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FashionWiseEmanuel UngaroFiandacaPalm Beach FashionWeek 2006ByMike GorgaFashion and opulenceculminated into a spectacle fit fora fairy tale at the 2nd AnnualPalm Beach Fashion Week,weaving its enchanting spellthroughout numerous venues inPalm Beach County. The galaevent hosted the latest designsfrom Palm Beach’s finestcouturiers along Worth Avenueand benefited several localcharitable organizations. Theweek long event ran fromMarch 1 thru March 7, andhosted a myriad ofCinderellaesque formal andinformal runway shows,modeling, in-store trunk shows,receptions, cocktail parties,luncheons, auctions and giveaways, presented with thesophistication and savoir-fairethat Palm Beach is infamous for.All good fairy tales involvea castle, and this story begins atthe prestigious Mar-a-Lago Clubof Palm Beach, home ofHonorary Chairs for Habitat forHumanity, Mr. and Mrs. DonaldTrump. Through the lavishMoroccan-inspired entrance way andinto the gold, gilded ballroom, it was Eleanor Duffyunder the lustrous glow of columned, shimmering crystalchandeliers where Mar-a-Lago played host to theinaugural event on March 2. The charity-based fashionevent benefited Habitat for Humanity.“Palm Beach Fashion Week was a long timecoming,” says Olympia Devine, President of Palm BeachTalent and Events and coordinator of Palm BeachFashion Week.“Because Miami has one; L.A. has one; New Yorkhas one; it’s the perfect opportunity for these designersto actually showcase their collections apart from theother fashion weeks, and obviouslyto raise money.”Produced by the Worth Avenue Association,the evening at Mar-a-Lago was drenched withexquisite luxuries: Aston Martin displayed a silverconvertible inside the ballroom. Hamilton Jewelersexhibited their most enviable pieces, including an8-feet-long diamond necklace. During cocktail houra soiree of social divas, fashionistas and the cremede la creme mingled over champagne and sushi tothe soft sounds of a string duo.The ballroom runway show proved to be acornucopia of haute couture for the A-list crowd.The fast-paced display of dazzlingdesigns included Eres, EmanuelUngaro, Fiandaca, Emilio Pucci,Okra, Gypsy, with Luca Lucaclosing the show with itscollection of Fall/Winterevening wear, a fittingswan song for thismagical affair. Aninformal show of jewelrycollections by HamiltonJewelers and Della Perlafor Kane Marie Gemswere also showcased.This opening nightbenefited Habitat forHumanity’s “The HouseThat Fashion Built,” ahome build projectinspired by FashionWeek 2006. The homebuild concept is the result ofHabitat for Humanity eventchair, JJ Wheeler. “What isbeing projected from thisaffair is that some of theproceeds will go to helpwith relief from HurricaneKatrina and also to build ahouse here in this area.That’s going to be a housethat’s being billed as “TheHouse That Fashion Built,”explains Carolyn Vickie,Executive Director of Habitatof Humanity.Founded in 1986, Habitatfor Humanity of Palm BeachNicole Miller County is dedicated to theEmilio PucciPhotos by Stacey Rybak