If the shows at the Tents and Paris, the fashion world’s fabulous versions of Mardi gras and Carnaval combined, have left you fashionably jetlagged (even if only in your mind), you’ll be glad to know that we’re heating up the runways right in our own backyard. To boot, at least a few of these fashion fetes and shows are designed to benefit great causes not just to wear out the strip of that Black Card. Here’s to a stimulus plan that actually works, and is oh, so much fun!

One such fashion celebration was last week’s opening of the Carolina Herrera boutique in Bal Harbour followed by her runway presentation the next day. Making a pit stop in Miami in between her shows in New York and Paris, Herrera showcased her spring 2010 collection last Thursday, October 1^st, in support of the Guardian Angels, a branch of Jackson Memorial Foundation, which hosted its 11^th Annual Guardians of the Children luncheon at the InterContinental Hotel in downtown Miami. Herrera, who exudes a regal elegance which is personified by her designs and boutiques around the world, was on-hand to present a full runway fashion show, which was inspired by the intricate forms of woven Japanese baskets. The texture of the fabrics, the prints and the interlacing in the accessories are taken from patterns found in details of these baskets. Following the spectacular fashion show, the designer made a personal visit to Holtz Children’s Hospital where she met with all of the children, reviewing the sketches of budding designers and fans, as well as autographing teddy bears for the children to enjoy.

“It was wonderful to be able to show the spring collection to the Jackson Memorial Foundation’s Guardian Angels to benefit the Holtz Children’s Hospital. Children’s charities are so important to me. After the show I was taken for a tour of Holtz Children’s Hospital and the amazing medical facilities and I had the opportunity to meet the very impressive doctors and patients they help –the children were incredible. The whole experience was something really special to me.”

VIPs in attendance at this year’s luncheon included: Carolina Ferreiro-Diaz, event chair, Cindy Davis Carr, this year’s Guardians of the Children Honoree, Shirley K. Fletcher, Honorary Chair, and committee members, Vivian Adrian, Mari Alarcon-Grimalt, Angela Andrade, Fanny Dascal, Silvia Rios Fortun, Alina Gallart, Fana Holtz, Aslynn Rivera, Marilyn Samlut and Gloria Sesana, along with Chris Riley, Alexia Echavarria, Lisa Pliner, Marlen Pernetti, Loretta Nunez, Rolando Rodriguez, President and CEO of Jackson Memorial Foundation and President and CEO of Jackson Health Systems, Dr. Eneida Roldan and Channel 10 anchor, Laurie Jennings, who served as emcee.

The previous night, Herrera celebrated the opening of her most recent boutique at Bal Harbour Shops with a standing-room only crowd. The event, which, by all accounts was packed to the hilt, was co-hosted by Maria Celeste Arraras and Lourdes Fanjul. Over 300 adoring fans including Emilia and Pepe Fanjul, artist Iran Issa-Khan, socialite Margarita Ziqq and jewelry designer Carole Seikaly packed the intimate 2000 square foot boutique, (that’s about 6.6 square feet per person, without a stitch or seat in the store) the Designers’ fourth free standing boutique to open in the United States boutique. Herrera donated 10% of the proceeds from boutique sales from Wednesday- Saturday to the Guardian Angels.

“I started doing this because I loved fashion,” she says.  “But I had no idea what it would become.” This goes to show that you just never know. On June 2, 2008, the Council of Fashion Designers of America honored Herrera with the Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award. Herrera’s got numerous projects in the works, including new fragrances, a breast cancer awareness campaign, and her ongoing work as Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations.

Saks Hosts the Key

Saks Fifth Avenue Dadeland (7687 North Kendall Drive) hosted Saks Key to the Cure from October 15-18 with a kick-off celebration on October 10^th featuring handsome and charming, guest shoe designer, Giuseppe Zanotti, who signed pairs of his designs in Saks Dadeland’s shiny, stylish, brand-spanking new 10022-SHOE salon on the second floor. In honor of the event, Saks installed a stunning 20 foot sculpture of a shoe at the entrance of the store. There was free-flowing champagne, hors d’oeuvres, live entertainment and, of course, shopping. Saks also offered a limited-edition Key to the Cure t-shirt designed by Michael Kors, which will be available through October 31, retailing for $40 in Saks stores, Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH stores and on saks.com. Over 80% of the proceeds from each shirt sold will be donated to local charity partners. Supermodel, Heidi Klum, is the 2009 Ambassador for Saks Fifth Avenue’s Key to the Cure. In support of this program, Ms. Klum will appear in a national public service announcement (PSA) wearing the Michael Kors limited-edition t-shirt. No word on whether “Mrs. Seal” will show, but we can hope, can’t we? For more information, contact: Cristina Menendez: 305.662.8655, ext. 262 or email: Cristina_Menendez@s5a.com To help A percentage of the sales during Key to the Cure will benefit the new Baptist Health Breast Center.

Elle of the Bal

Elle magazine’s Personal Style Awards, will be held on October 13, featuring an exclusive fashion show organized by Elle editors, honoring top Miami trendsetters. After the show, guests can shop at select Bal Harbour boutiques (9700 Collins Avenue), with a percentage of sales being donated to charities personally selected by the honorees including Community Partnership for Homeless, Honey Shine and Voices for Children, among others. The event takes place on the second floor of the mall, across from Tiffany, and goes from 6:00-8:00 p.m. For more information and to RSVP, go to: http://www.elleextra.com/shoppingatozcalendar/.

FUNKSHION Sees Red

FUNKSHION: Fashion Week MiamiBeach^th, with an unprecedented line-up of designers.The state-of-the-art fashion runways will be set up at the Setai Hotel as well as at the Bass Museum of Art.

