Well come and get some on September 9th at the Life + Style Special Occasions Expo.

Meet all of the best special occasion purveyors in Atlanta and learn how to throw the perfect party. From fashion and beauty, to food and decor, guests can see and sample it all!

Your hosts for the evening: V103’s Rahsan Ali, Q100’s Wendy Adams, 99X’s Shawn Williams, Fox 5’s Stacey Elgin, Get Married Magazine’s Karina Timmel, Skirt Magazine’s Stephanie Davis and WNBA Atlanta Dream Beauty Yelena Leuchanka.

*Raffle tickets will be sold for $2 each and all proceeds will go toward Sporty Girls, a non-profit that provides young minority girls the opportunity to participate in non traditional sports. Prizes include gift certificates from all participating retailers.

Life & Syle Special Occasion Expo takes place at 103 West Paces Ferry Road. 6:30-8pm.

RSVP by September 8 to rsvp@carenwestpr.com

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So this fall Hollywood will do its best to open up our wallets and pocket books, and they have close to 100 chances to do so.  As you busy yourself with Halloween costumes for the kids, readying your home for Thanksgiving guests, and shopping for Hanukkah and Christmas, take some time to be entertained. This is the season when studios put out their best Oscar bait, but I am no movie snob.  Here is a list of my top five films, Oscar worthy or not, that I know I will be checking out over the next few months.

This will be Oscar winner Ben Affleck’s second film behind the camera.  It is a crime based drama set in Boston. Affleck’s character is faced with the choice of leaving a life as a bank robber for his new girlfriend.  The one snag is that his new girlfriend happens to have been a hostage taken during one of his robberies.  Oscar nominee Jeremy Renner (The Hurt Locker) co-stars as Affleck’s partner in crime.  Jon Hamm (Mad Men) is the federal agent tracking them down. For anyone who saw Affleck’s directorial debut, Gone Baby Gone, he has a knack for creating a gritty crime drama.

FOUR
Let Me In
Director: Matt Reeves
Starring: Chloe Grace Mortez, Kodi Smit-McPhee
Release Date: October 1st

This is the obligatory American remake of the absolutely flawless Swedish film Let The Right One In. It is the tale of a lonely vampire and a bullied child forming a friendship amidst their own personal struggles. Chloe Grace Mortez (Kick Ass) plays the vampire child.  Kodi Smit-McPhee (The Road) is the lonely boy who suffers at the hands of bullies. Director Matt Reeves earned some major street cred with his previous effort Cloverfield.  I must say that I am very skeptical of this remake. The original was only released two years ago and I could not sing its praises enough.  For you Twi-hards, this is not a cutesy vampire story. If it shares anything with its overseas counterpart there will be hard core blood and violence.  I would recommend seeing Let The Right One In and then checking out our domestic version.

THREE
Tron Legacy
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Starring: Jeff Bridges, Garrett Hedlund
Release Date: December 17th

It has been 28 years since Jeff Bridges was pulled in to a computer landscape. Tron has developed a substantial cult following over the decades and Disney felt that the time was right to create a franchise. The sequel can boast the latest in special effects, and if you have seen the trailers, the visuals do look spectacular.  Jeff Bridges is reprising his role as Flynn and up and coming Garrett Hedlund (Friday Night Lights) plays his son and new hero. Tron Legacy will be released in 3D, just in time for the Holidays.

TWO
True Grit
Director: Joel and Ethan Cohen
Starring: Jeff Bridges, Matt Damon, and Josh Brolin
Release Date: December 25th

I do not discriminate when it comes to movies, and I actually love westerns.  It is just too bad that Hollywood seldom gets them right.  This is a remake of the 1960’s original that earned John Wayne his only Oscar and created his most iconic character, Rooster Cogburn. Stepping in to wear the eye patch is none other than Oscar winner Jeff Bridges (Crazy Heart).  The law man must help a teenage girl find the man that killed her father.  The Cohen brothers’ track record is golden: Fargo, O Brother Where Art Thou?, and The Big Lebowski are all modern classics. The film has a solid supporting cast with Oscar winner Matt Damon and Oscar nominee Josh Brolin.  If it was not for a certain teenage wizard this would be number one on my list.

