The Heart Truth charity turned ten this week and celebrated with an extra-special runway event at the Hammerstein Ballroom. The organization seeks to bring awareness to the leading cause of fatalities for women in America: heart diseases. Every year, giddy hoi polloi come together to cheer socialites, singers, TV personalities, supermodels, and the occasional B-rate movie star, as they glide down the runway in red couture. Hundreds attended, from Philip Bloch and J. Alexander, to country crooner Jennifer Nettles and Dynasty matriarch Linda Evans (who sashayed in David Meister and Tadashi Shoji, respectively, for the show).
But oh what a treat was The Observer in for this year!
Rebecca Romijin wins for classiest act. Her delicate and smiley stroll in a flowery Marchesa gown was dignified, yet warm. The mother of Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps walked, and stopped to smooch her golden son watching from the audience. Debbie Phelps received plenty of applause, as many noted her having championed nutritional and health initiatives on a local level. Aisha Tyler’s spin on the dance floor proved that the woman doesn’t age (of course her stunning Badgley Mischka has to take some credit). Glamour editor-in-chief Cindi Leive was cooperative, but a bit sheepish… then again she did sport a killer Jason Wu scarlet number down the runway.
But what fun is class? To balance out our spectrum, we had Millionaire Matchmaker Patti Stranger, who a few pounds lighter, working her magic in Marc Bower. And where to begin with La La Anthony? The editor beside the Observer cocked her head and muttered, “That’s what you get when you put 10lbs of shit in a 5lb bag!” (Perhaps La La’s Rachel Roy was a bit too body-hugging, but what’s wrong when a girl’s got curves? She looked foxy… We still love you La La!)
Two catwalkers took the “Fall Collection” season name a little too literally: Rose McGowen thought she had it all in her Donna Karan Collection, until she nearly took out an entire section of the front row after getting caught in her hems. And Christie Brinkley unleashed her inner diva as she strutted onto the catwalk, before she tripped over her billowy Pamella Rolland full-length and nearly ate shit! (In her defense, she never really was a runway model…)
They say to save the best for last and songstress, Gloria Estefan, who closed the collection in a tasteful Narciso Rodriguez (up-do and all), certainly WOW-ed; but Chaka Khan in a rouge, leopard print Chris March dress! Need we say more? Epic!