Bellissimo! Prosecco-Fueled Lunch and Fashion Show Benefits Italian Cultural & Community Center

Michelle Watson
Bellissimo! Prosecco-Fueled Lunch and Fashion Show Benefits Italian Cultural & Community Center

Ally Shell, Kendra Smith, Hannah Swiggard, Chiara Casiraghi

A ‘FANTASTICO’ FASHION show at River Oaks Country Club celebrated chic Italian apparel, jewels — and prosecco, of course.

Chaired by Sandra Porter and Gina Gusemano Leck and benefiting the Italian Cultural & Community Center, this year’s event honored Rosie Carrabba. Her son, Johnny Carrabba, introduced her to the crowd of 300. Rosie took the mic and immediately began ripping colorful jokes that “Johnny told [her] not to tell,” but the audience was sure glad she did.

Soprano Bailey Bower moved listeners with an Italian aria before the main event began. Beautiful models took to the catwalk in fabulous fall fashion from Neiman Marcus. All proceeds from the luncheon directly fund scholarships for college students studying here in Houston and abroad in Italy.

Donna Vallone, Philamena Baird

Cassandra Hurst, Charity Yarborough, Warner Roberts, Mollie Steele

A look from Neiman Marcus

Mary Bea Wickman, Elizabeth Smith, Molly Evans, Elizabeth Borski

Cherri Carbonara, Leisa Holland-Nelson, Marilu Garza, Patti Murphy

Erika Myers, Owen Conflenti

Baily Bower

A look from Neiman Marcus

Mary Ann Yamin, Lisa Holthouse

Johnny Carrabba, Roz Pactor, Erika Myers, Rose “Rosie” Carrabba

Sandra Porter, Gina Gusemano Leck

Peter Remington, Karen DeGuerin


Style

Marita Fairbanks, Palmer Schooley, Kasi Kubiak and Connor Estes

STILL RECOVERING FROM a devastating fire at its HQ in 2022, Fresh Arts expanded on its Instagram-worthy dance-party fundraiser by adding a dinner to this year’s gala, themed The Wonder Ball. Dressed in lavish Alice-in-Wonderland-themed costumes, guests were transported down the rabbit hole as they arrived to Silver Street Studios, which was completely transformed into Lewis Carroll’s fantasy land.

Keep Reading Show less
Parties

Brigitte Kalai, Ghada Ali, Lance McCullers Jr. and Christine Johnson

OFF-DUTY ASTRO Lance McCullers Jr. was among those honored at the “Houston Sweethearts” event at Saks Fifth Avenue just before Valentine’s Day.

Keep Reading Show less
Parties