ONE
Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows Part One
Director: David Yates
Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint
Release Date: November 19th

Let’s not kid ourselves, no movie made by mere muggles will be able to stand up against the magic cast by Harry Potter. The final film in the series is being released in two parts. Part one, this fall and Part two next summer. For those that have read the books, you know what is coming.  Not all of your favorites from J. K. Rowling’s classic series are going to make it to the end. The big question is where will part one end?  It will surely be a frustrating cliffhanger, leaving us on the edge of our seats waiting for summer 2011.  I agree with those that say Warner Brothers is only releasing the finale in two parts to pull in as much cash as possible. The Goblet of Fire, The Order of the Phoenix, and The Half Blood Prince were as equally long as The Deathly Hallows, but Warner managed to condense them  in to just one movie each.  Considering that every entry in the franchise has been better than the last I can forgive Warner for wanting to make an extra dollar.  I am in no hurry for the spell that Harry Potter has cast to end anytime soon.

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Boy was I wrong about not seeing them again!Fast forward to the after party at Opera… Within minutes of my arrival, I see my newly found Cuban friend, Felix Buitrago. Fabulous Felix and I headed upstairs to VIP for a drink and ended up chatting up a 90 minute storm with Jack and Lazaro. Our bartender, Michael, held the four of us captive with flowing champagne.

This was Proenza Schouler’s first time in Atlanta and they commented on the high level of southern hospitality they had received. “Everyone is so nice and have treated us wonderfully” they said.  A refreshing change from NY, perhaps?

Jack and Lazaro have a tremendous amount of work waiting for them in NY as they are only two weeks away from fashion week. They were remarkably calm, considering. When I asked them how often they fight, at first they giggled and then replied “we don’t fight much at all.” They added that it gets difficult at times because they are together 24/7, but that sharing a similar design aesthetic helps them agree more so than disagree.

Jack and Lazaro met while studying at Parsons under none other than the incomparable Tim Gunn. They pointed out elements that contributed to their success. The fact that their vision is unified makes it easier to produce a collection season after season. They also spoke [modestly] about how so much of their success was luck and chance. Being at the right place at the right time. Lazaro used as an example, the time he slipped a note to Anna Wintour, on a flight. He said that really happened and that he did it because it was an opportunity which had been placed before him. Lazaro felt he needed to “cease the moment.” That moment got him an internship with Michael Kors. Jack interned with Marc Jacobs.

Felix and I didn’t want to just talk shop with Proenza Schouler.

They were both so friendly and approachable. The champagne kept flowing and our conversation shifted into more personal things. Nothing scandalous!

We spoke about tattoos. Jack has a quarter sleeve on his right arm and they both have an identical tiny star behind their left ear. Felix asked them about it, but they weren’t forthcoming with details, just that there’s a lot of history between them. They did smile over the question.

Lazaro’s mother, who lives in Miami, recently cooked Jack’s favorite Cuban dish which is picadillo. They like their yuca, too.

With all the success and fame Jack and Lazaro have acquired, none of it seems to have gone to their head. They are two of the nicest, down to earth and hottest fashion designers you could meet. These golden boys have travelled the world and have met the likes of  fashion legends like Karl Lagerfeld. They are friends with designer Narciso Rodriguez and spoke fondly of him. And they are CFDA winners. Yet Felix and I hung out with them at the bar like old friends catching up. Fun, friendly and casual. They couldn’t have been more “normal” though they are nothing short of extraordinary.

When I asked about the possibility of a Proenza Schouler men’s line, I got two different responses. Jack said, “no, that be hard, because our personal style is so casual – tee shirts and jeans” and Lazaro said that “it would be our next step.” Draw your own conclusion.

