Love at First Sight

Roberto Cavalli's Fall 2014 Collection glided down the runway at the Dallas Opera's First Sight Luncheon on October 23, 2014 inside the Winspear Opera House (photos: Cynthia Smoot)

I have always been a fan of opera and classical music. The love affair started early listening to Mozart and Beethoven as background music for my favorite Bugs Bunny cartoons and I delighted as Alfalfa crooned to his beloved Darla arias from Figaro in The Little Rascals. The first opera I ever saw was Pirates of Penzance when I was 10 or 11 years old at the Music Hall at Fair Park and I was hooked. The pageantry and extravagance combined with the theatrics and beautiful music was not lost on me and opera has held a special place in my heart ever since that outing so I was thrilled to attend the First Sight Fashion Show and Luncheon chaired by Elizabeth Kimple held at the Winspear Opera House on Thursday, October 23, 2014.

This annual event kicked off the Dallas Opera's 2014-15 "Heights of Passion" season and the featured designer was Roberto Cavalli, a luxury boutique that offers the Italian designer's lifestyle brand of women's ready to wear, accessories, handbags, shoes, and sunglasses. Roberto Cavalli is synonymous with joy and optimism, with glamour and success. It was a perfect pairing for The Dallas Opera. The fashions presented at the luncheon were from the 2014 Fall Collection and included sensational evening wear selections. Cristiano Mancini, Director of Marketing for Roberto Cavalli International was in attendance to introduce the show. In addition to the Cavalli presentation, this lavish event, co-chaired by Lynn McBee and Nicholas Even, also include six custom-made gowns created by internationally renowned designers inspired by each of the operas presented this season:

DFW Style Daily Crowns Best Dressed for 2013

DFW Style Daily's Heather Lettieri
and Cynthia Smoot

Last Thursday, former Best Dressed honorees Yvonne Crum and Benny Black co-chaired the second annual DFW Style Daily Best Dressed 2013 Awards.  The Galleria Dallas pulled out all the stops for this fancy-pants evening by hosting this event inside the ice rink.  How would I manage to slide around in 5" stilettos, I wondered? Not to worry, they covered the rink with carpet. Whew!

This year’s trendsetters showcased fall looks using their own personal flair and fashion diva Jan Strimple dazzled guests with pop-up runway shows highlighted styles from some of the Galleria's vendors like BCBCG MaxAzria, Ann Taylor, Thomas Pink and Falconable.

This year's Best Dressed honorees were:

• Barbara Daseke, Interior Designer 
• Ariel Saldivar, Director of Development, Goss-Michael Foundation, Founder and Designer, Olivia K Jewelry 
• Jaffrene Islam, Student, University of Texas at Dallas 
• Khanh Nguyen, Founder and Designer, Nha Khanh 
• Amanda Reed, Store Manager, TenOverSix Dallas 
• Dawn Mellon, Wardrobe Stylist and Fashion Columnist
• George John, Professional Soccer Player, FC Dallas 
• Charlie Price, Owner and Stylist, Hair by Charlie 
• Niven Morgan, Founder and Fragrance Designer, Niven Morgan 
• Elliot Munoz, Photographer 
• David & Lavarro Jackson-Hurley, Songwriter & Makeup Artist (David) and CEO, Imagine Thee Bespoke Events (Lavarro) 
• Taylor J. Booth, Actor/Model - Booth was scouted on location at Galleria Dallas during their special "Street Style Scouting Mission"

Neiman Marcus picks up local designer Nha Khanh

2013 is shaping up to be a good year for Dallas design. This week, Neiman Marcus picked up local design company Nha Khanh for their online store. NM is currently offering six designs from Nha Khanh's Spring 2013 Collection for pre-order.  Designer Khanh Nguyen told DFW Style Daily, “It’s an honor to be picked up by another major department store.  We are thankful for getting the chance to be sold with major brands that I grew up loving and studying.”

Mina Chang and Nha Khanh represent Dallas at the Golden Globes

Dallas' own Mina Chang with Jodie Foster, Jennifer Garner, Richard Gere and Heidi Klum
photos courtesy of Mina Chang

Global humanitarian, former Korean pop star and stylish stunner Mina Chang took to the red carpet at last night's Golden Globe Awards as a celebrity correspondent for InStyle Korea.  Of course, her first thought when asked to take on this assignment was "What will I wear!?" and for that daunting task, she chose to partner with Dallas designer Khanh Nguyen of Nha Khanh who created this beautiful atelier dress especially for Chang.  Among her celebrity encounters was a chance to chat with the legendary Jodie Foster, who was there to receive a Lifetime Achievement Award. She told Chang she "was definitely the tallest Asian she ever met". LOL!

Well, that's how we do things in Texas, Jodie. Everything's bigger and better.

From Runway to Driveway: A Fashion Talk with Ford's Anthony Prozzi

Cynthia Smoot with Ford's Anthony Prozzi

I had a grand time last week with Ford Motor Company when we partnered to host a fun and fashionable event surrounding the all-new 2013 Ford Fusion.  The event was called, From Runway to Driveway, and the conversation of the evening was how design influences almost every aspect of our lives - even the cars we drive!

As guests arrived at Ocean Prime, they walked past the newly redesigned 2013 Ford Fusion. Once inside guests nibbled, mingled and sipped libations. Jarrod Fresquez, DFW Style Daily's Lisa Petty and Heather Letteri, Linda Cooper, Susan Friedman, John Conte and OSC Contributors Jayne Chobot and Brittany Husted were among those who turned out to be a part of this fashion chat.

