Ciao Bella! Fash Bash Benefits Italian Cultural & Community Center

Michelle Watson

Event Chairs Cheryl Arolfo Byington and Patti Imbrogno Murphy with Guest of Honor Victor Costa

ALL THINGS ITALY — from food to fashion to fab performances — were on display at the River Oaks Country Club earlier this week. Dubbed La Dolce Vita, the fashion show and luncheon benefited the Italian Cultural & Community Center.

Guests were greeted by mannequins donning vintage couture by Houston-born designer Victor Costa. Chaired by Patti Imbrogno Murphy and Cheryl Arolfo Byington, the afternoon honored Costa, who, it turns out, is multitalented: He kicked off the fashion show by singing two Italian songs, which were received with a standing ovation, of course.

That wasn't the only performance of the day: UH soprano Alexandra Gorman sang a rendition of "O Mio Babbino Caro" as guests took their seats.

Then the program, emceed by KPRC anchor Owen Conflenti, began. The runway show featured models Katie Cullen, Patti Murphy, Cheryl Byington, Renne Jongebloed, Monica Ercolani, Joyce Frassanito, Jenee Bobbora, Gina Gusemano Leck, Nicole Pactor Graham and Lauren Leck. A second show highlighted fashionable fall looks from Neiman Marcus — all by Italian designers, of course.

The live auction was on-theme, too, as a weekend in the new Ferrari Roma was up for grabs; a raffle included items from Valobra Master Jewelers, another local Italian icon.

The successful day furthers ICCC's mission to celebrate and preserve Italian culture in Houston. Proceeds from the event go directly to scholarships for college students to study abroad in Italy.