Jeffrey Fashion Cares opened the runway with looks from Proenza Schouler.

*Runway photos courtesy of Richard Dawson, Shaped-Light Photography

ps… thank you Jeffrey Kalinsky for bringing these two amazing designers to Atlanta!

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Jennifer Brett, living up to the title I gave her of “Twitter Queen”- and yes, she is tweeting – Jennifer looked lovely in a deep blue layered dress that brought out her beautiful blue eyes.

This is the picture she tweeted:

I’m with the gorgeous Sara Blakely, Spanx Inc. founder and a wonderful person all the way around who makes us all look and feel better.

The party scene: B52s Fred Schneider chats it up with Rich Eldredge.

Fred Schneider and Sara Blakely are sandwiched between Proenza Schouler’s Lazaro Hernandez and Jack McCollough (far right).

In a chic silk dress with silver spangles, the true woman of the hour, Caren West of Caren West PR. Putting together an event like Fashion Cares is an enormous labor of love handled excellently by the super pr magic of Caren West PR and her sensational team: Chad David Shearer, Natalie Powell and Sean Liphard. Great job and thank you!

After leaving the Loews, I met up with my good friend Jeff Glasheen and we headed over to the event space. We rode the elevator to the 32nd floor of 1075 Peachtree and entered the best dressed cocktail reception in the city. Can I just say, Wow! Bling, stilettos and lashes for days all over. The room itself emitted a vibrant energy caused by a combination of factors: thumping dance music, great ambient lighting, flash photography and liquor.

I am preparing runway footage for later in the week, so stay tuned! For now, here are photos of the many wonderful fashion lovers that glamourized the evening:

Art pioneer, Fay Gold and Philanthropist Cathy Smith.

*photo by Ben Rose

Yelena Leuchanka wearing a Mychael Knight original. Stunning.

The always stunning Angela Karatassos.

(left) Luxetips’ Latoicha Givens.

Toni Schenk in a sparkling necklace.

Lisa Tush is beautiful in a silk ruched cocktail dress with beaded front and Jeff Glasheen is always dapper, always in style.

I’m pictured here with one of my favorite lovely ladies and dear friend, the most precious gem in all of David Yurman, the gorgeous Marian Goldberg.

Sarah Richards of Anne Barge Atelier with the bridal goddess herself and last year’s Jeffrey Fashion Cares Honorary Chair, Anne Barge. Both ladies are chic in black.

More fashionistas. January Howard and Ellen Harden.

The REAL Jamie Annarino of Red Clay Pr and the one and only, Jenn Hobby.

11Alive’s Evelyn Mims who I just love and adore. On the right, Stephanie Russell.

Corinna Allen in a sexy one shoulder dress.

Bumped into the wonderful Vikki Locke and her husband Mike as I took my seat.

The National Black Arts Festival’s Judy Hanenkrat and Neil Barclay.

The lady in red, Leslie Koerdt.

Great picture of a gorgeous blinged-out Mara Davis, davefm,  and the handsome James Crews of Emly Benham.

The fashion show was fantastic, but again, more on that later in the week.

There were so many wonderful, beautiful people and friends supporting the event that for one reason or another didn’t find their way to my camera, so I’ll give them a shout out: Meg Reggie, Stan and JeNika Mukoro, Tamara Kimble, Liz Lapidus, Jessica Thomas, Aly Hoag, Marsha Middleton, Mychael Knight, Reggie Walker, Marilyn Johnson, Drew Brown, Dennis Dean-thank you for the exquisite catering! – Elizabeth Roth, Isoul Harris, Don Purcell, Lila Hertz, Louise Sams, Jeffrey McQuithy, Felix Buitrago, Justin Epstein, Tammie Reed, Kevin Bryant and Pat Wallace.

