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.

 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.

The InterContinental Hotel was transformed into an enchanted forest for the14th Annual InterContinental Miami Make-A-Wish Ball, one of the premier and most well-attended events of the social season.More than 900 A- listers were treated to a night of surprises from the moment they entered the hotel’s lobby, replete with mythical creatures including living tables, talking trees, centaurs, nymphs, and of course, little people, (the new requisite party props), think Narnia meets Neverland. Enormous butterflies of every color hung from the ceiling throughout the lobby and ballroom and there were even fairies swinging from bejeweled swings above the dance floor. Several of the well-heeled guests were surprised while waiting for delicacies from the lavish raw bar, for which this gala is known, to find that one of the columns of the surrounding gazebo, moved or tapped them on the shoulder. During the sumptuous dinner, the gracious and gorgeous reality television personality, Kim Kardashian, emceed the extravagant live auction, the most unusual items of which included a 2009 Aston Martin DBS, an Aspen home rental, a package of 10 Lasik procedures, and a walk-on role on the set of HBO’s Entourage. Charming and adorable cult favorite, Entourage star, Adrian Grenier capped off the gala with a musical performance by his band, The Honeybrothers.

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