What: Fashion in the Fields
Where: Hope Farms
The scoop: It was an standing-room-only crowd that filled the UnitedHealthcare Foundation Gathering Barn at Hope Farms for Recipe for Success Foundation’s second Fashion in the Fields presented by Neiman Marcus. More than 200 blossoming #ItMoms, hubs, family, friends, farm fans, and Recipe for Success devotees turned out for a day of fashion, food, and fun. The event raised more than $150,000 towards the Foundation’s mission to teach, empower and inspire healthy eating.
Recipe for Success Foundation Founder and CEO, Gracie Cavnar, was front and center, welcoming all to the event that featured a Neiman Marcus fashion show and a jaw dropping southern’ inspired brunch. Cavnar was the first to quip that the overwhelming looks seen on the ladies was “farm girl chic” and loved the variety of boots on display. Music, farm walk-abouts and shopping capped off a day that was anything but ordinary.
Guests entered the Gathering Barn where they found that the area, typically full of vegetable offerings, was transformed into a chic boutique. Featuring The Shop at Hope Farms full of goodies including a painting from Mary Patton Designs, Tata Harper natural cosmetics and Smeg kitchenware next to Neiman Marcus fashions snatched right off the runway.
Waiters stood at attention with trays of signature Hope Farms Lemonade and Farm style Bloody Mary’s by Tito’s Handmade Vodka, mimosas and bubbly. Event chairs, Amanda Boffone and Elizabeth Dwyer were thrilled at the support from their farm fans and chic chicks. Drawing smiles all around were the arrivals of the child “models” excited about their debut strut down the catwalk.
Celebrity mistress of ceremonies, Miya Shay of ABC 13, welcomed the buzzy group to the event that kicked off with a salute to the farms’ own 2019 Warriors to Farmers Veteran Cohort: Miles Cooke, Oriana Franklin, Sam MacCammon, and Linda Stafford. Each took a turn on the runway to the applause of all, as Shay regaled the audience with details of their many combat decorations. The trainees at Hope Farms work alongside the farm team in a year-long program as they learn the skills and knowledge to become urban agripreneurs with farms of their own.
Cavnar and husband Bob awarded chef Martin Stayer of Nobie’s the Chef of the Year, in recognition of his unwavering support of Recipe for Success Foundation — cooking for special events and designing his restaurant menu around weekly deliveries of Hope Farms produce. Cheryl Sorak was named Volunteer of the Year for her weekly support at the farm.
The Neiman Marcus “Art of Fashion” show was kicked off by pint-sized models — including Mila Arya, Isabelle and Stire Blomquist, Samantha and Terry Boffone, Chloe Cavnar, Lila Dwyer, Bella and Corvin Mallinson, Derrick Mitchell, and Lyndon and Winston Wu — playing to a cooing crowd.
When the professionals hit the runway, all eyes were on the posh showing of stylishly casual fall fashions featuring lots of sparkles and fun furs. When the fashion show concluded, Cavnar announced that designer Lela Rose will be headlining next year’s event, chaired by Sippi Khurana on November 8, 2020. Rose sent a special experience for a live auction item – a private champagne tea for a group of eight in her private New York City atelier, which was snapped up by Julie Longoria Chen.
The crowd then made a beeline for the lavish brunch served in a separate cozy tent staged by Cavnar and her team featuring shabby chic inspired tables topped with raw linen and blue and white ticking and farm fresh floral centerpieces by Cavnar’s own Flower Child. Live music by Socialite Entertainment kept things festive as everyone helped themselves to nosh by by Snooze Eatery, La Table, Common Bond, Hilton Americas, and Pat Greer’s Kitchen.
The day concluded with Gracie and event chairs drawing ticket stubs for the raffle that featured Dolce & Gabbana designed Smeg Blender, a show-stopping Fabergé scarf and pocket square, tickets to the exclusive Chefs in the Field dinner on April 1 and a seasonal Hope Farms produce share.
Who: Amanda Boffone, Elizabeth Dwyer, Roslyn Bazzelle Mitchell, Semmes Burns, Christine Falgout-Gutknecht, Melissa Juneau, Kristen McDanald, Mary Patton, Lyndsey Zorich, Stacey Swift, Yoon Smith, Kristin and Aaron Blomquist, Karen and Roland Garcia, Cynthia and Tony Petrello, Sultana and Moez Mangaji, Anita Smith, Fady Armanious, Bill Baldwin, Stacey Lindseth, Valerie Dietrich, Holly Alvis, Dr. Kelly Coleman, and Virginia McMullen.
Amanda Boffone, Gracie Cavnar, and Elizabeth Dwyer.
