Ten million dollars.  That’s a lotta lucre!  Also, it’s how much has been raised, as a result of the annual Fashion for Three Square events that Diana Bennett and her amazing squad have held, these past six years, to celebrate Three Square Food Bank’s Bag Childhood Hunger program.  In practical terms, those funds have provided 30 million meals to hungry children throughout our community.  The most recent affair – held at Bennett’s stunning Dragonridge aerie, with its spectacular views of the Las Vegas Valley – featured a dynamic Neiman Marcus-produced fashion-presentation, featuring highlights of Monique Lhuillier’s Fall 2017 collection.

There are a few things one always knows, going into a Fashion for Three Square event.  First, you know that, thanks to David Steen and his designers and stylists from Evolve Interiors, the staging is gonna be fierce (and I mean stuh-ning).  From the stylish floral arrangements, to the lighting, to the cozy vignettes where guests can gather with their friends to eat, drink, and chat – Team Steen does it right.

Next, you know that, thanks to Las Vegas’ favorite foodie power-couple, Elizabeth Blau and Kim Canteenwalla, the culinary program is gonna be on fleek, featuring savory items from some of Las Vegas’ most popular eateries.  The stand-outs that tickled my palate, that night, included a fantastic Fish & Chips from Chef Rick Moonen’s RM Seafood; Grilled Artisanal Sausages from Chef Shawn McClain’s Libertine Social, caviar courtesy of Brett Ottolenghi and Artisanal Foods; sushi à la Nobu; and tacos from Chef John Hilton (Executive Chef, Three Square).  Not coincidentally, the Blau and Canteenwalla are the Chair and a Founding Member of the Three Square Culinary Council, respectively.

Oh!  And these adorable teensy ice cream cones that were scooped to order (by way of Wolfgang Puck Fine Dining Group’s Corporate Executive Chef, Kamel Guechida, who did all of the desserts).  God, were they tasty!  I got myself a scoop of Toasted Marshmallow Ice Cream on a Red Velvet Cone.  Then I got myself another.  Then another.  I stopped at four, in case you were wondering.  (And before you get snide, they were using a melon-baller to scoop the ice cream – so back off…)

And finally, thanks to Nancy Nichols (VP, General Manager - Neiman Marcus Las Vegas), you know the evening’s fashion element is gonna be dynamic, current, and pulsing with energy.  To wit, as the sun began to set, everyone moved outside, to watch the models as they worked their respective Monique Lhuillier looks down the stairs, along the pool, down more stairs, then back up the main stairs.  Since most of the looks were cocktail and evening (and for Fall’17 Monique was going long and glam), I was at the ready for at least one of the models to trip on a stair or a gratuitously long hem, and take out a gaggle of onlookers.  But alas, they were pros, and there was nary a misstep. 

Then, Three Square CEO Brian Burton joined Diana by the pool, and wrapped-up the evening by having a group of adorably dressed children come out, and present Diana with a beautiful arrangement of flowers, after which they unfurled a banner, on which had been printed the quote of Diana’s that will be painted onto a wall at the Three Square campus in North Las Vegas – alongside quotes by the likes of Mohandas Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Jr., Cesar Chavez, Conrad Hilton, Buzz Aldrin, Punam Mather, John F. Kennedy, Jr., and Margaret Mead.  “When I get hugs, from the children we help; I get back so much more that I give.”  A great quote: Lovely, succinct, and heartfelt; to be sure.  But more importantly, it really speaks to the kind of person Diana is, and why I love those fabulous hugs of hers.

Fashion for Three Square | Bag Childhood Hunger program
Three Square Food Bank
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