The ladies left their panties at home this time but they tossed showers of gold glitter, faux greenbacks, roses and even pacifiers at the gents who strutted the catwalk at the annual Festari for Men's Una Notte in Italia benefit fashion evening. (In previous years, a few thongs and bras were catapulted across the runway.)
Always a rollicking, raucous event, Friday night's blast was exceptionally potent as the Westin Galleria Hotel ballroom was packed with a record 700 guests, a good number of whom displayed bounteous cleavage and suggestions of serious booty in body-hugging dresses.
The record night, raising more than $400,000 for Bo's Place, was chaired by Christie Sullivan and Jennifer Brown with event founders Debbie and Rudy Festari reprising their roles as honorary chairs. Dominique Sachse again took the stage as emcee alongside Debbie Festari. The bundle was in no small part thanks to Stephen Lewis who served as auctioneer.
The gents, including Mark Sullivan, Sergio Morales, Kevin Maples and Dr. Haresh Yalamanchili, strolled the elevated runway while friends hooted and whistled, tossing various symbols of affection including those pacifiers aimed at Brad Marks. He and wife Joanna are proudly expecting their first child.
As is tradition, Houston Texans ruled on the catwalk. On this night they included Duane Brown, Garrett Graham, Andre Hal and Chris Myers and former Texan Kevin Walter.
Applauding the models were Lori and Phillip Sarofim, Melissa and Michael Mithoff, Jill Schlenker, Lilly and Bobby Newman, Jonathan Tinkle (who designed Jennifer Brown's party frock), Liz and Tom Glanville, Hannah and Cal McNair, Millette and Haag Sherman, Monica and John Blaisdell and Gervaise and Gary Petersen.
Sergio Morales was surely the most animated of all the gents modeling fashions from Festari.
