Audubon Young Members 2013 Fall Benefit

Photo Credit: Clifford Pickett
Joshua Pino and me 

I had the incredible opportunity of covering the Audubon Young Members Fall Benefit at trendy hot spot Avenue in New York City's meatpacking district. 

The event featured a silent auction and cocktails. DJ Luther Riggs worked his music magic as guests danced the night away for a great cause. 

The Audubon Young Members Group works to empower a new generation of conservationists by raising awareness about current environmental issues, providing opportunities to experience and foster a love for nature, and building a community of like-minded and committed environmentalists.

The Young Members board includes: Monica Brouwer, Ann Morrison Calvert, Alexander Cook, Stephanie Cozzi, Juliet Falchi, Jennifer Ritter, Adrienne Rudkin, Peter Stamm, Teddy Winthrop, Eva Yean. 

Host Committee – Chair Ann Morrison Calvert, Minot Amory, Brandon  Buchmayr, Christina Eberli, Lauren Douglas, Patricia Dunne, Kate Falchi, Amanda Goss, Taylor Colson Horton, Jessica Houghton, Nicole Howard, Winnie Lewis, Jenna Manula, David Mehlman, Douglas Graham Moore, Jr.,Carolyn Niemann, Arielle Patrick, Joshua Pino, Katie Jo Righi, Jeremy Rosenberg, Morgan Scott, Tucker Sharp, Austin Simon, Rich Thomas, James Tierney Tang, Kim Taylor, Amy Whang and Lizzy Wild.

As a Audubon Young Member you have the opportunity to assist in all aspects of conservation, including the protection of animals, ecosystems and the ongoing fight against climate change. This involves ground-level environmental education as well as advocacy for sustainable lifestyle choices. 

For more information about joining Audubon as a Young Member, or to donate visit: youngmembers.audubon.org. 

Vionic Footwear Spring 2014 Collection Preview At The London NYC Hotel

Vionic Footwear hosted a lovely preview for their new Spring 2014 collection for women and men at the LONDON NYC Hotel. Guests were treated to sweet treats, cocktails and massages. 

I was so excited to visit the LONDON NYC Hotel for the first time for this event. The preview was held in a suite with such beautiful views of Manhattan. I couldn't help but take a moment to stare at the innumerable shining lights of the city below me. There is nothing like seeing the grandeur of New York to remind me why I came here in the first place.

VIONIC with Orthaheel technology is a new fashionable and healthy footwear brand created by leading podiatrist Phil Vasyli. This innovative, contemporary brand promotes health and style from the ground up, uniting on-trend materials and silhouettes with proven technology. For Spring 2014, Vionic debuted a fabulous array of sandals, wedges, tennis shoes and slippers for women and a range of men’s styles from dress shoes to flip flops.  

GLITTERRINGS Jewelry Showroom Spring/Summer 2014 Preview + My Fascinating Fashion Destiny Reading by Renowned Numerologist, Lloyd Strayhorn!

Wearing a GLITTERRINGS necklace

I was invited to preview the new Spring/Summer 2014 GLITTERRINGS & Jill Zarin Jewelry Collections. It's so much fun to visit the GLITTERRINGS showroom as I always feel like a little girl in a candy store full of sparkling jewels. 

GLITTERRINGS introduced their new Numbers Collection inspired by renowned Numerologist Lloyd Strayhorn, author of "Numbers and You". Guests at the preview enjoyed mini numerology readings from Llyod. 

GLITTERRINGS is a leading manufacturer of fine fashion jewelry specializing in rings. They aim to redefine glamour, elegance, and luxury by creating outstanding designs for women who don't want to comprise quality for price or fashion.

CCOC Fall Fashion, Fitness and Philanthropy Event

It’s always such a pleasure to support the charitable endeavors of Chabad's Children of Chernobyl (CCOC) as the organization hits very close to home for me. One of their most recent events was the Fall Fashion, Fitness and Philanthropy event at EVR NYC. 

The goal of this event was to raise money towards their Chabad’s Children of Chernobyl Children at Heart Gala Dinner and Celebrity/Fantasy Auction.

Past Children at Heart Auctions have included Whoopi Goldberg, Jon Voight, Kathleen Turner, Burt Reynolds, Pierce Brosnan, Heidi Klum, Robin Williams, Steven Spielberg and many more. And this year's has more of the same excitement and glamour. You can bid on their currently open Celebrity/Fantasy auction items on their website.

Chabad's Children of Chernobyl (CCOC) is the only organization in the world that permanently evacuates and treats children from the devastated region of Chernobyl. To date, CCOC has saved 2,863 children on 99 rescue flights... and counting! 

For more information visit www.ccoc.net 

My Visit to Vito Emanuele's Couture Showroom, Preview of His Fall 2013 Collection + Exclusive Interview!

Vito Emanuele and me 

Vito Emanuele is a true definition of a couturier. I had a chance to visit his extraordinary showroom in New York where he makes original custom garments for private clients. 

I was so excited to meet Vito and his assistant, Nadya. I’ve visited quite a number of showrooms during my fashion career but none was as worldly as Vito’s. His showroom was decorated with ancient African artifacts that Vito has collected over the years.

As soon as I entered the room I felt like I was transported in to a classic couturier in Europe. Vito’s charming assistant Nadya greeted me and soon Vito came out to meet me. Vito was such a fascinating character. I felt like I could spend hours listening to his stories of his travels and descriptions of the art that he does in addition to designing. In fact, there was a mini art studio right inside the showroom which featured Vito’s stunning renditions of his muses, friends and customers. 

I was thrilled to find out that both Vito and Nadya also attended the Fashion Institute of Technology just as I have. Ironically, his showroom is located only a few blocks away from our alma mater. 

Grace Kelly, Audrey Hepburn, Ingrid Bergman, Kim Novak, Tippi Hedren, Eva Marie Saint... icons of style and elegance paired with the artistic genius of Hitchcock is the reason Vito Emanuele became a fashion designer. He’s an artist whose life interest is the pursuit of beauty. Vito Emanuele began a creative career as a display designer, creating windows and interiors for New York’s premier stores. He segued into fashion as a design assistant at Halston. While working directly with Halston on new designs he learned the fine art and discipline of couture. Vito’s next move would be to the house of Perry Ellis, working as a member of the famed design team that created modern classic sportswear. Vito launched the Vito Emanuele Collection in the early 1990’s, merging the classical trainings of Halston Couture with the sportswear principles of Perry Ellis. His first collection consisted of elegant evening wear, debuting at Bergdorf Goodman and Barneys in New York, as well as specialty stores around the country. Vito further expanded the collection with sportswear pieces, amassing a clientele that includes famed socialites, celebrities, and movie stars. Currently Vito is combining classic elegance with modern luxury, which lends timelessness to his collections that range from casual, suiting, cocktail, evening and outerwear