One special 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.

One of our favorite sports/South Beach personalities, DJ Irie, superstar DJ to the Miami Heat and actor Jamie Foxx and all-around nice guy, hosted his Fifth Annual Irie Weekend Celebrity Golf Tournament last Friday-Sunday, to raise funds for Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Greater Miami.  One of Miami’s favorite charitable events, Irie Weekend kicked off at Mansion on Friday, where Gabriel Union, Dwyane Wade, Sanaa Lathan and Joey Fatone partied and enjoyed performances by Irie (of course) and Kevin Rudolf. The golf tournament was a great success, despite many hung over and/or buzzed players who zipped through the golf course on their carts as if they were driving on the Indie 500. Making celebrity appearances throughout the tourney: Gabriel Union and Stephanie Pratt, who cheered on the celeb golfers: Alfonso Ribiero, Joey Fatone, Ernest Wilford, Wesley Johnson, Isaiah Thomas, (who made a short speech alongside Irie during the opening remarks), Dorrell Wright, Tim Hardaway and two-time Super Bowl Champion, legendary defensive end, Lawrence Taylor. All of the celebrities seemed to be having a blast, mingling with guests and signing autographs.  Ribiero’s team won the tournament once again this year (he won last year too).  At one point, Irie and Stephanie Pratt played Dance Revolution with the “littles” of the Big Brothers Big Sisters Organization at the Konami-sponsored hole.  Sunday’s pool party at the Shore Club went on despite the torrential monsoon that swept through.  LMFAO and a line up of guest DJs took part in the wet fun.

For those of us who, um, misplaced, our invitation to the Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute Gala, Saturday’s Fashion Art Ball (F.A.B.) hosted by Michelle and Tommy Pooch and Alan Roth was the party of the week. We like to consider this the un-gala- since it’s a ball that’s, well, a ball! Think of it as fancy fundraiser meets frat party.

Upon entering the ballroom at the Fontainebleau, guests were greeted by ten-foot mannequins, perched atop pedestals, composed of hundreds of tropical flowers, decorating the extensive silent auction tables and food stations including delicious bites from Pacific Time, Red, the Steakhouse Table 8, Gaia, Taverna Opa and Ra Sushi. Then there was the seemingly endless array of desserts, tempting even the staunchest dieters, from the Fontainebleau’s pastry shop. Down on the main floor is where things started to get a bit wild, with Deco Drive’s Louis Aguirre and Buster on the microphones as Gen Art winning Krel To Go designer/ Make Me a Supermodel’s, Karelle Levy, proceeded to create a dress onstage for Plum T.V. hostess, Erin Newberg, who was already wearing a stunning, gold Krel creation. The frat party antics began thanks to a Girls Gone Wild! “wardrobe malfunction,” courtesy of the buxom Newberg- (step aside, Bettie Paige), and continued with the Legends on The Runway show, featuring a bevy of South Beach nightlife impresarios and personalities, following the elegant women’s runway show, which showcased trends from Atrium, Roberto Cavalli, Ondade Mar Swimwear, and Luca Luca. Whereas the women’s show was stylish and sophisticated, culminating with Michelle Pooch alongside her adorable daughter, aspiring supermodel, Isabella Pooch, the Legends on the Runway show was a whole other story. Sure, the fashions were stylish, and the show started off fairly professional, with seasoned runway pros, such as Eric Milon and Laurent Bourgade, on the catwalk, but things quickly turned wild, with crazy dance moves, wedgies being given, DJ Irie being pushed off the runway and Beau Beasley being carried away, literally, as the crowd cheered and applauded. After the guys finished on the runway and a special performance by R&B legend, Joe, there was a good old-fashioned fraternity hazing ritual, courtesy of DJ Irie, who offered to donate $3,000.00 to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation in exchange for Alan Roth’s hair, yes, hair. The generous Roth agreed, and Irie actually shaved Roth’s head right onstage. Then Irie offered an extra five hundred bucks for Roth’s eyebrows. That’s when Roth’s girlfriend, Anne Owen, stepped in- thank goodness. All in all, it was a great night, which raised $70, 000 for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

