A pack of fashionably philanthropic New Yorkers headed to 404 NYC this past Thursday evening for a great cause and a bright summer night of fashion fun. The Third Annual Fighting Leukemia with Fashion show, run by City Model and Talent to benefit the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, featured up-and-coming designers Ingrid Thelisme, Brazilian Bezel Swimwear and Kahri by KahriAnne Kerr.
As businessmen and women, socialites, and photographers alike enjoyed the open bar sponsored by Diageo Liquors and mingled animatedly, models scrambled around the second floor of the sleek and modern all-white loft posing prettily against the glass wall overlooking the Hudson River.
Moments before models bronzed and bright in neon bikinis began their dramatic trot down the stairs to the runway, celebrity guests Alex Mccord and Simon Van Kempen, everybody’s favorite (or least favorite) couple from the Real Housewives of New York City, slipped out of the sun shower into their front row seats. Supporting LLS’s mission to help cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease, and myeloma, Alex and Simon bobbed along to the live performance by Damien Richards & The D. Rich Project, smiling, live tweeting and occasionally checking out scantily clad models.
Jacqueline Krentzel-Miller, CEO of City Model and Talent, expressed her strong connection to fashion and the charitable cause, explaining, “Fashion is something that we live and breathe every day. However we have the option of changing our outfits and changing our style. The goal of this event is to bring that same hope to people living with leukemia. With everyone’s help, we can change their future and change the outcome of how the disease affects their lives.”
With a live performance, diverse attendance, a sexy and cutting edge runway show and the presence of so many dedicated to saving lives by recruiting bone marrow donors for leukemia patients, the energy at “Fighting Leukemia with Fashion” was electric. Post-runway show, Alex, Simon and crew stuck around for more free alcohol, an auction, free chocolate, interviews and conversation.
My favorite look of the show, reflecting a compilation of this summer’s popular nighttime trends, was a Kahri by KahriAnne Kerr gold sequined and green silk dress. With a black tulle overlay and a 6 strapped neckline, the ‘Brick by brick’ dress was simultaneously edgy and elegant, with a tangerine lipstick perfectly completing the look.
Tutus, lace and metallic one-piece cut-out bathing suits aside, Alex and Simon stood out from the crowd with their sartorial style. “My dress is Lipsy London and my shoes are United Nude,” said Alex of her bold-printed, front zipper corseted dress and architecturally genius shoes. “Simon and I are both wearing United Nude shoes,” she added when I asked about Simon’s ‘Ipanema Fold Lo Slip-On’s,’ which seemed to foreshadow Friday’s legalization of gay marriage in New York with their rainbow pattern. Leaving the event with a bag of chocolate and a new necklace in the city sunset, the weekend in New York had gotten off to a wonderful start.