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Access Atlanta > Blog > Archives > 2007 > August > 28
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
De La Renta lends star power to Fashion Cares
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
New York and Atlanta fashion retailer Jeffrey Kalinsky isn’t often at a loss for words. However, as his 15th annual fund-raiser for breast cancer and AIDS got under way Monday night at 55 Allen Plaza downtown, the founder of Fashion Cares was momentarily rendered speechless. (Click here to see photos from the event.)
The fashion arbiter was attempting to articulate what having the evening’s special guest, fashion legend Oscar de la Renta in attendance meant to him and to the fund-raiser that’s become synonymous with the arrival of Atlanta’s fall social season.
“He is a gentleman,” Kalinsky told Buzz. “He’s such an incredibly busy man with an incredibly big life. For him to make time to be here tonight is one of the greatest gifts I’ve ever received.”
Another nice gift for Kalinsky and the evening’s co-chairs: The event netted more than $700,000.
After a champagne reception in the gleaming lobby of the glitzy new downtown high-end office building, fashionably chic supporters were transported by elevator to the unfinished seventh floor where cool white curtains, white leather furniture, illuminated plastic carts filled with hors d’oeuvres and a breathtaking view of the city awaited.
While physically in the South of France, Atlanta philanthropist Elton John made one of the biggest contributions to the evening’s success. Not only did his Elton John AIDS Foundation offer a $90,000 matching grant to one of the evening’s beneficiaries, the Atlanta AIDS Partnership Fund, he also donated an unprecedented pair of tickets to his 2008 Oscar Party in Hollywood.
After an intense bidding war, Intimacy undergarments founder Susan Nethero is going to Hollywood next year.
In exchange for $23,000, that is.
“With all of the charitable work he does, Elton is such a positive force in our world,” Nethero told us while handing over her American Express card to organizers. “I had to be the one walking that red carpet. That was my goal tonight.”
EJAF-Atlanta board member Barron Segar was ecstatic.
“It will be my pleasure to get on the phone Tuesday morning to pass along this amount,” he said. “And believe me, Elton will be waiting to hear as well. This is just another incredible example of how generous his U.S. hometown is when it comes to fund-raising for AIDS.”
And Nethero didn’t stop there. Her custom-fitted bra company also donated $25,000 to the evening’s other beneficiary, Susan G. Komen for the Cure.
Finally, at 9:45 p.m., after the final bottle of bubbly had been drained, fall and winter 2007 fashions finally hit the white catwalk.
And if the trends strutting down the runway are any indication, global warming is now fashionable. Pastel floral dresses, white and bold violet and pear hues dominated the evening, along with lots of gray.
Aside from a bulging Jeffrey goodie bag, DAVE FM’s Mara Davis had a unique memento of the evening: a digital camera photo of her striking a pose with de la Renta.
“To me, Oscar de la Renta means awards shows and glamour,” Davis explained. “For him to be here at Atlanta’s premiere fashion event is incredible tonight.”
Davis being Davis, then scanned the room and added: “And I have never seen so many hot gay men in my entire life.”
The folks at Barry Real Estate Companies, who graciously supplied the venue for the fund-raiser Monday night, couldn’t have asked for a more monied captive audience to introduce to the mixed-use development project under way downtown. And the company’s sales pitch couldn’t have been more truthful either.
“Thanks to Atlanta’s gridlock, people are re-discovering downtown,” Hal Berry told the assembled. “This is a wonderful opportunity for us to demonstrate what we’re doing.” The ambitious project includes the hulking W Atlanta Downtown hotel under construction next door.
Buckhead Village’s luxe redevelopment project was also well represented. The Streets of Buckhead developer Ben Carter and his guests were seated mere inches from us. Alas, before we could squeeze the names of a few new boutique lessees out of Carter, he quietly departed the event. The real estate magnate was overseeing de la Renta’s chartered transportation in and out of Atlanta, you see.
OVERSCENE Indigo Girl and Watershed restaurant co-owner Emily Saliers picking up take-out consisting of a vegetarian plate (featuring hummus, baba ganouj and falafel), a gyro sandwich and bowls of summer gazpacho and red lentil soup Tuesday at Mediterranean Grill in Decatur.
CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS Actor-director Richard Attenborough is 84. Actor Elliott Gould is 69. Movie director William Friedkin is 68. Singer Michael Jackson is 49. Actress Rebecca De Mornay is 45. Guitarist Kyle Cook of Matchbox Twenty is 32. Actor John Hensley (“Nip/Tuck”) is 30. Bassist David Desrosiers of Simple Plan is 27.
If you have a tip, call 404-526-2749. Or fax 404-526-5509. Or e-mail: buzz@ajc.com.
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