Polo Tropical

A completely different type of ball hit the beach over the weekend as models with mallets took to our sands for the Miami Beach Polo World Cup, the world’s largest and most prestigious polo tournament. It seems the “sport of kings” is also the “sport of queens,” since for the first year women’s polo graced South Beach, with Matti Bower, Miami Beach’s first female mayor, throwing the honorary first ball, to kick of the matches featuring world-renowned, top-ranking female polo star, Sunny Hale, and Brazilian cover models, Paula Chermont and Tiffany Busch (along with 22 of the world’s top-ranking female polo players) stunned on-lookers with their precision and prowess- not to mention incredible balance and fierce competitive spirit. Hell hath no fury like a gorgeous woman on a horse- remember Lady Godiva? Now imagine her in a cute outfit with a mallet in hand! Eye candy and star power were also provided by the men’s teams, as top ranking polo player/Ralph Lauren model, Nacho Figueras, joined returning champ Kris Kampsen and Isabella Wolf (an 18 year-old polo star who filled in for an injured player) on the Nespresso team, which fought fiercely for the trophy against the Bombay Sapphire team, which ultimately won the title 6-5 in the last seconds of the final chukker. A slew of Miami’s elite, young and old gathered on the sand behind the Setai for four days of sun, sand, snacks, cocktails and polo including local celebrity chef Jeff McInnis from Top Chef, Apprentice champ, Sean Yazbeck, Nicole Henry, Cleveland Jones, Commissioner De la Pena, Iran Issa Khan, and Sam Robin, to name a few. The soon to open, W Hotel, Nespresso, Grey Goose, and Bombay Sapphire were among the top sponsors, who kept the good times rolling.

Coming Up:

The 3^rd Annual YMCA Casino Night will host a Bond-themed bash on Saturday, at 8:00, at . Several local celebrity players including, Kelly Craig (NBC 6), Diana Gonzalez (NBC 6), Cynthia Demos (CBS 4), Will Manso (WPLG 10), Willard Shepard (NBC 6), Marybel Rodriguez (CBS 4), Mercedes Soler, author and Mega Estrella winner, Sophia Del Carmen will join guests in a night full of fun and big stakes at the Poker, Roulette, Craps and Black Jack tables. RA sushi will provide dinner by the bite, and Grey Goose vodka will sponsor the sips. For more information or to purchase tickets, please contact Julie Wagner at 305-254-0310 ext. 1204 or email at jwagner@ymcamiami.org.

Celebrity sightings:

George Clooney, has set up camp at the Delano and has been spotted all over the place, including cameos at Florida Room, Quattro and Mokai. Lance Bass celebrated his birthday on Friday at the Mondrian. Regis Philbin and Kelly Ripa in town all week shooting Regis and Kelly at the Fontainebleau, have also been making their rounds. Regis attended a Marlin’s game, and Kelly took her husband and children to the Miami Seaquarium and Jungle Island, where Jimmy Buffet stopped by last week. Nicole Richie was at the Fontainebleau Wednesday night for the launch of her jewelry line, House of Harlow 1960. Former NBA star/recently appointed basketball coach of the FIU Golden Panthers, Isaiah Thomas had dinner at RA Sushi in South Miami. Katy Perry and Wyclef Jean are in town for the Grammy Celebration Concert Tour at the Fillmore scheduled for Thursday.

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More than 500 women and a few good men gathered on Tuesday, as Tracy Wilson Mourning hosted the 7th Annual Hats off Luncheon at Jungle Island in support of the Honey Shine Mentoring Program, which funds bi-monthly workshops and a four-week summer day camp for 100 at- risk girls. Well-heeled socialites, including Lisa Pliner, DJ Kerr, Jennifer Postrel, Marisa Toccin, Merle Weiss, Heather Davis, Jennifer Boin, Nancy and Lana Bernstein, Daisy A. Casuso and Mari Alarcon-Grimalt, and Jackie Nespral (who served as mc) would have made Minnie Pearle proud by sporting their favorite fedoras, bonnets, panama hats and sombreros at one of the most exciting luncheons of the year. One guest wore a hand-made straw hat decorated with a real garden, butterflies and all!

Al and Nancy Malnik, lifetime benefactors of the Intercontinental Miami Make-A-Wish Ball, hosted an intimate garden party at their palatial, Art Deco estate on Sunday, for two hundred of the foundation’s top supporters. During his emotional address, Malnik set the bar for this year’s Intercontinental Miami Make-A-Wish Ball at a record $2,000,000.00, eliciting a collective gasp from the select crowd. The billionaire with the huge heart motivated and moved his guests with a personal account, “Nancy and I have recently been touched with our own personal tragedy with one of our little ones, so the foundation has come to mean even more than ever before.” Al Malnik’s son, Shareef, returning Gala Chair, beamed with pride as his father spoke, making it obvious that the two have a close relationship and that Shareef admires his father’s zeal and stamina, (after all, Al, who is in his mid-seventies, has given Shareef six siblings ages of ten and under!) Now that’s chutzpa!

