Pretty-in-Pink Fashion Show Aids Childhelp
The Lunch Bunch
More than 770 lunching ladies met at the Hyatt Regency Irvine on Tuesday for a fast-paced fashion show, a light midday meal and a chance pitch in for Childhelp U.S.A., a national nonprofit charity involved in the prevention and treatment of child abuse. The $60-per-ticket benefit--the 10th annual collaboration between the charity’s Orange County chapter and Saks Fifth Avenue--raised an estimated $85,000.
Pretty In Pink
The color scheme for this ladies’ day trip was blush pink and pristine white. Raffle tables were dressed in white cloths and topped with Valentine’s Day-inspired, heart-shaped ticket boxes. The dining room was awash in rosy hues, from the napkins and cellophane-wrapped gifts at each place setting to the flowering azalea centerpieces.
Closet
If there are rules for how to dress for luncheons, Orange County women haven’t read ‘em. A spin around the reception area revealed a spectrum of style. Nancy Lewis of Newport Beach wore a red leather suit with shoulder pads to there. (A popular look. Also spotted: turquoise, orange, purple and black leather suits, ditto the big, bad shoulders.) Coleen Sanders of Laguna Beach donned black linen shorts and matching jacket for her “extra long lunch” break. Paula Sani of El Toro wore a white wool pantsuit and gold lame shirt. Shelly Arakelian drove in from Diamond Bar in a black silk cocktail dress with a sequin neckline, while Nancie Carpenter ducked out of her Newport Beach office in a girlish floral print dress.
On The Runway
The fashion show featured clothes by New York-based designer Ann Lawrence, who dressed her lanky models in brightly colored dresses for day and night. The long-legged troops strode the runway in slinky little sequinned numbers, softly shaped business suits and flowing evening gowns, striking their choreographed poses to tunes ranging from funk and blues to John Phillip Sousa (“The Stars and Stripes Forever” capped the show). Of her colorful clothes, Lawrence said, “We try to use color whenever possible--to get away from all this dreary black .”
The Cause
The charity was founded 33 years ago by San Fernando Valley residents Sara O’Meara and Yvonne Fedderson. The founders drove in from Palm Springs to attend the party, and pronounced it “marvelous,” “wonderful” and “inspiring.”
“I look around,” said O’Meara, “and it makes me feel so happy to know all these people have a spark in their hearts to help children.”
Proceeds from the benefit will be used to support operations at Childhelp’s residential treatment center in Beaumont, where 80 severely abused children from Southern California are cared for and counseled. Another facility is being built on the East Coast.
On The Dais
The party was co-chaired by Barbara Ganahl and Darlyne Breeland. Former Rams quarterback Pat Haden was honorary chairman. Dale San Filippo is president of the chapter.
Attorney Harold LaFlamme, whose Santa Ana practice is devoted to protecting the rights of abused and neglected children, was given the group’s “Children’s Friend Award.”
