Feast and fashion at Harvesters event

SOCIETYSOCIETYIt is arguably the most glamorous of the fashion-show luncheons on the Orange County society roster.

The 13th annual Harvesters event unfolded at the newly renamed Island Hotel, Newport Beach, attracting an overflow crowd and raising $470,000 to help feed the hungry in our community.

The impressive party was chaired by Carmela Phillips and Robin McMonigle. Major support came from Michelle Roth, Teddie Ray, Ann Moorhead, Jeri McKenna and co-founders of the Harvesters Jill Johnson Tucker and Jennifer Van Bergh. In partnership with South Coast Plaza, the ladies produced a spectacular fashion show under a tent, showcasing Armani, Cavalli, Celine, Dior, Donna Karan, Escada, Gucci, Max Mara, Saks 5th Avenue, Valentino and St. Laurent.

It was a challenge to decide who was more fashionable -- the models on the runway or the women in the audience.

The Harvester’s fashion show has become the O.C. event at which to be seen.

Actually, the big show is really the second act in a day that begins with a silent auction and champagne reception underwritten by Cartier and represented with style by Cartier executive Caroline Jones from the South Coast Plaza Cartier boutique.

Jones, an O.C. native, has close ties to the community and has positioned Cartier as a major corporate citizen supporting such charities as the Harvesters. Also spotted in the crowd were Diane Cotton, Michelle Janavs, Jennifer Segerstrom, Allison Olmstead and Debbie Millar.

Luncheon was served in The Palm Garden, which had been transformed into a silver and white wonderland. Designers draped the room in white silk gauze, placed white carpeting on the floor and surrounded the white-covered tables with silver Chivari chairs.

The over-the-top design and decor of the Harvester’s party has also become de rigueur. It’s all part of the package that demands the very best.

The glamour is paid for by patrons, and the charity still nets more money than any other, going directly to The Food Bank.

Major underwriting for the event and to sustain Harvester’s programs year round came from Julia and Mark Post of Pacific Monarch Resorts; The O’Connell Family Foundation Trust; Helen and Bill Close; Heather and Jim Madden; Paul and Elizabeth Merage; Jean Weiss; Jerry Nourse and Dr. Sherri Worth Nourse; and the Cotton Family Foundation.

The list of underwriters is in fact pages long, demonstrating the reach of support for founders Johnson Tucker and Van Bergh.

Dedicated Harvesters also deserving much credit for the success of the 13th annual luncheon-fashion show were Brigid Landau, Jami Rucker, Cheri Skellern, Melissa Arnold, Kathy Scheonbaum, Rhonda Priestley, Sabine Wohrle, Dana Blower, Alex Parker, Diana Tomei, Ann Smythe and Melinda Serra, to name only a few.

When all is said and done, and the glamour fades to memory, it is important to remember that 100% of all underwriting funds goes directly to The OC Food Bank.

Thousands of people are fed, day in and out, all year long.

* THE CROWD runs Thursdays and Saturdays.