The jazz band and choir from King’s Academy entertained the crowd, who mingled in the estate’s gardens, just steps from the ocean, enjoying passed hors d’oeuvres and cocktails on a perfect Sunday afternoon. At last year’s garden party, a team of synchronized swimmers delighted guests by performing various numbers in the pool, with the precision and prowess of the Bellagio Fountains in Las Vegas.

Distinguished guests included Norman Wedderburn, President/CEO of the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Southern Florida, who assured supporters that he “would not stop, would not sleep, until every wish was granted;” Jack Miller, General Manager of Hotel InterContinental Miami and Gala Host of the IMAW Ball; L. Robert Elias, Chairman of the Board of the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Southern Florida and James Ferraro, of The Ferraro Law Firm and Wish Benefactor of the IMAW Ball. Other notable guests in attendance: champion boxer, Bernard Hopkins, burgeoning singer/songwriter, Jamie Jo Harris, designer, Richie Rich, Baby Chic, Nick D’ Annunzio, Tara Solomon, Fabian Basabe, Antonio Misuraca and Michael Valdes. The palpable excitement prevailed throughout the afternoon, in anticipation of this year’s ball to be held on November 7 at the Hotel Intercontinental. Over 900 guests are expected to attend. This year’s host remains a secret, but several attendees requested Sharon Stone return as host this year. Shareef promised he would try. Kim Kardashian did a good job last year, but Sharon Stone left some pretty tall stilettos to fill after the 2007 gala!

Roy and Lea Black upped the hip factor once again at their annual Power of Hope charity gala benefitting the Consequences Program and Bay Point Schools, held at the newly revamped Eden Roc Hotel, (which is sure to bring some stiff competition to it’s next door neighbor), as evidenced by the crush of people gathered around the red carpet to catch a glimpse of the many celebs promised to make an appearance.As usual, the Blacks delivered, hosting a perfect evening replete with stellar performances and a guest list to include: Lance Bass, Dennis Rodman, Joe Francis, Craig David, Mario Barth, Jeffrey Donovan, Moon Bloodgood,. Vicki Gunvalson, Elaine Lancaster, Richie Rich, and Bernard Hopkins (and those were just the VVIPs who DIDN’T perform)!

The night started off with a lavish reception in the Eden Roc’s swank lobby, and resembled a “Taste of the Beach,” with mini food stations set up from some of the area’s favorite restaurants including, the Setai, Bova Prime, and 8 oz Burger Bar to name a few.Grey Goose lounges were conveniently stationed throughout the lobby surrounding the extensive silent auction, because the evening’s liquour sponsor knows there’s nothing like a buzz to get people bidding!People were having such a great time during the reception that event staff struggled to coax the crowd into the ballroom when it was time for the dinner to begin.

During the four course meal, Roy Black got on-stage and said, “Thank you for your money and thank you for your time.That’s my line,” but then gave an inspiring speech, in which he encouraged guests to be generous by saying, “Better to be smart on crime than tough on crime, before introducing a Bay Point School’s graduate who is now attending Barry University and working in a law firm.Next, Lea Black took over for the live auction, and was relentless on the mic, working hard to get the attention of the noisy, talkative crowd.The Texas-native would be a welcomed addition to the Bay Point School’s award-winning staff- if she can wrangle over 1, 000 rowdy socialites on a Saturday night, imagine what she can do with a bunch of teenagers!To be cliché:“Don’t Mess with Texas!”At one point, Roy got back on the stage and quipped, “The only way to keep her (Lea) contained is to get her off the mic. “ Lea managed to raise top dollar amounts for auction items including the Jeffrey Rackover diamond earrings worn by Maria Conchita Alonso during her performance, a spot on the waiting list for the first 2010 Rolls-Royce EX200 from Braman Rolls Royce in Miami, a speaking part on Burn Notice, VIP tickets to the Indianapolis 500 and VIP tickets to the Heavy Weight Championship in Las Vegas among other terrific items.Lea also boasted about the Power of Hope Gala, which was put on for a mere $35, 000 and raised $1.4 million.Not bad for a night’s work.

Several superstars performed throughout the evening, including:Elvis Crespo, Craig David, Jencarlos Canela, Alto Reed, Maria Conchita Alonso, and comedienne, Heather McDonald.The crowd did not seem to mind that there wasn’t a dance floor, especially when Patti LaBelle (back by popular demand for a second year) took to the stage and belted out “Hey Sister Soul Sister…” which got everyone on their feet and dancing between the tables.LaBelle followed her performance of Lady Marmalade with a touching rendition of Over the Rainbow.The crowd showed no intention of leaving well after midnight, when Lil Wayne, took over to sing a few songs.DJ Irie capped off the exciting night, spinning his usual, addictive music.

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