Lets move on to the after party to end all after parties! They say its not  over ’til the fat lady sings, well she sang, but we weren’t listening! Champagne was flowing past midnight and the performers kept performing. Drag Queen and cotton candy, fire breathers and celebrity deejays. Only the creative forces and event consultant Bill Kaelin and the imagination of Cathy Smith could bring to life a  chic circus-themed bash. I don’t have many pictures because I was too busy having fun. So here’s what I do have:

CliqueAtlanta’s Tonya Ellerby in a vintage sequined ensemble. We had just walked in.

The sultry Erica Lee.

H O T. Nicole Paige Brooks, from Atlanta Georgia.

The bubbly Bubba D. Licious poses with fan, Caroline Wallace.

Eventologie’s glamorous April Trigg.

Deejays Vicki Powell and Fred Schneider spinning those turntable round.

and we danced and danced and danced… Monday night will never be the same!

Jeffre Fashion Cares 2010

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Full Disclosure: The dancers weren’t dancing, the aerialist wasn’t flying around and the drag queens weren’t a drag! Though Erica Lee talked about the heavy beaded gown she’ll be wearing. Nicole Paige Brooks will be a sexy Ring Master and Bubba D. Licious slipped into Prada heels, a gift from Cathy. When Nicole convinced Bubba to let her try them on, Bubba yelled, “Now you’ve ruined them!”… too funny.

Don Purcell of Jeffrey Atlanta spoke with me quite a bit about the fashion show this evening. He’s excited. Said the presentation is sensational. Expect to see about 60 looks!

Fred, however, was the man of the hour. He has been in town since his concert at Chastain Park last week. Generously stayed in Atlanta just for the after party. You should sneak a peek of him at the event too.

Tonight, he is the special guest DJ for the Jeffrey Fashion Cares after party at Opera.

A long time activist, Fred is one to stand up for the things he believes in which is precisely why he offers his talents to Jeffrey Fashion Cares. (Plus he loves Georgia) He also loves the venue, Opera, and co-deejaying with Vicki Powell is something he does well. Do you have any (B52) song requests? He’ll play them for charity! $50 dollar per song, but if you want to hear Love Shack, cough up $200… hey, its for a great cause!

Fred’s goal tonight is to get you up and dancing. There’s a dance floor and two dj’s so it’s a no-brainer. He plans to spin a great variety of fun, get up and dance music. He’s especially excited about the circus theme and the energy potential tonight.

Chatting with Fred at the courtyard of the Artmore Hotel was just plain fun. He was relaxed, funny and down to earth. When we weren’t talking about the after party, we spoke of the early days of the B52’s, living in NY and Cathy Smith. They’ve been friends for many years and Fred says she’s got a heart of gold.

The evening ended with dinner at the Colonnade! Cathy and her NY friend Richard, Kevin, Fred and I had a Southern feast of fried okra, mac n cheese, brussel sprouts, fried chicken and ribs. ( No meat for Fred!) Good ole fashioned Southern cooking is not something readily found in NYC.

Fred was happy!

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I’ve been looking forward to Monday, August 30th for some time now, and after two hours on the 32nd floor of the spectacular 12th & Midtown at 1075 Peachtree, I am down right excited to attend the 18th Annual Jeffrey Fashion Cares. The reality that Fashion Cares is just two days away sunk in quickly as I walked into the impressive, raw event space.

A team of volunteers headed by Melinda Wertheim were stuffing gift bags, about 750+. Event Co-Chairs Lila Hertz, Louise Sams and Jeffrey McQuithy were in the thick of it as they too worked up a sweat loading up fabulous goodie bags. Nail polish, Spanx gift cards, Kerastase products, gourmet doggie treats and lots more, are just some of the great items waiting for you.

(L-R) Co-Chairs Jeffrey McQuithy, Lila Hertz and Louise Sams meet with Peachtree Tents and Events Partner, Jeff Terry.

The massive floor space has been divided by beautiful, flowing, sheer drapery which gives an ethereal presence to the event. A perfect juxtapositional design layout of heavy and light, hard and soft, raw and polished.

