changes depending on the theme of the current season’s runway presentation. With velvet covered couches and unique pieces, the VIP area evokes a luxurious environment offering the ultimate shopping experience.

The evening featured a preview of the Pre-Collection and Fall/Winter 2009-2010 Runway Collection along with the new Cavalli Pet line by Eva Cavalli, Roberto’s wife.

In addition to Roberto Cavalli Vodka, a tasting of the Cavalli Tenuta Degli Dei, the newest red from the Cavalli winery started by Roberto and his son Tommaso was served. Cavalli Tenuta Degli Dei is a product of the land in the Panzano region of Chianti which Roberto’s son Tommaso transformed into a wine region in 2000.

 Neiman Marcus Coral Gables hosted designer Zac Posen at an in-store cocktail soirée on Wednesday, April 1, 2009,  as he presented his fall 2009 collection.

 Event hostesses Carolina Argiz, Evangeline Delgado, Julie Dill, Mari Alarcon Grimalt, Marysol Patton and Sheri Swerdlow were joined by over 100 guests including Cynthia Rodriguez, Sarah Harrelson, Gigi Ganatra, Conchi Argiz, Maria Delgado, Jeanine Hinson, Courtney Parmenter, Lydia Touzet and Dana Shear to meet the iconic designer.

 Miami’s A-list fashionistas enjoyed a full runway fashion presentation reminiscent of Posen’s New York fashion show featuring a grand Steinway piano on the runway.  An ultra chic black u-shaped carpeted runway and sleek black backdrop with the prominent Zac Posen logo also came to life as guests sipped champagne and were treated to passed hors d’oeuvres. Clear ghost chairs and mini lounges were set up along side the runway, while accents of violet and white florals by Karla Conceptual Event Experiences completed the décor elements.

 A collection of forties-inflected styles were seen on the runway. Grand Joan Crawford shoulders, pouf sleeves, ruffles at the hips, and great swags of fabric pooling on the floor were featured in textiles such as metallic jacquards, violet moiré silk, and double layered floral prints.  After the show, guests mingled with Posen and shopped the new collection as a swarm of paparazzi and fashion lovers swarmed the designer.

Fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg, the mastermind behind the iconic wrap dress that has graced the wardrobes of just about every woman for the past 36 years, was on-hand to christen the newest outpost in the DvF luxury lifestyle brand at her new boutique at the Shops at Bal Harbour last Thursday evening. Von Furstenberg described the women in Miami as “hot” (not to quote the monosyllabic Paris Hilton). This is truly a compliment coming from von Furstenberg, a recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Council of Fashion Designers of America in 2005, who is currently serving her second two-year term as CFDA’s president.Von Furstenberg went on to tell reporters that she is “deeply inspired by women and she designs to inspire them.” Built to resemble a jewelry box, the new boutique is one of only five in the United States, and the 29th store to open worldwide.

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