Issue link: http://papercitymagazine.uberflip.com/i/112455
Living the Life on the Red Carpet Lush Life at Saks Denise Carrera at Konstantino Chair Irma Brindis at Konstantino Chairman Karen Steele on the Red Carpet Nina Delano at FotoFest Fifth Avenue Jillian Ballard at FotoFest BY SETH VAUGHAN. PHOTOGRAPHY PHYLLIS HAND, SETH VAUGHAN. Jo Furr at Vhernier Beverli Lee at Vhernier Erin Florescu at Konstantino The Russians Are Coming! First, a rousing cocktail party co-sponsored by PaperCity magazine in Saks��� jewelry, shoes and beauty departments kicked off FotoFest, the international biennial artistic exchange founded by Wendy Watriss and Fred Baldwin. Now in its 14th year, the festival focuses exclusively on photography, video and photo-related art. With drinks pouring and music playing, Russians fresh off the plane eagerly chatted up Houstonians about the events that would play out over the following 45 days across the city, including a seated dinner the next night at Vine Street Studios. Bringing it all into focus: Elina Htun, Eloise Frischkorn, Clint Willour, Margaret Bott, Will Hixon, Alton LaDay and Jonathon Glus, McClain Gallery���s Sharon Lott, Nina Delano, Barbara Davis, returning from Paris our favorite Russian Tatiana Massey, and in from Moscow FotoFest 2012 curators Irina Chmyreva and Natalia Tarasova. Claire Cormier Thielke at Vhernier Shannon Hall at Konstantino Saks gave Grauman���s Chinese Theatre a run for its money by rolling out the red carpet for a slew of talents including Wes Brown, Erica Rose, Grant Goodman, Brittany Booker, Brian Angel, Reuel Meditz, Wes Brown on the Shelley Mac, Uchenna Agu, Red Carpet Tommy James, Kristine Mills, and a surprise PA by Hot Chelle Rae. Chairman Karen Steele brought everyone together for a night of good fun to bene���t Cindi Rose���s Holly Rose Ribbon Foundation, which assists cancer survivors with reconstructive surgery. Afterwards, partygoers migrated to the Deborah Colton Gallery, where a post-party bash was in full swing with music by Allen Duhon and late-night bites from El Meson and Marianne Dwayne Jenkins Fanning���s Haute Crepe. at Konstantino Infamous: Dustin Price, Sir Mark Haukohl, Regina and Peter Garcia, and Karen Wildenstein. Angel Rios at Konstantino Lester & Marisol Gretsch at Konstantino Ellie McBarnet at Malle Stephanie von Stein at Malle Tijuana Harvey at Malle Terry Zmyslo Sylvia Forsythe at FotoFest Frederic Malle Carmen Ibarra at Konstantino Zoe Jackson-Jarra on the Red Carpet Tatiana Massey at FotoFest Kristen & William Guerra at FotoFest David & Debra Peganyee, Marianne Fanning Dustin Price on the Red Carpet Eloise Frischkorn at FotoFest Monsieur Malle Chez Saks Lynn Houston, Dian Johns at Malle Konstantino���s Houston Muse It���s instantly apparent why jeweler Konstantino chose Houston social Irma Brindis as the muse for his recent Irma collection: She positively oozes femininity, happiness and South of the Border charm. When Saks Fifth Avenue debuted the collection, 20 percent of the trunk-show proceeds went to her charity of choice: St. Jude���s. Brindis invited friends to the store who, in two hours, spent more than $60,000. Talk about a jewel. Acquiring and admiring: Adelina Monty, Maria Vasquez, Denise Carrera, Wendy O���Hanna, Erin Florescu, Shannon Hall, and Marisol Gretsch. Simon Dawson, Antonella Rosa at Malle Margaret Bott at FotoFest Annamaria Castracane at Vhernier Regina Rogers, Robert Card Mary Jo Antoine-Hat���eld at Vhernier Stefan Lan, Kristy Smith, David Blanco at Malle Wendy Watriss, Deborah Colton at FotoFest Honoree Cindi Rose on the Red Carpet The prince of perfume, Frederic Malle, made a personal appearance at Saks Fifth Avenue to celebrate the launch of his namesake collection at the luxury purveyor. The evening also introduced his decadent perfumes and candles. Overseeing the PA was Saks top brass Terry Zmyslo, who welcomed an utterly transatlantic crowd to the parfum f��te. Malle���s creations are unique in that the brand���s fragrances are devised by 12 different ���authors��� who blend scents not for their mass appeal, but for their rare odeur combinations. Enjoying the top, middle and base notes: Lynn Houston, Ray Guyton, Margaret Halligan, Arlene Dimiropoulos, Elie McBarnet, Simon Dawson, and Karen and Byron Hood. Natalia Tarasova, Fred Baldwin at FotoFest Va-Voom Vhernier J. V. Duran on the Red Carpet When Milan-based Vhernier premiered its precious jewel box in Saks��� ���ne bijoux department, it was cocktails and carats for all. The evening was ���lled with beautiful women and dazzling jewels ��� just the way I like it. Cutting the ribbon, so to speak, were Saks��� Stephanie von Stein, Vhernier execs Annamaria Castracane and Toreh Bahrami, in from Miami, and Robert Card of St. Luke���s Hospital, the night���s bene���ciary. The next afternoon, a luncheon was held for ladies who might be interested in acquiring said carats. At the multifaceted events: Mary Jo AntoineHat���eld, Kim Moody, Philamena Baird, Jo Furr, and Pily Simon. Allen Duhon on the Red Carpet Philamena Baird at Vhernier Mark Haukohl on the Red Carpet