The Crowd

B.W. Cook

They raised a remarkable $176,532. They also raised the roof at their

annual spring fashion show luncheon.

The ladies known as the Sophisticates of the Assessment Treatment

Services Center know how to have a party. They also know fashion.

“L’Orangerie” was theme of their event, featuring American and European

fashion from Nordstrom on the runway and in the audience worn by some of

the most fashion-conscious members of Newport-Mesa society.

The massive undertaking was chaired by the very glamorous Penny

Fox-Shah, who also happens to be a successful businesswoman in the

accounting field. Attired in a shimmering raw silk suit by designer Jimmy

Gamba, Fox-Shah was joined by her family for the show and luncheon. She

dazzled the audience with her beauty and poise as she introduced the

event, the show and the cause, which helps children and families at risk

in the community through one-on-one personal counseling offered at no

charge by ATSC staff.

Kelly Roberts, a generous underwriter of the show, accepted the ATSC

2000 Caring Heart Award. The tall, blond Roberts attended the event with

her daughter, Casey, accepting the accolades with few words and heartfelt

thanks.

The Roberts family are prominent citizens of the Inland

Empire/Riverside area, where they own the legendary Mission Inn. Their

estate on the oceanfront in south Laguna, known as the former Gucci

mansion, has been the site of many charity functions benefiting various

causes supported by and serving the Newport-Mesa community.

The Sophisticates pull out all the stops for the annual fashion show,

making it one of the anticipated luncheon events on the calendar. Each

year the chair and her committee venture into new territory attempting to

make the day special.

“L’Orangerie” achieved its status as a unique presentation by dividing

the fashion runway in two, bisected by walls of glass hung as panels,

enabling the models and ATSC spokespersons to address both sides of the

ballroom separately.

Video cameras projected the images to the opposite sides of the room.

The staging made the room more intimate, and the show unique. Nordstrom

did an amazing job of coordinating the show with Sophisticate Dawn

Brewster in the fashion chairman’s seat.

Others in the crowd who looked smashing were Barbara Magness, Darleen

Manclark, Peggy Clay, Ollie Hill, Jeannie Lawrence, Nili Stevens, Sue

Cannon, Jeanne Moriarty, Lana Chandler, Petrina Noor, Lori Contant, Loren

Blackwood, Sarrah Corrigan, Eve Kornyei, Nancy Lynn Olson and Elena Ross.

As is the tradition of this column, some of the best-dressed standouts

are featured in a head-to-toe fashion layout exclusively for the Daily

Pilot.

* B.W. COOK’S column appears Thursdays and Saturdays.

CUTLINE:

1. Denice Mock wears Versace 2. Nancy Olson wears Bisou-Bisou 3. Mary Pon

wears Jimmy Gamba 4. Kelly Roberts wears Christian Dior and her daughter

Casey wears BCBG 5. Grace Thelen wears Albert Nippon 6. Penny Fox-Shah

wears Jimmy Gamba 7. Lori Contant wears Talbert’s Label 8. Lana Chandler

wears Dana Buchman.