A vast mansion in a desirable ZIP code with a lushly landscaped backyard big enough for 400 guests and a high-fashion runway. It’s the stuff of dreams—realized at a private manse on three acres in Brentwood for a luncheon and show of MaxMara’s fall/winter 2006 collection hosted by the long-established Los Angeles group Colleague Helpers in Philanthropic Services (Chips) to benefit family aid group Children’s Institute Incorporated.Chips’s Molly Isaksen and MaxMara’s Kristine Westerby called on the Kitchen for Exploring Foods to put together a light lunch menu—elegantly served at two long white-clothed tables flanking a center runway—including chilled heirloom tomato soup topped with swirls of crème fraîche along with baby arugula and Belgian endive salad with.phparagus mascarpone Parmesan tarts. For dessert, the Kitchen served sgroppino (lemon ice and champagne) in martini glasses as well as mini bouchon cakes. Summery drink offerings included lavender hibiscus lemonade, Bellinis, and iced tea.
For centerpieces, the Velvet Garden wrapped bundles of white tulips in leaves—secured with jeweled pins—and placed them in simple glass vases along the tabletops. (Similar arrangements garnished trays of passed hors d’oeuvres.) A vast array of the Velvet Garden’s flowers, including orchids and lavender, turned up in vases all over the estate, some surrounded by seashells.
After speeches—remarks from MaxMara’s Nicola Maramotti, in from Milan, some requisite thank-yous from Chips member Rachel Ortiz, as well as a sweet and gracious speech from a boy who has benefited from the charity’s programs—models took to the catwalk for the first showing of the new collection in the United States. And afterward, guests—mainly society ladies—picked up gift-wrapped boxes containing MaxMara sweatshirts before reclaiming their Bentleys, Beemers, and Benzs from valets from Chuck’s.
—Alesandra Dubin
Posted 06.09.06
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For centerpieces, the Velvet Garden wrapped bundles of white tulips in leaves—secured with jeweled pins—and placed them in simple glass vases along the tabletops. (Similar arrangements garnished trays of passed hors d’oeuvres.) A vast array of the Velvet Garden’s flowers, including orchids and lavender, turned up in vases all over the estate, some surrounded by seashells.
After speeches—remarks from MaxMara’s Nicola Maramotti, in from Milan, some requisite thank-yous from Chips member Rachel Ortiz, as well as a sweet and gracious speech from a boy who has benefited from the charity’s programs—models took to the catwalk for the first showing of the new collection in the United States. And afterward, guests—mainly society ladies—picked up gift-wrapped boxes containing MaxMara sweatshirts before reclaiming their Bentleys, Beemers, and Benzs from valets from Chuck’s.
—Alesandra Dubin
Posted 06.09.06
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A Brentwood mansion on expansive grounds set the scene for a MaxMara runway show hosted by the Chips to benefit Children’s Institute Incorporated.
The Kitchen for Exploring Foods’ menu began with chilled heirloom tomato soup topped with swirls of crème fraîche.
Baby arugula and Belgian endive salad with aaragus mascarpone Parmesan tart made a light main course.
MaxMara models walked a long runway flanked by two dining tables.
Velvet Garden wrapped bunches of tulips in jewel-pinned leaves.
