Call it a Latin power lunch or a muy picante midday fete or whatever. But never doubt that the Latin Women's Initiative spring fashion show and luncheon is one rockin' party. And with the sizzling Carmina Zamorano as chair, Friday's event all but required seatbelts.
Close to 700 fashionistas and high-style caballeros filled the Hilton Americas-Houston ballroom but only after they had seared their credit cards in the marketplace which was filled with vendors that are seldom found at Houston events. SlimRitas helped fuel the shopping enthusiasm. It was the ideal setting to launch the Carmina Zamorano line of fine jewelry and, for the event, the chairwoman was decked in her namesake diamonds and emeralds.
Michael Cordua, the handsome restaurateur with the dreamy accent, emceed the luncheon and it took every bit of his forcefulness to settle the lively crowd. Luncheon leadership included LWI president Cyndy Garza Roberts, committee chair Rosi Hernandez, raffle chair Sally Lechín and marketplace chair Gloria Bounds. They succeeded in raising more than $250,000 for LWI charities.
Annual highlight of the luncheon is the Tootsies fashion presentation which this year featured designs from Juan Carlos Obando. The show included several shirtless six-pack wonders in bathing suits, eye candy that always inspires cat calls and whistles from the ladies.
As the show finale, Obando and models were joined on the catwalk by LWI leadership for the traditional tequila toast, the firewater provided by Titanium Tequila.
The merry throng included Rafael Chavez, Trini Mendenhall, Jessica Rossman, Patty Herrera, Lucia Cordua, Ceron, Mary Tere Perusquia, Fady Armanious, Michele Leal, Hilda Curran, Susanna Brener de Stern, Nick Espinosa, Marianelly Noble, Karina Barbieri, Veronica Chapa and Leticia Fallick.
Jessica Willey, from left, Ilona Carson and Karla Barguiarena.