One of the highlights of FUNKSHION, for the second year in a row, is the Red Dress Fashion Show, presented in conjunction with the American Heart Association. Across the country, the Red Dress has become the symbol for Go Red for Women, the American Heart Association movement that educates women about heart disease – currently the #1 killer of all women – and empowers them to take charge of their heart health. Along with red dresses from designers such as Carolina Herrera, Michael Kors, Nicole Miller, Richie Rich and Badgley Mishka, the show will also feature a red swimwear line by Jantzen. A special appearance will be made by designers Nicole Miller and, for the second year in a row, Richie Rich. All funds raised as a result of the show will benefit Go Red for Women community programs and fund research in the field of cardiology.

FUNKSHION will also present: Nicole Miller, the debut runway show for Rio Soul by Luciano Maia, Dallas based superstar designer, Abi Ferrin, Liquid Metal and Adventure Fashions by Eugene Jones.For the full schedule of shows and fashion events, visit www.funkshion.com

As with every season, FUNKSHION supports new and emerging designers with the Emerging Designers Award. The panel of judges for this award is comprised of media elite, trade industry VIP’s, designers, celebrities and members of Fashion Group International. Fashion Group International will award a winner this prestigious honor along with the opportunity to showcase its designs at Funkshion: Fashion Week Milan in Italy. Fashion Group Emerging Designers Competition will be presented by Nespresso.

A “spin-off” of FUNKSHION is Rock Fashion Week which is being presented this year in conjunction with Hachette Filipacchi Media U.S. and Elle Magazine at the Eden Roc Hotel. The four-day fashion and entertainment event will showcase several of the fashion industry’s most celebrated labels from October 14-17, including shows by KRELwear, Russell Simmons ARGYLECULTURE, Birgit C. Muller Couture, Ella Bella, Lorie Lester, Ra Mona La Rue by Arianne, Bullets 4 Peace, Biatta Intimates, Billion Dollar Britches and more.

This year, Rock Fashion Week proudly presents The Pink Dress Collection to benefit Susan G. Komen for the Cure®. The collection will include prominent designers such as Adam, Binetti, Giorgio Armani, Guess by Marciano, Lilly Pulitzer, Luca Luca, Nicole Miller, Tadashi, Terexov and Venexiana, to name a few. Miami notables expected “walk the walk” on the runway include CBS 4’s, Lissette Gonzalez; NBC 6’s, Roxanne Vargas; Fox 7 Deco Drive’s, Shireen Sandoval and singer/songwriter, Jamie Jo Harris. Top designers, Betsey Johnson, Binetti, Giorgio Armani, Luca Luca, Nanette Lepore, Nicole Miller, Pamela Roland, Terexov, Tadashi, as well as emerging talent Abi Ferrin, Ina Solanti, Karen Zambos, Kurru Kurru have generously donated dresses to showcase throughout the three-city tour including New York, Miami Beach and Los Angeles, where the dresses will be auctioned off at the culmination of the tour on October 30, 2009. In further support of Susan G. Komen for the Cure®, a special presentation of Ford Warriors in Pink, Warrior Wear and Gear will also be included in the show. All proceeds from the Pink Dress Collection, Ford Warriors in Pink and sponsor Clarisonic will go to the three aforementioned city affiliates of Susan G. Komen for the Cure® to raise awareness for breast cancer through research, education, screening and treatment. For more information about Rock Fashion Week go to www.rockfashionwk.com; to RSVP, contact: rockfashionwk@taraink.com and specify the show(s) you would like to attend.

Doubleshot Saturday

Pharell held a private concert at WET at W South Beach on Saturday night, after a full day of private IZOD events including a fashion show and performance from N.E.R.D.Later that night, The Killers performed an impromptu set at The Florida Room.

Celebrity Sightings

Last week, KC from KC and the Sunshine Band, joined fellow Friends of the South Beach Wine and Food Festival including Lee Schrager, The Collection’s Ken Gorin, and Edie Bornstein, at Mr. Chow at the W South Beach for the eatery’s famous noodle show preformed in the private dining room.Lars Ulrich of Metallica was spotted at Rokbar on Saturday night.  He was with a ton of girls and was seen drinking shots of anything he could find. At LIV over the weekend, it was “Girls’ Night Out” with dual birthday celebrations for Katrina Bowden from NBC’s 30 Rock and Lo Bosworth from MTV’s The Hills. Lauren Conrad was in town to celebrate her friend Lo’s birthday and female DJs Blondish worked the crowd into frenzy. On Sunday, at Land Shark Stadium Sunday, Fins’ part owners Gloriaand Emilio Estefan, Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony attended a pre-game breast cancer awareness benefit in the Ocean Drive club. Fresh from their partying adventures at LIV the night before: Lauren Conrad and Lo Bosworth.Latin singing sensation, Tito Puente Jr., performed at the grand opening of the newly revamped Airport Marriott on Monday.

A celeb-fest is expected at this Sunday’s private Dolphins-Jets pre-game party at Viceroy Club 50.Five-time Grammy winner Marc Anthony; Grammy Award-winning producer and songwriter Emilo Estefan; renowned developer Jorge Perez of The Related Group; ESPN Deportes General Manager, Lino Garcia; Grammy award-winner, Nelly Furtado; CSI Miami actress Eva LaRue; Venezuelan actress, Gabriela Espino; NFL players: Duane Starks, Najeh Davenport, Nat Moore, Jerome McDougle, and Stockar McDougle are scheduled to attend. The event is private, but you can always attempt to crash the party via parachute or helicopter drop-off on the outside terrace of Club 50. Everyone will probably be too star-struck to notice.