The men take to the runway

B.W. COOK

The 27th annual “Gentlemen’s Haberdashery” fashion show and luncheon

raised an impressive $300,000 to benefit the Heart of Jesus Retreat

Center in Santa Ana.

Former Costa Mesa mayor and Daily Pilot columnist Peter Buffa

served as commentator for the fashion event, which took place May 10

at the Irvine Marriott. Buffa was joined by Newport Beach’s Melanie

Fitch, who, with her father Paul Salata and late mother Beverly

Salata, has been a very involved supporter of the event for many

years.

Sixty-five of O.C.’s prominent males took to the runway, showing

off clothes from Fashion Island’s men’s stores. Once again, Rancho

Mission Viejo CEO Tony Moiso and his beautiful wife Melinda

co-chaired the celebration, which was attended by some 700 local

guests.

The theme of the day was “celebrating children,” and as in years

past, a group of youngsters took to the stage for a musical

performance, followed by a “meet and greet” throughout the ballroom.

The children traveled from table to table, shaking hands, passing out

handmade cards and thanking patrons for providing the support to

sustain the center.

The big donors included Roger and Gail Kirwan of Newport Coast,

Joan Irvine Smith, the Peter Ueberroth family, Alice O’Neill Avery

(mother of Tony Moiso and a major local philanthropist), George and

Eden O’Connell, Sandy and Doug Keedy and a host of corporate sponsors

that included American Airlines, Fashion Island, Fletcher Jones

Motorcars, Shea Homes, William Lyon Homes, Warmington Homes, Union

Bank of California and the John Wayne Cancer Foundation, to name just

a few.

This season’s models -- including father and son teams Donald and

Parker Kennedy and Rand and Brian Sperry, along with Todd Beebe, Jeff

Leane, George Skrbin and Ted Valencia -- wore clothes provided by

Newport proprietors, such as Gary’s, Bloomingdales, the Closet,

Indigo Palms and At Ease.

Models who received special attention, and awards to boot, were

John McDermott (sweepstakes award), Marine Maj. Grant Williams

(founder’s award), Sam Olmstead (newcomer award), Chuck Trevisan

(colorful award) and Dave Celestin (casual award). A special family

award went to the sons-in-law of Tony and Melinda Moiso -- Eric

Sellas, Jeremy Laster, Marc Lamkin and Jim Leonard.

A highlight of the fashion show was the appearance of John Wayne’s

grandson, Father Matt Munoz.

The Gentlemen’s Haberdashery was created by the late Newport Beach

couple of Tom and Emma Jane Riley in 1978 as a method to help the

Sisters of the Sacred Heart fund its retreat center.

Today, the fundraiser provides major annual support for the center

and also helps to fund the Tom and Emma Jane Riley Children’s

Endowment Fund, dedicated to the spiritual enrichment and the care of

children.

* THE CROWD appears Thursdays and Saturdays.