The Quest for "it"

Gwyneth Paltrow, Kate Hudson, Sarah Jessica Parker toast at Tiffany Blue Book Ball with Moet & Chandon

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Thursday, April 18thh New York City was taken back to the Jazz Age at the Tiffany & Co. Blue Book Ball, where over 400 celebrity guests, including Gwyneth Paltrow, Kate Hudson, Sarah Jessica Parker, Michelle Williams, Jessica Beil, as well as The Great Gatsby star, Carey Mulligan, director Baz Luhrmann and his wife/costume designer Catherine Martin, toasted to 1920s glamour with Moet & Chandon Imperial Champagne, which is featured throughout the upcoming film.

 

With Fifth Avenue and Rockefeller Center bathed in the iconic Tiffany blue light, the A-list stars entered the event through a Tiffany Blue Box topped with the iconic white bow, and were transported to a luxurious art deco, Jazz Age supper club replete with a Moet & Chandon Champagne tower straight out of Gatsby’s garden, trapeze artists, flapper-esque dancers, a live Jazz band, an orchestra – and, a surprise performance by Megan Hilty.
 

Cocktails at Save Venice 2013--Black & White Masquerade

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Carly Cushnie & Michelle Ochs

It was a truly beautiful evening on Friday, April 5 at New York City's The Pierre.  Supporters of Save Venice came out by the hundreds to celebrate Un Ballo in Maschera and promote the organization's mission of preserving the cultural and artistic heritage of Venice.  Save Venice 2013, The Black and White Ball began with a grand red carpet in an initial room and a cocktails and hors d'oeuvres in an adjoining ballroom.  Fashionistas abound in delicate rhinestone masks*** and gentleman callers followed in masculine enigmatic creations.

HOT TOPIC: Fashion Designer Lilly Pulitzer dies at 81

Palm Beach society will never be the same. It has been reported that fashion Designer Lily Pulitzer has passed away. Click here for the the full story.

Asia Society Celebration of Asia Week Benefit with Honorary Chair Jason Wu

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 Chiu-Ti Jansen

On  Monday, March 18th  Asia Society marked Asia Week New York via a truly exciting and festive signature gala benefit--Celebration of Asia Week was held at the highly regarded Pierre Hotel in New York City. Asia Week New York,  which takes place March 15–23, a dynamic collaboration of museums, international  art dealers and auction houses, showcases an extraordinary gathering of pan-Asian visual art at exhibitions, previews and special programs throughout the city, and is geared toward a discerning audience from around the world. 

The cocktail reception began at 6:30 pm and offered Asian-inspired tastings accompanied by the sounds of a jazz trio. However, it was the black-tie, and other festive national dress that ruled the evening. The red carpet yielded Estee Lauder Spokesmodel Hilary Rhoda in a white feathered cocktail dress by Jason Wu; fashion muse Michelle Violy Harper in a black shimmering gown also by Jason Wu; Yue Magazine Editrix Chiu-Ti Jansen in an authentic silk red and gold silk gown from Shanghai; Philanthropist Jean Sharifoff in a Zang Toi, and New York Publicist/Brand Strategist Susan Shin in a beaded turquoise Badgley Mischka caftan among others.

The swank cocktail reception was followed by an elegant dinner in The Pierre's historic Grand Ballroom with a unique menu created for this occasion by Guest Chefs Pichet Ong and Simpson Wong, live auction, and dancing to Peter Duchin and his Orchestra.

 

Hilary Rhoda

Notables attending the event; Honorary Chair Jason Wu; Chairs Stephanie Foster and Charles Rockefeller; Co-Chairs Betsy and Edward Cohen, Senator John D. Rockefeller IV, Christine and Stephen Schwarzman, and Ermenegildo Zegna; and, Vice Chairs Henrietta and Richard Fore, Ruth and Harold Newman, Cynthia Hazen Polsky and Leon Polsky, Denise and Andrew Saul, and Lulu and Anthony Wang.

