Fashion 4 Development’s International Fashion Designer Presentation and Cocktail Party

Fashion 4 Development’s International Fashion Designer Presentation and Cocktail party was one of the most glamorous and fascinating parties during the first day of New York Fashion Week. The socialite and dignitary studded soiree was held inside a beautiful crystal decorated room at the Mandarin Hotel in New York.

Four emerging international designer’s were showcased: Diana Dorozhkina, Auguste Soesastro, Giovanni LoPresti, and Angelo Lambrou. Models wearing each designer’s stunning creations walked around the room as guests and media eagerly snapped photos.

I wore a lace dress with semi sheer silk sleeves and contrasting red zipper by my designer friend, Alice Yim. I’m absolutely in love with this dress which she named Perle. I literally made a mental note to wear this dress for fashion week when I saw Alice wearing it for the first time a few weeks before. The red zipper in the back was everything for this piece. I paired the look with matching red lipstick, black tights and red heels by Guess. 

Fashion 4 Development (F4D) is a global awareness platform that goes beyond fashion and seeks to unite diplomacy, media, business and the creative industries to enact sustainable change. Utilizing fashion as a platform, F4D has successfully united organizations and people alike, to create awareness and improve the livelihood of societies at large in support of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals and “ Every Woman Every Child “ the initiative spearheaded by United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon.

Eleonora Quizmolli and me

My dear friend Eleonora Quizmolli from Sensation of House beautifully coordinated the Fashion 4 Development party that evening. She’s one of my favorite friends in the industry and I’m always in awe of everything she does in fashion.

Evie Evangelou and me

I was so excited to see Evie Evangelou, the Co-Founder and Global Chair of Fashion 4 Development. In addition, Evie also founded the First Ladies & Fashion 4 Development Initiative. Both endeavors were inspired by her exuberant career in the international area of cultural diplomacy and International Relations. I met Evie two years ago at the F4D holiday party where I had a chance to interview her and learn more about the phenomenal work of Fashion 4 Development. 

Me,  Eleonora Quizmolli and Giovanni LoPresti

It was such a pleasure to see my friend Giovanni LoPresti who was one of the designers presenting that evening. Eleonora introduced us last September and I was lucky to be one of the first people to wear his Spring 2014 pieces to New York Fashion Week. I'm a huge fan of Gio's work and look forward to seeing what he will do next. 

Eran Edri, Models, Giovanni LoPresti and Natalie Edri

After hanging out with Eleonora and me, Giovanni went to pose with the models wearing his designs. Hair stylist Eran Edri and his lovely wife makeup artist Natalie Edri are pictured on each side. The husband and wife glam team from Francky L'Official Salon did the hair and makeup for all of the models at the event.

Angelo Lambrou and me

I had a chance to mingle with Angelo Lambrou, another one of the designers showing that evening. 

Angelo finds inspiration in the vibrant landscape of his African roots and in the boundless energy of New York. His clothes are passionate: designs alive with texture, shape and form, embracing their New York, African and Mediterranean influences. His signature line of bias cuts, draped wrap details and intricate pleating are completely hand-crafted. 

Wendy Diamond, Lila Castellaneta and me

Next, I saw Wendy Diamond and Lila Castellaneta. It’s always such a pleasure to run into Wendy at events. Wendy is an entrepreneur and animal rescue advocate, author, founder and editor of Animal Fair magazine, and frequent media personality. Basically this woman is one of the most accomplished people in New York City and it's truly an honor to have met her.

Lila Castellaneta was an equally fascinating personality. It was my first time meeting this lovely woman. Lila is a famous Italian accessories designer and wife of the Italian Ambassador to the United States.

In addition to a table spread full of an assortment of cheese and meats there were also mini hors d'oeurvres being passed around the room. My favorites were of course the above caviar topped delicacies. The full blood Russian in me was very happy to indulge in all of the caviar goodies. :)

Martha Luna Medina and me

The evening was made extra fun by my fashion partner in crime, Martha Luna Medina. We spent the day together at fashion week and ended our night at the Fashion 4 Development party. Martha looked absolutely fabulous wearing a handmade look by our designer friend Norma Ishak.

Thank you so much to Eleonora Quizmolli and Evie Evangelou for having me at the event. It was truly an honor to be invited and surrounded by so many brilliant and accomplished people in fashion, government and society.