Sure, they had me as soon as I opened the envelope and removed the elegantly engraved square of heavy cardstock that read “LANVIN Paris and Audra Baldwin request…” – and this was just the Save the Date notice. Imagine my delight upon receipt of the actual invitation, with details of the special Lanvin Collection Presentation benefiting Nevada Ballet Theatre, being held on September 10th, at the exquisitely appointed residence of NBT Trustee (and Diamond Cake October’13 cover-philanthropist), Audra Baldwin.

The afternoon featured cocktails, a Collection Preview, lunch, and the aforementioned Fashion Presentation. Upon handing their respective keys over to the valets, guests were greeted by specially selected members of NBT’s Future Dance (a teaching-program that benefits thousands of at-risk and underprivileged youths, annually), smartly attired in Lanvin Petite, who offered fans and parasols, featuring the butterfly motif that was woven throughout this season’s collection. I opted for the fan, telling Audra’s daughter, Skyler “Just the fan, for me, my darling: I doubt that even I could pull-off a parasol without going all Mikado. Don’t you?” (I know, I know – my go-to hifalutin artsy Asian allusion is invariably Turandot; but I reckoned the Puccini reference would be wasted on an 11 year old – even one as clever as Miss Skyler; and I figured the nod to Gilbert & Sullivan a bit more apropos to the occasion.)

After cocktails on the lawn, attendees proceeded inside, where we mingled, nibbled, and perused Lanvin’s FW13 collection. Then, it was to our assigned seats, where menus greeted us, with our names written in calligraphy, across the top. A salute to the assembled ladies-who-lunch was prepared by Elizabeth Blau & Chef Kim Canteenwalla’s popular farm-to-table restaurant, Honey Salt; and it was delectable. We started with a Burrata & Heirloom Tomato Salad (with basil, balsamic, extra virgin olive oil, and shaved bittersweet chocolate) before the Presentation. Then, after the festival of fashion, we partook of our entrée – a Roasted Halibut (with corn salsa and herb pesto purée), and hats off to Chef Kim and the Honey Salt team, because it was as good a piece of fish as I’ve had in a while (granted, it was the only piece of fish, I’ve had, in a while – but still…). As per always, at these sorts of posh Las Vegas affairs, the drinks were provided by the friendly folks at Southern Wine & Spirits of Southern Nevada.

Now, I know what you’re asking yourself… Who the heck was at this thing, and what did y’all see? Well, know – you’ll just have to come back, for Part 2, and find out. TTFN!

LANVIN FW13 Runway & LANVIN SS14 Pre-Collection
An exclusive benefit for Nevada Ballet Theatre
Click HERE for info

Get into it!