Additional special guests include Ralph Appelbaum and Madelynn Gingold, Kyle Blackmon, Eddie Borgo, Tom Freston, Henry Howard-Sneyd, Carolyn Hsu-Balcer and Rene Balcer, Martha Hunt, Geoffrey Bradfield, Nate Lowman, Maggie Norris and Andrew LePera, Terresa Liu and Richard Snyder, Shu Pei, Cynthia Rowley and Bill Powers,  Martin Shafiroff, Keegan Singh, Susan and Dirk Standen, Jenny Shimizu, Anna Sui, Barbara and Donald Tober, Richard Tsao, and Marie-Hélène Weill. 

***Now in its fifth year, Asia Society’s Celebration of Asia Week gala brings together leading Asian and Asian American designers and artists, as well as Asian art dealers, collectors and enthusiasts, in a benefit to  support Asia Society’s museum and cultural activities and its mission of connecting Asians and Americans.

*photos by The Quest for "it"

 

Love Heals 2013 Gala Raises $400,000 To Support AIDS Education

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Thursday evening, March 7^th, Love Heals, the Alison Gertz Foundation for AIDS Education raised $400,000 at their gala event at the Four Seasons restaurant in Manhattan. All proceeds from the evening directly support Love Heals’ efforts to protect the next generation of New Yorkers from HIV. The evening included cocktails and hors d’oeuvres followed by a seated dinner and program at which Dana Auslander, Richard Farley and Mary Alice Stephenson were honored. It was emceed by InStyle’s Hal Rubenstein.

Attendees included co-founders, Dini von Mueffling, Stefani Greenfield and Victoria Leacock Hoffman, actors Kelly Rutherford and Matthew Settle, actor & dj Eric West, Top Model Keenyah Hill, Real Housewife of New York Sonja Morgan, WABC news anchor Sade Baderinwa, CNN’s Felicia Taylor, Bloomberg’s Matt Miller, Prince Dimitri of Yugoslavia, Hannah Bronfman, Alexandra Lebenthal, Coralie Charriol Paul, Lucy Sykes & Euan Rellie, Amy Sacco, Ann Caruso, Avis Richards, Federico Pratesi of the luxury linen brand Pratesi, jewelry designers Landon Slane and Alexis Bittar, , clothing designer Susan Beischel of skin, interior designer Darren Henault, Michael Lorber, Vanessa von Bismark and Jean Shafiroff, among others.

Deepak Chopra (via video) and famed photographer reality show star Nigel Barker presented Stephenson’s award. In a heartfelt speech, Stephenson was moved to tears when talking about the powerful accomplishments of Love Heals over the past 21 years.  Senator Chuck Schumer presented Farley’s award via video, and Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Nicole Blumberg presented Auslander with her award. Following, award winning singer and actor Cheyenne Jackson enchanted guests with his moving rendition of “What A Wonderful World” and “Auld Lang Syne” as a single song.

Touchdown! Tia Walker Hangs with Dallas Cowboys Owner JerryJones

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Looks like an honest real life declaration was all it took last month at the 58th International Debutante Ball for Celebrity Blogger Tia Walker to get a hold of Dallas Cowboys Owner Jerry Jones Superbowl ring.  

Jones who was in New York City for the evening to attend the historic cotillion, to end all cotillions, was present at the Waldorf Astoria in support of his two lovely granddaughters were being presented to society.

After Walker was informed that Jones was present she told him what a diehard lifelong fan her Grandma was.  After a few pleasantries and Jones pointing out his lovely family to the blogger--it was time for a photo.  Several failed attempts on her Blackberry, of the two together, prompted Jones to whip off his Superbowl ring (we're not sure which one) and place it on Walker 's finger saying "let's really give your Grandma something to see!"

Touchdown!

