National Charity League honors mothers and daughters

“Belle de Jour,” the 17th annual mother-daughter fashion show and

luncheon produced by National Charity League Juniors, Newport

Chapter, attracted more than 500 women and children to the Palm

Garden of Newport’s tony Four Seasons Hotel.

Centerpieces of fondant iced cakes set on clear domed pedestals

wrapped with ribbons and gerberas set the feminine tone of the day. A

palette of pink, black and white transformed the garden room, giving

the party a very upscale feel.

Still another color embellished the already lavish tables: robin

egg blue -- Tiffany blue, to be exact -- in the form of boxes tied in

white ribbons and containing crystal votive candles, the party favors

for each guest.

As in years past, the NCL Juniors’ event had a wonderful silent

auction and basket drawing. Themed baskets this year were created

around such notable names as Roxy, Barbie and American Girl. A

children’s tent was erected on the hotel lawn and filled with all the

fun things -- cotton candy, popcorn and fresh lemonade.

As an aside, the latest fad in table decor at A-list L.A. and

Orange County parties are cakes made of spun cotton candy in exotic

flavors (sour apple and pink passion fruit) with lighted candles in

the center.

Modeling fashions from South Coast Plaza were local sixth-graders

who will be graduating from the NCL Juniors and moving on to the

Newport Chapter of National Charity League. The young ladies joined

their mothers Mary Buckingham, Mia Butera, Nicole Cook, Carly Cotton,

Laney Tucker, Caroline Kelter, Kelly Moorhead, Mary Lynn Pyle and

Shelby Searles, to name a few, on the runway.

The most successful event raised $90,000 benefiting three NCL

Juniors charities -- the High Hopes Head Injury Program, the Harry

and Grace Steele Children’s Center and the Pediatric Cancer Research

Foundation.

Chaired by Whitney Mace and Holly Anderson, the NCL Juniors’

luncheon was supported by Kathy Kelter, president of NCL Juniors and

her daughter Caroline, Kim Weiner, Shelly Bellings, Leslie Pershon,

Lynn Pyle, Toni Hilton and Betsy Van’t Hof.

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