A bright red wall will feature something urban and edgy… You’ll just have to come Monday night and see for yourself!

An impressive 144 ft. long runway commands the main show space… that’s a lot of high-end sashaying in six inch stilettos for us on Monday!

A future super-model in the making, Fiona strikes a pose! Her father, Pat Wallace of AAA Parking, and I served as Fiona’s paparazzi. When Fiona wasn’t modeling, she was “directing” her dad and I with gift bag stuffing instruction.

Finally, I saved my favorite for last – the views from the 32nd floor of 12th & Midtown- WOW! With floor to ceiling windows, the city’s views are yours for the taking. It was mesmerizing to just stand and look at Atlanta from a heavenly perspective. So beautiful.

Tomorrow night, the view will be even more spectacular as the scene changes before our eyes from daylight to sundown with all the bright city lights creating a new brilliant landscape.

Jeffrey Fashion Cares is nearly sold out! If you’re thinking about attending, you’ll need to decide quickly. The event benefits the Susan G. Komen for the Cure – Greater Atlanta Affiliate and the Atlanta AIDS Fund.

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I am looking forward to every single minute of the event, from the opening reception to the after party at Opera, but I must admit that meeting Proenza Schouler will definitely be one of the highlights of the evening.

The ticket cost can be steep for some which is one reason Jeffrey Fashion Cares goes all out to deliver the most sensational party for you. Whether this is the only event you attend, or cause you support, I can assure you that it is worth every penny. And your “penny” touches many lives.

Today, I wanted to share the impact that your ticket has on the Atlanta AIDS Fund. Its important to know where [your] money goes and how it affects our community.

ATLANTA AIDS FUND

By Tene Traylor, program officer, The Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta and Mary Spanburgh, director, community engagement, at United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta

Jeffrey Fashion Cares has grown into one of the largest combined AIDS and breast cancer benefits in the country, having raised approximately $9 million. Last year, 90 cents of every dollar raised went directly to the beneficiaries. Those dollars raised are absolutely essential to the work of the Atlanta AIDS Fund, which provides financial support to AIDS serving organizations for advocacy, education and prevention efforts in the Atlanta region.

Through this collaborative funding partnership of The Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta, United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta, the National AIDS Fund, the Elton John AIDS Foundation, the Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS, Fashion Cares and other individual donors, the Atlanta AIDS Fund has invested nearly $10 million to support the efforts of nonprofits doing exceptional work in this area. While the financial support is impressive, it’s the stories from our nonprofits that tell us how events like Fashion Cares are making an impact in our communities.

In December 2009, the Living Room received a $50,000 grant from the Atlanta AIDS Fund. The organization is a housing information, placement and financial assistance agency for low-income people who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless due to HIV/AIDS.

Long-time executive director, Nick Danna, recently retired after 10 years and shared with us a story of a young man and woman that came to the Living Room five years ago. The couple came to the nonprofit from their drug treatment program to volunteer as part of their recovery work. They had been in business together with bright professional careers but had fallen victim to a serious drug addiction. This addiction not only led to the destruction of their careers but also to their contraction of the HIV virus.

Today they both serve on the Living Room’s board of directors and are teaching others how to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS. One serves on the board of AID Atlanta and was named Volunteer of the Year by AID Atlanta in 2008. The other is vice president of the Ryan White HIV Planning Council, which oversees funding for HIV/AIDS medical care in the 20-county metro Atlanta area.

These are the individuals that the Atlanta AIDS Fund supports through Fashion Cares, and we thank you for helping us reach them.