*photo by The Quest for "it" via Blackberry

FIRST LOOK PHOTOS: The 58th International Debutante Ball

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One of the most electrifying events of the year took place last evening, Saturday, December 29th at New York City's famed Waldorf Astoria. Forty-seven women of distinction from the United States and abroad took their bows to society at the 58th Anniversary of the International Debutante Ball. The debutantes represented England, Scotland, France, The Netherlands, China and fifteen American states. Each debutante was accompanied by her own escort in white tie and tails, and a military cadet in dress uniform carried the flag of the country or state which she represented.  The 2012 Honorary Chairmen are Mrs. David Hamilton and Mrs. Julia I. Kauffman. The Ball Chairmen included Anne Eisenhower, Susan Eisenhower, Mrs. D. David Eisenhower, Princess Chantal of France. The International Debutante Ball was founded in 1954 as a charity. The International Debutante Ball Foundation supports numerous charities including The Soldiers’, Sailors’, Marines’, Coat. To follow are select photos from the evening.

Left to Right: Debutantes on the receiving line at the 58th Int.l Debutante Ball (above); Dallas Texas Debutante Jessica Jones; New York Debutante Karie Dinan, New York Debutante Amanda Crown and New Jersey Debutante Olivia Tedesco

*photos by The Quest for "it" via Blackberry

Kate Middleton Pregnant! What the Brits Say....

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Ever since the news broke earlier today, tongues have been wagging about the news, that Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton's first pregnancy. We turned to our best source, the Daily Mail UK for the Brit's perscpective. While details continue to unfold, here a few facts from across the pond:

• Catherine taken to hospital this afternoon with acute morning sickness
  
• She is expected to be kept in King Edward VII Hospital for several days
• Couple announce baby around 18 months after April 2011 Royal Wedding
  
• But they're forced to reveal pregnancy weeks early because of her ill-health
• Prince William drove his wife to hospital today after she became ill at her parents' home in Bucklebury, Berkshire, and he is with her there
  
• Baby will be born third in line to throne and great grandchild to the Queen

Click here for the full story.

*photo by Associated Press

 

Style Spotlight: Jean Shafiroff

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Belle of the ball might best describe the super chic look NewYork Philanthropist and enduring Socialite Jean Shafiroff sported at Samuel Waxman's Cancer Research Foundation 15th Annual Collaborating For A Cure Benefit Dinner & Auction on Wednesday, November 14th at New York City's Park Avenue Armory.

Seen here in Milly by Michelle Smith  is Shafiroff in a Combo Peplum Dress a feminine look embodying a classic silhouette.  This vibrant print is a very fresh look for the carpet and the cocktail length is flirty yet sophisticated. Shafiroff's hair is perfectly coiffed in an up-do courtesy of Warren-Tricomi (Madison Avenue location). Elegantly understated jewelry, by way of crystal chandelier earrings, complete the look.

*photo courtesy of John Lamparksi/Wire Image

Oscar De La Renta Honored with the 2012 Couture Council Artistry of Fashion Award

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The feeling in the air was electric la te yesterday morning as six hundred New York City's Fashion and Society elite descended on Lincoln Center's David Koch Theater for FIT Couture Council's Artistry of Fashion Award Honoring Oscar de la Renta.
Mayor Michael Bloomberg presented the award to Mr. de la Renta. The event was been generously underwritten by American Express, with additional sponsorship by Oscar de la Renta and Saks Fifth Avenue. As has become the tradition, this luncheon herald the arrival of Fall Fashion Week. The luncheon raised approximately a million dollars.

The luncheon chairs were Eleanora Kennedy, Alexandra Lebenthal and The Honorable Daphne Guinness. The honorary luncheon chair was Annette de la Renta. The luncheon announced The Oscar de la Renta Scholarship, the establishment of an anonymous donor set to provide support to young designers at FIT. The scholarship honors Mr. de la Renta and encourages an FIT student who shows great potential. The inaugural Oscar de la Renta scholar is Macshella Oduro from Queens, New York. Ms. Oduro, who received her AAS degree in Fashion Design from FIT, is currently enrolled in FIT’s BFA Fashion Design program, as well as the college’s Haute Couture Certificate Program. She has been selected to study in Europe during the 2012-13 academic year at FIT’s program in Milan, the Politecnico di Milano.