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
What’s the Secret to Biz Success? ‘Show Up with Kindness,’ Says Bianca Bucaram

How did you get to where you are today? Passion, persistence, and faith, and a little bit of luck. I graduated from Vanderbilt University with a degree in Political Science and Spanish, on the track to be pre-med. Little did I know that a journey to help my younger sister would set my course to sail in PR. I had no background in communication, except my raw talent, and was fortunate enough to have a family member who needed her story to be told! I was helping tell my younger sister (one of the most recognized influencers in the online vegan community) @fullyrawkristina’s story, and it all blossomed from there.

Keep Reading Show less

Roka Akor's Summer Sushi Experience

AUGUST IS ALWAYS the hottest month of the year. Many Houstonians endure the dog days of summer by trying out a Houston Restaurant Week menu. And Greenway’s sushi hotspot Roka Akor has upped the game with three specially priced menus — and lots of chilled sashmi — to get through the last of the season!

Keep Reading Show less
Food

Rendering courtesy of Rice Nexus

AS THE ION District in Midtown gets a boost from recently opened restaurants like Late August and its brand-new pickleball courts, there's new information about the next tech-savvy tenant.

Keep Reading Show less
Home + Real Estate