THANK YOU ATLANTA AIDS FUND

Lets enjoy a few looks from Proenza Schouler’s 2011 Resort Collection:

CLICK HERE for TICKET INFO

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Market,

Now, the event was called Foodies & Fashionistas, so let talk about the nibbles…

Everything was phenomenal, but my favorite picks were the watermelon and goat cheese skewers and the refreshing, chilled watermelon gazpacho. To wash it all down (and encourage fearless shopping) every guest was treated to a sparkling Bellini. I had two! shhh…

Event photo gallery, Foodies & Fashionistas:

The lovely ladies who greeted you at the entrance. In addition to the evening’s festivities there was a raffle to benefit the UrbanCouture fashion program at Grady High School.

Market was filled with very stylish, very happy shoppers! A huge thank you to Kitsy Rose, Mary Reynolds and Kelly Norris!

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In its eighteenth year, major changes to the signature benefit will – without a doubt – make it the best one to date.

Your ticket includes a swanky pre-show cocktail reception, a live auction of incredible items, a tres chic prêt-à-porter fashion show and an “over-the Big-Top” after-party with B52’s frontman Fred Schneider as your DJ.

The evening also features very fabulous, very special guests, Honorary Chair, Spanx, Inc Goddess Sara Blakely and fashion’s super duo Lazaro Hernandez and Jack McCollough of Proenza Schouler.

About the only thing that can top all of this is the good you are doing for the community! We get so caught up in the glam and festivities of charitable events that we often don’t know of the impact the donation makes. Purchasing a ticket to Jeffrey Fashion Cares means a whole lot more, in the grand scheme of things, than high-fashion and after parties. Your ticket purchase literally saves lives.

In a two part fashionado feature, I reached out to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure—Greater Atlanta Affiliate and the Atlanta AIDS Fund in the interest of voicing their perspective/experiences/impact with Jeffrey Fashion Cares.

Kelly Dolan,  who is the Executive Director of the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Greater Atlanta Affiliate, responds passionately and eloquently:

The  Importance  of  Fashion  Cares

Fashion Cares is an event that is near and dear to me and the many women who are helped by Susan G. Komen for the Cure.  I think it represents the best of what people in our community do for others in need.

The vast majority of the money raised at the event is used by Komen Atlanta to fund life-saving mammography screening for women right here in Atlanta who would not otherwise be able to afford it. Early detection of breast cancer is the key to survival and 98% of women who find their breast cancer in its initial stage have a more than five year survival rate – so the mammograms that Fashion Cares funds are truly saving lives right here in Atlanta all year long!

It is the ultimate win-win situation – women and men in Atlanta who have a passion for fashion helping women in Atlanta in need. Each year, Fashion Cares comes alive as a great night that elevates Atlanta on many levels by providing the very best fashion event in the city that truly delivers on its promise to help people in our community. What can be better than attending one of the most exciting events in the city and knowing that your attendance is helping your neighbor right down the street?

Fashion Cares Co-Chair Lila Hertz is a breast cancer survivor and former President of Komen Atlanta and she embodies what a person can do when she takes a negative experience in her life and turns it into a positive experience for so many others.  She has created such a force for good in this community through her work with Fashion Cares and many other causes.

Lila and Fashion Cares founder Jeffrey Kalinsky, along with her co-chairs Jeffrey McQuithy and Louise Sams have found the magic formula when it comes to making a charity event work – it is fun, exciting, relevant, unique and supports causes that make an impact on our community…quite a fantastic use of fashion from a top notch group of people who really do care.

Jeffrey Fashion Cares Co-Chairs (l-r) Louise Sams, Jeffrey McQuithy, Lila Hertz

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Come network and celebrate the fashion industry as we redefine the Atlanta fashion scene.

Featured photographers:
Donne Ashlock http://www.donneashlock.com/
Sammie Saxon http://www.sammiesaxon.com/
Anderson Smith Photography http://www.andersonsmithphotography.net/
NICOVISION http://www.nicovision.com/

New Face:
Jessica Hunt http://jessmodels.tumblr.com/

Speakers:
Lyndon Winchester http://www.hopmodels.com/
E. Vincent Martinez http://fashionado.net/

RSVP: http://deelitefashion.eventbrite.com/

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