La Dolce Vita > April 2007
Start spreading the news! Rather than make you wait until the April 26 Trends Charitable Fund Celebrity Luncheon, I’m announcing the names of Trends’ 2007 Trendsetters and Fabulous Phoenicians (I can hear your jaws dropping!) right here and now. I’m pleased to report our Trendsetters are: Kathy DeSanto, Jacquie Dorrance, Carol Hebets, Judy Hewson, Ginette Karabees, Ina Manaster, Linda Messenger, Sallie Brophy Najafi, Barbara Payne and Carol Waldrop. Plus, Jack and Marguerite Clifford are our Fabulous Phoenicians. We are thrilled and honored to have such a remarkable group this year. You know them. These are the people who so generously donate their time to chair and organize the Valley’s biggest charitable events with grace and style. They’ll be introduced at the TCF luncheon and featured in the July/August issue of Trends. They’ll also take to the runway at our Oct. 5 Beat the Heat gala at the Arizona Biltmore Resort. Mark you calendar because you won’t want to miss it.
Speaking of the TCF luncheon, you have your tickets already, don’t you? There are lots of great reasons to attend. First, you’ll get to see Deborah Lippmann, the local girl-turned international manicurist to such stars as Cher, George Clooney, Martha Stewart and Renee Zellweger. Her work has graced the pages of noted style periodicals such as Vanity Fair, Town & Country and People. Second, you’ll find out who made our list of the 10 Best-Dressed Men and Women in Phoenix for 2007. Yes, I’m staying mum on that one for now; I’ve got to have some secrets, don’t I? Don’t forget to check out Wendy Miller’s interview of Deborah Lippmann. It’s a fun and interesting read. (Note: this issue’s Table of Contents features a photo of Debbie doing George Clooney’s dazzling digits – eat your heart out, ladies!)
Elsewhere, Carol Cook, one of the Valley’s most adored socialites, opened her lavish Paradise Valley estate for the luncheon kick-off breakfast. Lovely Carol and the other well-accomplished women laid out the plans for their respective committees. On hand were: Elaine Apostle, Diana Balich, Libby Cohen, Nan Howlett, Kimberly Jacobsen, Carole Machiz, who Susie Wesley would later leave standing in the rain (oops!), Suzan Makaus, Jean Marley, Betty McRae, Diane Might, Priscilla Nicholas and Laurie Florkiewicz, perhaps one of the nicest people I’ve ever met.
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La Dolce TCF Event Hostesses
Jeanne Herberger and Ruth Downs |
Did we mention there was another elegant TCF luncheon event? Ruth Downs and Jeanne Herberger hosted all the lovelies mentioned above and more, including Charlene Berge-Blum, Sarah Cheek, Brenda Heuring, Robyn Lee, Tochia Levine, Robin Milne, Jill Krigsten-Ormsbee, Terry Roman, Rhonda Russell, Paige Wheeler for the invitation-stuffing luncheon at the Paradise Valley Country Club. Jeanne and Ruth should be given high applause for their tireless work on the TCF and dedication to constantly trying to improve the lives of others.
Saks Fifth Avenue hosted the 2007 Heart Ball Kick-Off in its beautifully adorned showplace. By the way, the store looks amazing since savvy GM Larry Buchanan reentered the picture and inspired his troops to create visual magic, the likes of which its New York retailer has not seen in its Phoenix store in years. Everyone you know and adore made the scene. Susie Wesley, the gorgeous ball chair, made everyone feel like extended family with her eloquent welcome address. Giorgio Armani pulled out all the stops by unveiling its spring collection in a truly rakish fashion extravaganza. Everyone gasped! Robert’s Catering underwrote the food, treating and seating everyone to one of the season’s more memorable breakfasts. Owner Robert Richter’s phone has not stopped ringing since. Former ball chairs ascended the escalator adorned in cruisewear and ball gowns and everything in between. We all agreed that past ball chair Anne Robbs, smashing in a chic black suit, should show her gorgeous Danish legs more often, and that Carole Moreno and Chris Gustafson could quit their day jobs and sign with Agency Arizona as runway models. Kristy and Tim Moore delivered a heartfelt speech on surviving a “widowmaker” heart attack, which brought the audience to tears. Then everyone shopped the day away. Dave Dodge, Connie Hartgraves and the ultra-chic Amy Videan, all with the swank Fifth Avenue retailer, must have been very pleased. What a stunning and flawless morning!
Which leads me to my next topic related to our publication. Since I purchased Trends in 2001, I’ve taken the publication from a circulation of less than 25,000 to more than 44,000. From inky newsprint to chic glossy paper. Now in May 2007, we will unveil Trends in a fully bound, 8-1/2-inch by 11-inch magazine for the first-time ever! We attribute these changes to the support of you fine people in this Valley and the true excellence of our staff, all of who have made Trends what it is today. Thank you and we hope you enjoy the new look of our publication.
Gotcha:
A revered and well-liked socialite went berserk! Apparently the well-dressed blonde didn’t appreciate the seats she and her husband had been given at a recent ball, so she decided to go ballistic on the seating committee, who were seated just outside the ballroom. Newsflash, everyone saw and inevitably heard your tirade. Little did you know it at the time, but your inexcusable behavior gave every merrymaker fodder for the rest of the evening. Emily Post, anyone? |
