Lizz Russell presented a fashion show at the Westgate Hotel on May 24. The theme for this spring collection was Live.Love.Fashion, which was part of the Cocktails & Couture 2019 series. The evening began with a social hour and a fun onsite swag shop with Lizz’s creations featuring her signature Rose Handbags. Frankee Traxx played tunes for the evening entertaining the crowd.
The show began in the Versailles Ballroom with celebrity guest and co-host, Antoinette Love Ransom, founder of Exhibit Ambush, and Kathy David, president of IT Techpros Inc. They were high-energy personalities who kept the crowd entertained throughout the evening. I couldn’t wait to see what they would do next.
Proceeds from the event go to GBS/CIDP (Guillain-Barre Syndrome/Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy) Foundation International. May is GBS/CIDP awareness month. This disorder can produce paralysis of the legs, arms, breathing muscles, and face. Marilyn Tedesco, who was formerly on the board of directors and is mother of a GBS survivor, spoke to the audience and gave them all the upcoming events for GBS. During the evening The Robert and Estelle Benson award winner 2019 was handed out to Paige-Luca Duffy. Duffy was in recovery with GBS for nine months and told the audience that she was so excited that she now could walk to the podium without assistance to receive her award. It was a very touching moment.
The fashion show began with Russell’s new LOVE Collection, which included stunning jewelry pieces designed by Russell. VIP models were Jolisa Webb Dudley, who is the associate director of Outreach & Retention Department of Veterans Affairs, and Shari Williams who is president of Shari Williams Enterprises LLC. Models came gracefully down the runway in flowing tops. Many were wearing them off the shoulders with bell-bottom pants or skirts with slits on one side. One segment had the Lil Friends of Survivors modeling the New Kids Collection. This love collection showed bare midriffs on some of the creations. One of my favorite styles coming down the runway was the animal print. I especially loved the backless designs. The finale showed gorgeous eveningwear with sequins for an ooh la la night out. Russell is a survivor of GBS and spent years recuperating from her paralysis and now is a liaison leader for the San Diego Chapter. She is an inspiration for others faced with this devastating disease and tells her amazing story in her autobiography, “Smiling On The Inside.” She received the Christian Literacy Awards of Frisco, Texas as the recipient of the “Henri Award” for Outstanding Literary Work. If you would like more information about GBS/CIDP, visit gbs-cidp.org. Upcoming events
Wednesday, June 26: Race Day Fashion Show and Luncheon at Mille Fleurs at 6009 Paseo Delicias in RSF from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Proceeds benefit Country Friends. For tickets and information, visit thecountryfriends.org or call 858-756-1192.
Saturday, June 29: One Fashionable Eve’ Fashion Show at San Diego Innovation Center located at 7310 Miramar Road Suite 500. Designs by Ugochi Iwuaba and other renowned designers. Live music and synchronized dance. For tickets, http://bit.ly/2X84Hdw.
Diana Cavagnaro is an internationally renowned Couture Milliner based in the Historic Gaslamp Quarter. Learn more about our Hat Designer, Teacher & Blogger at www.DianaCavagnaro.com