Ford Motor Company’s Senior Interior Designer Anthony Prozzi led an interactive discussion to discuss the design process and how regardless of industry or final product, designs draw from similar inspiration. He also let us peek inside his head to see how the role fashion played a part in designing a vehicle, specifically the all-new 2013 Ford Fusion.  Representing Dallas design in this discussion was Khanh Nguyen of Nha Khanh, Isabel Varela of IZAVEL and Trudy Cresswell, Marketing Director for Saks Fifth Avenue at the Dallas Galleria.

Dress 4 Yellow 2012

Cynthia with Lance Armstrong

I followed a yellow brick road carpet into the beautiful historic Adolphus Hotel on Thursday, April 5, 2012 for the highly anticipated Dress 4 Yellow event held to raise funds for LIVESTRONG and Cook Children’s Cancer Center through a high-profile fashion show, luncheon and silent auction.

"Dress 4 Yellow is designed to inspire and empower those affected by cancer,” Lance Armstrong said. “Through dollars raised, we will increase awareness, provide critical navigation services, fund research and survivorship programs and work to end the stigma of cancer around the globe.”

The Adolphus Hotel provided a baroque and luxurious environment for this lavish event. Gene Jones, Tre Wilcox, Tiffany Derry, New York Times best-selling author Sandra Brown, Amy Vanderoef and her Congressman-hopeful hubby Grant Stinchfield, Pat Smith, Courtney Kerr, Matt Nordgren and Heidi Dillon started the day with a champagne reception in the historic French Room (my favorite spot ever and the best place in Dallas to go for a romantic evening)

(top left) Pat Smith and Tre Wilcox  (top right) Shelley O'Neal, Heidi Dillon and Gina Ginsburg 
(bottom) Judge Diane Haddock, Bobbie Marshall, Nancy Brown and Sandra Brown

We moved down to the Century Room where LIVESTRONG founder and champion cyclist Lance Armstrong, along with Co-Chairs Jennifer Applbaum and Lee Nagel,  kicked off the runway show featuring designs by more than 20 of the world’s top designers. Each designer produced a custom-made yellow piece or select a yellow design from archived collections.

 Click here to see many more photos on Facebook

 Dallas fashion designers Shirin Askari, Nha Khanh, Lela Rose, Abi Ferrin and handbag designer Laura Ginsburg were represented. Other designers included Donna Karan, Isaac Mizrahi, Carmen Marc Valvo, Catherine Malandrino, Thakoon, Christian Siriano, Zang Toi, Cole Haan, Nike, Oakley, Ruffian, Sachin + Babi, Elie Tahari, David Meister, Rachel Roy, Chadwick Bell and more. Runway designs were beautifully styled with Kendra Scott Jewelry.

Dress 4 Yellow designs by Lela Rose, Nha Khanh, Abi Ferrin and Shirin Askari

The show was masterfully produced by Bret McKinney, who has been part of the Stanley Korshak team since 2000, and has been the driving force behind the store’s fantastic visual displays, as well as the producer of Texas Ballet Theater, DIFFA/Dallas and Fresh Faces of Fashion. 

Immediately following the runway spectacular, was a seated luncheon in the Grand Ballroom where four of the runway looks were feted in a live auction, including a pair of Justin Boots embossed with the yellow rose of Texas, and yellow dresses by Carmen Marc Valvo, Abi Ferrin and Tibi.  Cole Hahn provided fabulous wristlet clutches in a rainbow of colors for each guest.

The yellow theme left everyone feeling sunny and optimistic about the fight against cancer. The war might not be over, but this event was a battle won and that's something to celebrate! 

Nha Khanh roars back to the 20s for their Fall 2011 Collection

The inspiration for the Fall 2011 Collection from Nha Khanh was the style of  legendary vaudeville performer Josephine Baker. In her heydey during the 1920s and 30s, Baker was known for her bold and exotic stage costumes.  She favored feathers and shocked the world when she once appeared in a "skirt" made of 16 bananas.  The Hall of State provided a jaw-dropping Art Deco background to this amazing presentation.

 Matthew Gilley and Alison Volk of Tootsie's with Cynthia Smoot. 

I have dubbed them Dallas' version of Rachel Zoe and Brad Goreski.

Elaine Agather, Ana Pettus, Toni Duclottni and Cathy Vieth were among the fashionistas all dressed to impress last Thursday for the presentation of the Fall 2011 Collection from Nha Khanh.  But it wasn't just the ladies that turned it out! Jim Duran rocked it wearing a gold lame jacket, Dan Pritchett looked dapper in a bespoke suite with a bright purple tie but, of course, no one could out-shine Gregg Asher who took the best of both of these looks and killed it in purple satin harem pants with a gold jacket. You go, Gregg!

Left: Gregg Asher and David Martin

Top Right: Holly Pellham Davis and Jamie O'Banion

Bottom Right: Abby Gregory and Kevin Fougerousse

Cindy Rachofsky (honorary chair along with her husband, Howard), introduced the show and encouraged everyone to purchase, as proceeds from the evening benefitted Two x Two for AIDS and Art. Co-chairs Sue Gragg and Brian Bolke were also on hand to watch the Jan Strimple-helmed runway show.

I'll leave the technical reviews to others who are more qualified to speak on the fashions.  But as a lover of fashion and beauty, I give this collection high marks for being elegant but edgy.  The peek-a-boo lace and low-cut backs leave you covered but are still incredibly sexy.  Nha Khahn did an amazing job of taking the romance of the 1920's and bringing it into 2011 for today's woman.

 Nini Nguyen + Khanh Nguyen = Nha Khanh

You can meet the dynamic duo behind Nha Khanh (pictured above) and see these marvelous designs up-close on April 7-8 at a Trunk Show held at Forty Five Ten.