party people

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


From Your Site Articles
Related Articles Around the Web
Style
promoted

For Realty Pro Sarah Callaway Sulma, ‘Real Estate Is a Relationship Business’

HOW DID YOU get to where you are today? I was raised by a family that had a strong work ethic coupled with high moral standards. I was pretty much given the groundwork - I just had to put it in play!

Keep Reading Show less
People + Places
opera

HGO’s New Season Opens Friday with ‘Heavy, Important’ Commission

ON FRIDAY, OCT. 20, Houston Grand Opera opens its 2023-24 season with the world premiere of Intelligence, by celebrated American composer Jake Heggie and librettist Gene Scheer. Set in Richmond, Va., during The Civil War, Intelligence tells the true story of Elizabeth Van Lew, a prominent member of Confederate society who ran a secret pro-Union intelligence ring, and Mary Jane Bowser, who was born into slavery and, with Lew’s help, embedded herself as a spy in Jefferson Davis’ Confederate White House. The production is directed by choreographer and 2021 MacArthur Fellow Jawole Willa Jo Zollar, and features a chorus of eight dancers from Zollar’s company Urban Bush Women. Kwamé Ryan conducts.

Keep Reading Show less
Art + Entertainment